Creating Text Effects with Photoshop
These free online tutorials show you how to create a variety of popular text effects in Photoshop. Techniques include beveled, embossed, textured, outlined, chrome, fire, metallic, neon, glowing, dripping, plastic, 3d, and many more. Not just for type, these techniques are useful for learning how to create special effects for all kinds of objects and will give you insight on many of Photoshop's filters and commands.
Wrap Text Effect in Photoshop - Video
Wrapping text in creative ways adds a fun and playful quality to a picture. Learn how to wrap text around an object using three different effects in Adobe Photoshop.
Wrapping text in creative ways adds a fun and playful quality to a picture. Learn how to wrap text around an object using three different effects in Adobe Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop Sand Effect - Video Tutorial
[Video Tutorial] Use Adobe Photoshop to create text with a sand-like texture, using the same displacement effect design pros use to blend text or objects seamlessly into picture backgrounds.
[Video Tutorial] Use Adobe Photoshop to create text with a sand-like texture, using the same displacement effect design pros use to blend text or objects seamlessly into picture backgrounds.
Adobe Photoshop Text Reflection - Video Tutorial
[Video Tutorial] Create a text reflection effect in Adobe Photoshop and make text contents pop from their background.
[Video Tutorial] Create a text reflection effect in Adobe Photoshop and make text contents pop from their background.
See-Thru Text
Learn how to create glass-like see-through text in Photoshop 5.5.
Learn how to create glass-like see-through text in Photoshop 5.5.
Watermark Text
Protect your photos and images by adding a translucent copyright watermark over them to identify them as your own work. This technique does not require you to render the layer, so your text remains editable.
Protect your photos and images by adding a translucent copyright watermark over them to identify them as your own work. This technique does not require you to render the layer, so your text remains editable.
3D Wire Text
Create a custom brush, then use it to create an unusual text effect.
Create a custom brush, then use it to create an unusual text effect.
Antique Gold Text
Create a distressed gold text effect as you work with filters, alpha channels, and layer effects.
Create a distressed gold text effect as you work with filters, alpha channels, and layer effects.
Aqua Gel Text
An elaborate technique for creating 'aqua' style gel text. Lengthy, but it looks real sharp.
An elaborate technique for creating 'aqua' style gel text. Lengthy, but it looks real sharp.
Chipped Type
Use the crystallize filter to create a chipped, ragged type effect. This site is not compatible with Netscape 4.
Use the crystallize filter to create a chipped, ragged type effect. This site is not compatible with Netscape 4.
Cubic Type
Create soft lightning cubes around your type for a pixelized effect.
Create soft lightning cubes around your type for a pixelized effect.
Curved Type Reflections
"When a question was asked concerning curved type reflected off a surface, Al Ward wrapped his brain around the concept and found a simple answer. See how it's done..." from creativepro.com.
"When a question was asked concerning curved type reflected off a surface, Al Ward wrapped his brain around the concept and found a simple answer. See how it's done..." from creativepro.com.
Design Sketch Lines
Create text with sketch lines.
Create text with sketch lines.
Diffused Text
Use the diffuse filter with layers and gaussian blur to create an interesting type effect.
Use the diffuse filter with layers and gaussian blur to create an interesting type effect.
Distorting Text
"In this excerpt from "Photoshop Studio Skills: For Photoshop 7 and Photoshop CS," you learn how to make beautiful folding text using the Displace Filter and the "Blend If" function in Layer Styles."
"In this excerpt from "Photoshop Studio Skills: For Photoshop 7 and Photoshop CS," you learn how to make beautiful folding text using the Displace Filter and the "Blend If" function in Layer Styles."
Double Decker
Create a layered, 3D outlined text effect in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Create a layered, 3D outlined text effect in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Double Gradient
This technique gives a unique outlined effect to text using double gradients.
This technique gives a unique outlined effect to text using double gradients.
Elevated Type
Create elevated type complete with reflections.
Create elevated type complete with reflections.
Emboss
A simple emboss effect using layers and blur in Photoshop 4.0.
A simple emboss effect using layers and blur in Photoshop 4.0.
Embossed, Transparent Text
Create embossed transparent text that allows your background image to show though.
Create embossed transparent text that allows your background image to show though.
ePlastic
Create a plastic texture for text or objects using lighting effects and screen blend mode. This site is not compatible with Netscape 4.
Create a plastic texture for text or objects using lighting effects and screen blend mode. This site is not compatible with Netscape 4.
Fool's Gold
Create gold textured text using Photoshop 6.0.
Create gold textured text using Photoshop 6.0.
Gel Text with Outline
A variation on the gel text effect. This one has an outline and a shiny appearance.
A variation on the gel text effect. This one has an outline and a shiny appearance.
Gel Text
Create a translucent 'gel' text effect using no filters or layer styles. There's a lot of steps, but it's written for beginners.
Create a translucent 'gel' text effect using no filters or layer styles. There's a lot of steps, but it's written for beginners.
Ghost Text and Chalk Effect
Create mysterious looking ghost text, then change just one setting and get a chalk effect.
Create mysterious looking ghost text, then change just one setting and get a chalk effect.
Gold Text
The classic airbrush Gold Text effect.
The classic airbrush Gold Text effect.
Inset Text
How to create inset divider bars or text. Version unspecified.
How to create inset divider bars or text. Version unspecified.
Interlaced Text
Create text with horizontal interlace lines in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Create text with horizontal interlace lines in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Jeweled Gold Text
A neat effect of text encrusted with jewels. Uses channels, lighting effects, drop shadows, layer effects, and more. Great effect for dingbat fonts and other objects, too.
A neat effect of text encrusted with jewels. Uses channels, lighting effects, drop shadows, layer effects, and more. Great effect for dingbat fonts and other objects, too.
Linking Letters for a Monogram
Create dimensional letters that are intertwined. Uses alpha channels, lighting effects, layers, and more.
Create dimensional letters that are intertwined. Uses alpha channels, lighting effects, layers, and more.
Metallic Shade
Add a metallic shade to text using lighting effects in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Add a metallic shade to text using lighting effects in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Neon Text
Create glowing neon text in Photoshop 5.5.
Create glowing neon text in Photoshop 5.5.
Overlay Inset
Use the overlay blend mode to give you type an inset effect in Photoshop 4.0.
Use the overlay blend mode to give you type an inset effect in Photoshop 4.0.
Perspective Text
Learn how to create beveled perspective up (or down) text. Also witness an interesting psychological illusion.
Learn how to create beveled perspective up (or down) text. Also witness an interesting psychological illusion.
Postcard Text 1
I call this 'Postcard Text' because of those ubiquitous postcards with the location spelled out in pictures. It makes for a cool effect which can be useful for many applications.
I call this 'Postcard Text' because of those ubiquitous postcards with the location spelled out in pictures. It makes for a cool effect which can be useful for many applications.
Postcard Text 2 (Clipping Group)
Use a layer clipping group to make 'postcard' text, text with pictures inside each letter.
Use a layer clipping group to make 'postcard' text, text with pictures inside each letter.
Postcard Text 3 (Paste Into)
Paste into is another way to fill type with pictures.
Paste into is another way to fill type with pictures.
Punched Type
Punch your type into the background.
Punch your type into the background.
RAYofLIGHT² (Tutorial & Action)
A variation on the original Ray of Light tutorial, modified for Photoshop 6. This tutorial is easier, faster, and results in a smaller file with fewer layers.
A variation on the original Ray of Light tutorial, modified for Photoshop 6. This tutorial is easier, faster, and results in a smaller file with fewer layers.
Reflective Chrome
Use curves to create a chrome type effect.
Use curves to create a chrome type effect.
Rough Edge Outlines
Learn how to select the outside edges of your text to apply a rough edge effect. Good selection tips here in addition to the text effect. Part two shows you a few techniques using custom brushes.
Learn how to select the outside edges of your text to apply a rough edge effect. Good selection tips here in addition to the text effect. Part two shows you a few techniques using custom brushes.
Speed Type
Give your type a nice feeling of speed.
Give your type a nice feeling of speed.
Text Effects in Photoshop 5
Using selection techniques, layer effects, and lighting effects to create interesting text effects in Photoshop 5.
Using selection techniques, layer effects, and lighting effects to create interesting text effects in Photoshop 5.
Texture Fill
Fill text with another image in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Fill text with another image in Photoshop 4.0 or higher.
Wobbly Type
This typeFX looks great at higher resolutions but, if handled carefully, works with tiny designs too.
This typeFX looks great at higher resolutions but, if handled carefully, works with tiny designs too.