textuts

This tutorial explains how to use multiple Layer Styles, a cool Gradient Inner Glow trick, and simple filters to create a glossy polished stone-like text effect.

The Final Result:

Notes:

* the software used in this tutorial is Adobe Photoshop CS6, but you can use CS3+ versions as well.
* you might want to check the Basix Page to see some useful topics on dealing with Photoshop basics, such as loading palettes and some shortcuts.

Resources:

* Black Texture by Ethenyl.
* gradient-shapes for Photoshop by ilnanny.

Note: You might need to load the Contours used in the tutorial, so check this image to see how to do so.

Step 1

- Create a new 1600 x 1200 px document. Set the Foreground color to #4b4133 and the Background color to #190500, pick the Gradient Tool, click the Radial Gradient icon in the Options bar, then click and drag from the center of the document to one of the corners.

- Place the Black Texture image on top of the Background then change its layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay.

- Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Levels, and change the Gamma value to 1.90 to brighten up the texture a little bit.

- Create the text with the color #7c7c7c. The font used is Piximisa, and the size is 300pt. If you have more than one line of text, place each line in a separate layer as we are gong to use a Gradient Stroke later on.

Duplicate each text layer two times, so that you have two copies besides the original layer. Then, change the third text layer copy’s Fill value to 0% (the layer at the top).

Step 2

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

- Bevel and Emboss: Change the Style to Stroke Emboss. This effect requires the Stroke effect to work, so you won’t see any difference until the Stroke effect is applied. For now, change the Gloss Contour to Cone, check the Anti-aliased box, and change the Highlight Mode color to #ffd570.

- Contour: Choose the Cone – Asymmetrical contour, and check the Anti-aliased box. This will give a smoother result.

- Stroke: Change the Size to 5, the Fill Type to Gradient, and choose the “Gold Label 55z” gradient from the “Goldmedal.grd” file in the gradients pack folder.

- Drop Shadow: Change the Distance to 12, the Spread to 40, and the Size to 15.

- This will create a shiny stroke for the text. The cool thing about the Stroke Emboss is that it’s an easier option for creating a simple stroke without the need for creating and stroking work paths then styling them.

Step 3

Double click the first copy of the text layer to apply the following Layer Style:

- Bevel and Emboss: Change the Technique to Chisel Soft, the Size to 21, the Highlight Mode to Soft Light, and its color to #eaffd4.

- Contour: Just check the Anti-aliased box.

- Inner Glow: Change the Blend Mode to Vivid Light, and choose the Gradient fill type using the gradient “CSP Agate Gradient XV” from the “CSP Agate Gradients.grd” file in the gradients pack folder. Then change the Size to a quite big value such as 45, and check the Anti-aliased box. This will fill the text with a gradient glow, creating some nice marble-like waves.

- Drop Shadow: Use the default values.

- This will add the main texture to the text without using any filters; just a simple glow trick using the gradient. You can try applying some other gradients to see how they look if you like as well.

Step 4

Double click the second copy of the text layer to apply the following Layer Style:

- Bevel and Emboss: Change the Depth to 250, un-check the Use Global Light box, change the Angle to 11 and the Altitude to 37, choose the Cone – Asymmetrical Gloss Contour, change the Highlight Mode to Vivid Light, and the Shadow Mode Opacity to 50%.

- Contour: Just check the Anti-aliased box.

- This will add a glossy effect to the text.

Step 5

- Create a new layer below the second text layer copy and call it “Texture”. Then set the Foreground color to #213926, and the Background color to #cbb99d.

- Ctrl + Click a text layer’s thumbnail (icon) to create a selection.

- Go to Filter -> Render -> Clouds, then go to Select -> Deselect (or press Ctrl + D) to get rid of the selection.

- Go to Filter -> (Filter Gallery) -> Artistic -> Poster Edges, and change the values as below:

- Go to Filter -> (Filter Gallery) -> Artistic -> Sponge, and change the values as below:

- Change the “Texture” layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay. This will add a subtle texture and a nice color to the text.

Step 6

- Click the ‘Create new fill or adjustment layer’ icon down the Layers panel and choose Gradient Map.

- Make sure that the adjustment layer is on top of all layers then change its Blend Mode to Soft Light and its Opacity to 50%.

- Create the Gradient using the colors #736357 to the left, and #213926 to the right.

- Add another Gradient Map Adjustment Layer on top of all layers, and change its Blend Mode to Soft Light and its Opacity to 30%. The gradient used is called “Childhood_CC” and is found in the “BoahmedAllinone.grd” file in the gradients pack folder.

The adjustment layers add nice coloring to the final result. Hope you’ve enjoyed the tutorial and found it helpful.