Google+

Simple Ice Text Effect

This tutorial will explain how to create a frosting-ice text effect, using a couple of Layer Styles and a simple brush. It will also show you how to modify some settings to adjust the final outcome.

The Final Result

Tutorial Details

  • Software Used : Photoshop
  • Version : CS5 Extended
  • Time : 0:30 – 0:45

Resources

Intro

This effect was requested by one of our readers, Rafael Garcia, and it is inspired by this image.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

The text will use the main colors and some basic textures to create a simple ice effect similar to the one in the image. You can use your own textures as well, and you will get plenty of nice results.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

Let’s get started.

Step 1

Open the landscape 86 image, then go to Image -> Adjustments -> Levels, and set the Highlights value to 100.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

You might notice some noise in the image, so pick the Blur Tool and set the Strength to 100% in the Options bar. Then, using a soft round Brush, start softening the sky in the image. Do not blur the mountains, only the sky.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

Set the Foreground color to #737cd4, and the Background color to #0f3ed4. Pick the Gradient Tool and choose the Foreground to Background Linear Gradient.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

Create a new layer and call it Gradient, then fill the layer from bottom to top with the current gradient.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

Change the Gradient layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 1

Step 2

Create the text using the color #d8d8d8. The font used is Sniglet and the Size is 300 pt.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

Change the text layer’s Fill value to 0. You can increase the value if you do not want the text to be totally transparent, but it’s better to do this after applying the Layer Style.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

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

– Drop Shadow

  • Color : #2457a2
  • Distance : 7
  • Size : 7
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Inner Shadow

  • Color : #a5bfec
  • Distance : 0
  • Size : 40
  • Contour : Half Round
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Outer Glow

  • Opacity : 100%
  • Noise : 20%
  • Color : #c6d9ff
  • Range : 100%

This will create a frost stroke for the text, and you can play around with the Noise value to increase or decrease the effect.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Inner Glow

  • Opacity : 35%
  • Noise : 100%
  • Color : #ffffff
  • Source : Center
  • Size : 23
  • Contour : Cone – Inverted
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Bevel and Emboss

  • Technique : Chisel Soft
  • Size : 20
  • Gloss Contour : Cove – Deep
  • Check the Anti-aliased box
  • Highlight Mode :
  • Color : #eef9ff
  • Opacity : 100%
  • Shadow Mode :
  • Color : #b1b1b1
  • Opacity : 50%
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Contour

  • Contour : Log
  • Check the Anti-aliased box.
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Texture

  • Pattern : Ant Farm
  • Depth : 7%
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

– Color Overlay

  • Color : #aec5ed
  • Blend Mode : Pin Light
  • Opacity : 70%
Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

This is what you should get.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

Tip: If you think there is so much noise inside the text, maybe because that’s how it looks against a different background, then you can reduce the Noise value of the Inner Glow effect.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 2

Step 3

Create a new layer on top of all layers and change its Fill value to 0, then double click it to apply the following Layer Style.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

– Bevel and Emboss

  • Technique : Chisel Hard
  • Direction : Down
  • Size : 20
  • Gloss Contour : Rolling Slope – Descending
  • Check the Anti-aliased box
  • Highlight Mode :
  • Color : #aebfe0
  • Opacity : 100%
  • Shadow Mode :
  • Color : #b1b1b1
  • Opacity : 50%
Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

– Contour

  • Contour : Half Round
  • Check the Anti-aliased box.
Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

– Texture

  • Pattern : Metal Landscape
  • Scale : 130%
  • Depth : 10%
Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

Pick the Spatter 46 pixels brush, and adjust its Size if you have a different font size.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

Set the Foreground color to #e9e3d8, and start adding separate short strokes over distant areas, and don’t cover all the text, leave some empty spaces.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

Create another new layer on top of all layers, right click Layer 1 and choose Copy Layer Style, then right click Layer 2 and choose Paste Layer Style. Now, add some strokes to fill the empty areas. This helps create a more 3D looking effect, to make it look similar to the original image where there are multiple ice layers covering the bird shape.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

If the shiny areas seem too white or bright, you can change the Highlight Mode color to a darker shade, and the shininess will decrease.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

Notice how the bright areas look less bright after using a darker color.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

Also, you can apply different colors for each layer, which will create some really bright, and some not-so-bright areas. This effect is more similar to the original.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 3

And that’s it for the main ice effect. Next, we are going to add some snow and sparkles.

Step 4

Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it Snow Sparkles, then change its Blend Mode to Hard Light.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

Choose a soft round Brush, and open the Brush panel (Window -> Brush) to modify its Settings as shown below:

Brush Tip Shape

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

Shape Dynamics

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

Scattering

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

Set the Foreground color to #d9f3fe, and scatter some snow sparkles. Try not to add any inside the text though.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

Double click the Snow Sparkles layer to apply a simple Outer Glow. Change the Blend Mode to Overlay and the color to #0157ff.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

This will add a subtle nice glow.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 4

Step 5

Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it Sparkles, then change its Blend Mode to Vivid Light. Set the Foreground color to #d8dfe4.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 5

Choose one of the Sparklies Photoshop Brushes, decrease its Size, and under the Shape Dynamics in the Brush panel, set the Size Jitter to 50%, and the Angle Jitter to 100%. This will help you get sparkles with different sizes and rotation angles each time you click to add one.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 5

Add the sparkles wherever you want to.

Cold Ice Text Effect step 5

And that’s it. Hope you liked it, and thanks once again to Rafael Garcia for the suggestion.

* If you have any suggestions or ideas, please send them via the contact form. We love to hear from you.


Did you enjoy this post? Please consider donating to help us cover our server costs.

Latest Comments
    • textuts
    • xD
    • xD
      • textuts
    • textuts
    • textuts
    • textuts
    • textuts
  1. NhungNguyen
    • textuts
      • gasim
  2. John Mchackim
  3. gasim
  4. textuts
    • gasim
      • textuts
  5. John Mchackim
    • textuts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *