Super Glossy Text Effect

This tutorial will explain how to create an awesome super glossy text effect, using a couple of Layer Layer Style to achieve the glossy look, and some brushes for the bright squares and shiny sparkles.

The Final Result

Tutorial Details

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

Resources

• Alfredo Heavy font.
• Sparklies Photoshop Brushes by redheadstock.
• Square Photoshop Brush.

Step 1

Create a new 1600 x 1200 px document. Create a Linear Gradient from left to right, with the Foreground color set to #713c5c and the Background color to #97316e. Then, duplicate the Background layer.

Set the Foreground and Background colors back to Black and White, then go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Set the Amount to 3, the Distribution to Uniform, and check the Monochromatic box.

Go to Filter > Distort > Glass, set the Distortion to 3, the Smoothness to 8, the Texture to Tiny Lens, and the Scaling to 200%.

The background should have a simple nice texture now.

Step 2

Create the text using the color Black. The font used is Alfredo Heavy, and the Size is 370 px. The effect looks better on very bold fonts. Also, you can change the Leading value to adjust the line spacing if necessary.

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

– Drop Shadow

• Distance : 8
• Size : 8

– Inner Shadow

• Blend Mode : Linear Dodge (Add)
• Color : #c577a4
• Distance : 8
• Size : 20

– Outer Glow

• Blend Mode : Overlay
• Color : #ffe0f3
• Size : 8

– Inner Glow

• Color : #ffffff
• Size : 12
• Contour : Half Round

– Bevel and Emboss

• Depth : 300
• Size : 16
• Soften : 1
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle : 70
• Altitude : 30
• Gloss Contour : Notched Slope
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode : Vivid Light
• Color : #ffe8f6
• Shadow Mode – Color : #d495bb

– Contour

• Contour : Ring – Double
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

– Satin

• Blend Mode : Color Dodge
• Color : #bf93ad
• Opacity : 70%
• Distance : 17
• Size : 40
• Contour : Cone – Inverted

When you hit OK, change the text layer’s Fill value to 0 so that the text becomes transparent.

Step 3

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

This is optional, if you like the noise that appears beneath the text, leave it as it is, but if you want the text to stay clear then select the Background copy layer and hit Delete.

Create a new layer on top of the Background layers and call it squares. Set the Foreground color to #ffa8cf.

Step 4

Load the Squares Photoshop Brush, and open the Brush panel (Window > Brush) to change the Settings as below:

The Spacing is set to 50%. If you want more squares to appear when you use the brush decrease the Spacing value, and if you want less squares, then increase the Spacing value.

Shape Dynamics

Scattering

Transfer

Start painting the squares inside the selection. Don’t paint over the same area more than once, as this will make the squares overlap and look very bright, but if you like that then go for it!

You can undo, redo, and repeat this until you’re satisfied with the final result.

Step 5

Set the Foreground color to White, and load the Sparklies Photoshop Brushes. You can choose the sparkle you like, but here, the brush single7 one is used.

In the Brush panel, change the Size to something around 40 px.

In order for the Size to change with each click, change the Size Jitter under the Shape Dynamics tab to 50%.

Also, to change the angle of the sparkles, set the Angle Jitter to 100%. You can also check the Flip X Jitter and Flip Y Jitter boxes as well.

Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it sparkles. Start clicking over some bright edges to add sparkles. Click once only, don’t click and drag.

Change the sparkles layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay, then duplicate it to make the sparkles look brighter.

And you’ll get an awesome super glossy “party” text effect!
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.