Create A Cool Typography Effect in Photoshop
14. Jan, 2010 
34 Comments
In this tutorial, we’re going to use Photoshop CS3 or Photoshop CS4 to create some really cool-looking effects to decorate our Typography. We will be using a combination of layer styles, color blending, lens flare and images. The end effect is quite stunning and hopefully you’ll pick up some tips you didn’t know before.
Final Image
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Resources:
Particles Pack by Media Melitia
Smoke Pack by Media Melitia
Hysteria Texture by Pareeerica
Rezland Font from Dafont
Step1:
Create a new document in Photoshop, 1280×1024 pixels, 72dpi. We begin with a radial gradient, by double clicking the layer to activate the Layer Styles menu, then apply a gradient overlay. Here are the exact color codes:
Foreground Color – #f2d445
Background Color – #98a843
Step2:
Next we will create our particle background. Open the Media Meltia Particles008.png image and drag it into your document, then apply a Linear Dodge(Add) blend mode, name this layer “Particle1″.
Open the Media Meltia Particles006.png image and drag it into your document above the first particle layer, then apply a Linear Dodge(Add) blend mode, name this layer “Particle 2″.
Scale the Particle 2 layer to fit the document size, by selecting the layer and clicking, Edit > Transform > Scale. Hold the shift key to scale the image proportionally.
Step 3:
Create your type by dragging the text tool to create a text box (Text box, gives you more control of your type).
Step 4:
Add some cool layer style effects by using the Blending Options (double click the layer to activate the Blending Options).
Layer Style 1 – Inner Shadow
Layer Style 2 – Outer Glow
Color Code: #f7db6a
Layer Style 3 – Gradient Overlay
Foreground Color – #918d14
Background Color – #fbfbfa
Layer Style 4 – Gradient Stroke
Foreground Color – #f8d04a
Background Color – #f6e6b5
Step 5:
We will now create some particle effects over the text. 1. Duplicate the “Particle 2″ layer and drag it above the text layer 2. Create a mask for the “Particle 2″ layer by clicking : Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All (if you do not see the layer mask feature in Photoshop CS3/CS4, click Window > Workspace > What,s New in CS3/CS4.
Step 6:
The layer will seem to dissapear when you apply the layer mask, but do not worry, it is still there, we will now reveal the layer by painting the mask with a soft white paintbrush. Select the Brush Tool with Diameter 45pix and Hardness set to 0%.
Foreground Color – #ffffff
Background Color – #000000
Start painting with your new soft white brush, the particles will begin to appear, if you need to delete an already painted area, just switch the brush color to black.
Step 7:
We will continue by adding some cool smoke effects over our text. Open the Smoke_V1_1071.jpg image and drag it above the particle mask layer. Scale the layer down to about 70-80% . Set the blending mode to Color Dodge.
Don’t overdo the smoke effect, we just want it to compliment the particles, so scale the smoke image down to a little further and use a soft medium Eraser Tool to erase any sharp edges and place the smoke at some of the bright white edges of the text, like the image below. Duplicated the first smoke layer and re-size and rotate it for each placement.
Step 8:
Now we will add some dramatic light streaks using Photoshop Lens Flare. Create a new layer and color it 100% black with the paint bucket.
Click Filter > Render > Lens Flare.
Set the blending mode to Color Dodge
. 
Resize the lens flare layer vertically Edit > Transform > Scale, then reduce the lens flare size horizontally.
Rotate the lensflare and place them around your text, as shown in the example below. I duplicated my first lensflare to save time and resized a couple of them a littl smaller at 48% opacity to create a sense of depth in the scene. Don’t overdo the lens flare, the goal at this point is to create balance and harmony with all the other elements
. 
Step 9:
Create a new layer above the lensflares, and name it Vignette 1. Give it a radial gradient.
Foreground color – #0a5570
Background color – #ffffff
Set the Blending Mode to Multiply and the Opacity to 48% Create another layer and name it Vignette 2. Give it a transparent radial gradient.
Foreground color – #000000
Background color – #ffffff
Make the foreground transparent by, clicking on the gradient tool, then open the gradient preset
.
Create the gradient, then give it a 22% Opacity, use a large soft Eraser Tool brush to erase the middle portion of the vignette, so your type remain nice and bright. You won’t see much of a difference from the last vignette we did, The reason we did this step is to make the edges of the image a little darker, so that our eyes focus on the Type.
Step 10:
Create a new Color Balance Adjustment Layer by clicking the “half moon” symbol on the layer pallet.
Cyan -61
Magenta -38
Yellow +27
Create another Color Balance Adjustment Layer.
Cyan +100
Magenta -30
Yellow +1
Step 11:
Open the Hysteria Texture by Pareeerica, drag it above the color balance layers and set the Blending Mode to Hard Light. Change the Fill to 79%.
Final Image
Conclusion:
That’s it, a cool-looking effect to enhance your Typography using some simple Photoshop effects and color blending. The end of the tutorial was achieved by experimenting with color balance. Try different color combination’s, this can give you some surprisingly cool results. Have fun!
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
DOWNLOAD .PSD
RENU PSD File (5.8 MiB, 489 hits)
Graphics Files Included: Layered psd file, Resolution: 900x720 pixel /72 dpi, Minimum Application: Photoshop CS, Print Ready: Low resolution print only.
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Author Info
Fantastic tutorial loswl. I love the meticulous attention to detail you have put into this post. Outstanding! I would also like to thank you so very much for including our Particles and Smoke packs in this tutorial. We really appreciate the support. Take care.
Thanks Jeya, for all the freebies on your website, really top quality, really inspired me to right this first ever PSD. tutorial.
Very nice tut! I’ll give this one a try tomm
nice tut bro! techniques really kl.
good job … cool effect
Very, very good job. I really like this! I’m going to do this tut tonight! Thanks!
Really cool as you said:)
Thanks for to share your skills with us; with this action we are getting an internet more friendly for all…
Very nice tutorial Loswl
Nice tutorial. It would be good to try.
Wow, this is sooooo cool!!!
Thanks so much for all the detail included, makes it A LOT easier for us newbies, and for including the actual files to download…please DO keep it up…can’t wait to see what’s next!!!!
Thanks for checking it out everyone. Lissett glad you found it easy to follow, tried to place as much details as possible, because some people are new at this. If you try out the tut, please feel free to place a link here or in the Flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/inspiks/ so we can see it.
Wow, this is sooooo cool!!!
Nice tutorial. It would be good to try.
Very nice tutorial Loswl
great tut, now just have to figure out if I can convert to psp lol. thanks for the inspiration!
alrighty, here’s my try at it! not even close, but I had fun!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34827444@N08/4309580583/
Nicely done, glad you had fun with it, the most important thing is having fun while learning something new, later you will see that these techniques become second nature when doing other projects,
Very nice execution
Looks great and love the message of hope.
Great tut! Here’s my attempt: http://Ruddy-J.deviantart.com/art/RENU2C517-152089648
Very Nice JB, I love how you broke the text up, really solidify the message
Very nice JB, love the addition of the cracked text – more motion
Really cool typography tutorial which i really like and sharing with my friends, for learning some easy steps to make typography effect like this.
Very very very nice tutorial! Keep it up! Would love to see some more tutorials here!
Step 2 does not create the effect that you show i.e. add liner dodge to the particle.008. That does not make it blend with the layer 1 to create the effect shown in picture 2 of step 2.
What else do I need to do?
Thanks
Hi Kim, if you are using Photoshop CS3 or CS4 the effect should work, unfortunately the lower versions of Photoshop does not have the Linear Dodge(Add) blend mode (only “Lenear dodge”).
If you are using a lower version of Photoshop, you can use the Color Dodge blending mode, you should be able to get something close, let me know if you do, thanks.
Text effects never get old, there are an endless amount of things you do with todays technology, thanks for contributing!
Bookmarked, this tutorial is top class, thanks a lot
i dont have that Media Meltia Particles008.png where can i find it??? great job…i want to try it… but im having a problem with that png file… im using windows
There is a link to the file at the beginning of the tutorial under “Resources” and I also placed a link to the file in that part of the tutorial. The file is in the “Particles Pack – 25 Free Images”. You should be able to open the file on either Windows or Mac in Photoshop CS/CS3/CS4. Let me know if that helps.
Very nice tutorial.
Keep up the good work !!
My version is here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/maximelaforet/4398329769/
A very nice rendition of the tutorial Macxim
Wow, this is a really great effect and I love the tutorial. Very helpful, I’ll definitely be checking back regularly for more. =]
Thanks for checking it out Yari, we have more tutorials coming soon
Very interesting way of making great looking text. You make it look so easy. Thank you for sharing I will have to experiment and try to follow your tutorial.
Thanks for the compliments, give it a try, feel free to ask any questions