Gingerbread Cookies Text Effect

This tutorial will explain how to bake make a delicious gingerbread cookies inspired text effect, using layer styles, some filters, and a couple of other simple elements. Ready?

The Final Result

Tutorial Details

• Software Used : Photoshop
• Version : CS6 Extended
• Time : 0:45 – 1:15

Resources

• Sniglet font.
• Seamless tablecloth texture by PSD Graphics.
• Rocky Wall pattern.
• Vintage Patterns by ~acupofmilk.

edit: The pack above is no longer available, as the associated account has been deleted. Below is an alternative pack that you can use.

• Colour Checkered Patterns pack by powerpuffjazz.

Step 1

Create a new 1152 x 864 px document. Place the Seamless tablecloth texture image on top of the Background layer, then resize it so that it fits within the document.

Double click the texture layer to apply the following Layer Style:

– Color Overlay

• Color : #b17c67
• Blend Mode : Multiply

– Gradient Overlay

• Blend Mode : Multiply
• Style : Radial
• Scale : 150%
• Check the Reverse box
• Click the Gradient box to create the gradient

The gradient uses two colors: #723434 to the left and #787878 to the right. The Opacity value of the stop to the right is 0%.

This will darken the image.

Step 2

Create the text in the color #9a6c40 using the font Sniglet. The font Size is 273 pt and the text is better written in All Caps.

If the text doesn’t fit within the document, hit Enter/Return to add the remaining letters in a new line. We’ll be moving the letters closer later.

Double click the text layer to apply the following Layer Style:

– Bevel and Emboss

• Technique : Chisel Hard
• Size : 10
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode : Soft Light
• Color : #d8bfa7
• Shadow Mode – Color : #3d3d3d

– Contour

• Contour : Half Round
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

– Texture

• Pattern : Rocky Wall
• Depth : 150%
• Check the Invert box

This will create the first part of the cookies’ texture, with an illusion of subtle 3D bumps and cracks.

– Inner Shadow

• Color : #492d12
• Distance : 0
• Size : 13

The Drop Shadow effect will be added near the end as some layers will be merged first. For now, this is what you should get:

Step 3

Ctrl/Cmd + click the text layer’s thumbnail to create a selection.

Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it Texture. Then, set the Foreground color to #c69c6d and the Background color to #603913.

Go to Filter > Render > Clouds. Then go to Select > Deselect to get rid of the selection.

Step 4

Go to Filter > (Filter Gallery) > Sketch > Note Paper. Change the Image Balance to 50, the Graininess to 10, and the Relief to 12.

Go to Filter > (Filter Gallery) > Sketch > Reticulation. Change the Density to 4, the Foreground Level to 40, and the Background Level to 0.

Change the Texture layer’s Blend Mode to Soft Light and its Opacity to 75%. This will create the second part of the texture adding more details to the cookies.

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Change the Hue to -7 and the Saturation to -45.

Step 5

Ctrl/Cmd + click the text layer’s thumbnail again to create a selection.

Go to Select > Modify > Contract, and type in 15. This will remove 15 px of the selection adding more space on the edges.

Open the Paths panel (Window > Paths). Press and hold the Alt/Option key and click the Make work path from selection icon down the Paths panel.

Set the Tolerance value to 1.0, which will result in a more precise path.

Step 6

Pick the Brush Tool and choose an 8 px hard round brush, then set the Foreground color to #f0f0e7.

Pick the Direct Selection Tool. If there are any parts of the path that you want to modify, you can click the path, then click the anchor points to move them around.

Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it Icing.

Right click the path and choose Stroke Path.

Choose Brush from the Tool drop down menu, and make sure that the Simulate Pressure box is un-checked.

This will stroke the path. Hit Enter/Return to get rid of the work path.

Step 7

Double click the Icing layer to apply the following Layer Style:

– Bevel and Emboss

• Soften : 5
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Shadow Mode – Color : #8b816c

– Drop Shadow

• Color : #494949
• Distance : 2

You’ll get some nice icing!

You can go ahead and add some more lines and decorations on the same layer.

If you’re in the mood, create a new layer, call it Color, right click the Icing layer, choose Copy Layer Style, then right click the Color layer and choose Paste Layer Style.

Pick red and green colors, and add some more colored dots or lines to the cookies.

Step 8

Now, group all the layers except for the Background layers (Shift + click the layers, then go to Layer > Group Layers or press Ctrl/Cmd + G).

Duplicate the group then make the original invisible by clicking the eye icon next to it.

Make sure that the copy group is selected then go to Layer > Merge Group to rasterize all of the group’s layers in one layer.

(That’s why we kept a copy of the original group, as the merged layers are not editable).

Double click the merged layer to apply a Drop Shadow effect:

• Opacity : 55%
• Distance : 10
• Size : 10

This will make the cookies even more 3D looking.

Step 9

Pick the Rectangular Marquee Tool, Then create a selection around the first letter.

Press Ctrl/Cmd + J to duplicate the letter in a separate layer. You can rename each layer to the letter it has.

Do the same for the rest of the letters. Don’t forget to select the original merged layer each time before duplicating a new letter.

Once you’re done, make the original layer invisible.

Pick the Move Tool, and check the Auto-Select box in the Options bar, make sure Layer is the option next to that box.

Basically, what this does is it enables you to select the letter by clicking it directly without the need to select its layer. This makes things much easier and faster.

Now click the letters and move them so that they are next to each other and slightly overlapping. You can as well change the order of the layers to bring letters to the front or send them back.

You can also rotate some of the letters (select the letter, go to Edit > Transform > Rotate, rotate the letter, then hit Enter/Return to confirm).

Step 10

This is optional, but if you want to place your yummy cookies in a nice plate, then set the Foreground color to a light color like #a9977d, and create a new layer on top of all layers called Plate.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius in the Options bar to 10 px. Higher values will create more rounded corners.

Click and drag to create the basic shape.

We’ll adjust the height and width after applying the layer style.

Step 11

Double click the Plate shape layer to apply the following Layer Style:

– Bevel and Emboss

• Technique : Chisel Hard
• Size : 51
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode : Soft Light
• Shadow Mode – Color : #d1c6bc

– Contour

• Contour : Cone
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

– Pattern Overlay

• Blend Mode : Soft Light
• Pattern : Choose any of the patterns from the patterns pack provided in the Resources section.

– Drop Shadow

• Distance : 23
• Size : 21

Your plate should look all cool and nice now.

You might get some letters over the edges of the plate. So pick the Direct Selection Tool, click the plate shape once, then click and drag to select the anchor points of the edges you want to move, then, use the keyboard arrow keys to move the edges as needed.

If you want to change the color of the plate then double click its shape layer’s icon and choose a new color. Here, a slightly darker color is chosen #8b6b4b. You can try different patterns as well. Have fun with it.

Your cookies now are ready to eat … Or be a nice background wallpaper 😉
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and found it useful.
Feel free to share your cookies with us ^_^