3D Layered Text Effect « PsAwesome★ Awesome Photoshop Tutorials

3D Layered Text Effect

In this Awesome★ tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a 3D text effect using actions, basic tranform operations and filters. This is an intermediate level, approximately 2 cups of coffee long tutorial.

1 January 2010, Eren Göksel

In this Awesome^★ Photoshop tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a 3D text effect using actions, basic transform operations and filters. This is an intermediate level, approximately 2 cups of coffee long tutorial.

Expand this window to download the Awesome^★ video.

Here is the Final Image
Before we start lets see the final image we’ll create through out this tutorial. You can download the layered PSD document here.

Create the Text
Let’s start by creating a new document that is 1000 pixels wide and 600 pixels high at a Resolution of 300 pixels/inch using RGB Color Mode. Fill the "Background" layer with 65% Black. Get the Horizontal Type Tool and type "6PX". I’m using Bauhaus 93 font. Set Font Size to 78 pt, Tracking to 80 and Color to black.

Center the Text
Now we’ll center the "6PX" layer, this will be neccessary creating the light rays later. Go to the Layers Palette and select both layers. Go to Layer > Align > Vertical Centers, then go to Layer > Align > Horizontal Centers.

Create the Strips
Create a new layer named "Strips". Set Foreground and Background colors to default (Black and White) by pressing D on the keyboard. Now press X to switch colors. Fill the "Strips" layer with white by pressing Alt + Backspace. Go to Filter > Sketch > Halftone Pattern and use these settings: Size => 3, Contrast => 50, Pattern Type => Line. Now we have a layer filled with black and white lines.

Create the Strips
Alt-click on the line between "6PX" and "Strips" layers to mask the strips. Get the Move Tool and move the "Strips" layer a few pixels up or down [you can use the arrow keys] if neccessary, regarding that the white areas will be the strips and blacks will be empty space. Go to Layers Palette and select both "Strips" and "6PX" layers and hit Command+E to merge.

Create the Strips
Command-click the "Strips" layer thumbnail to load the selection, hit Command+C to copy. Go to Channels Palette, create a new channel and hit Command+V to paste. We’ll select the white areas here, but before that let’s make some rounded corners. Hit Command+D to deselect. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and apply with radius of 2 pixels. Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels, set Shadow Input Level to 120 and Highlight Input Level to 155 and apply. If there are very small white areas, select them and fill with black.

Create the Strips
Now we’ll get the white areas selected. Command-click the "Alpha 1" channel. Go back to Layers Palette and delete the "Strips" layer. Create a new layer named "Front" and fill the selection with color #b3b3b3, then hit Command+D to deselect. Now apply a Gradient Overlay Layer Style to this layer and use these settings: Blending Mode => Multiply, Opacity => 100%, Gradient => Black, White, Style => Radial, Angle => 90, Scale => 150%, and Align With Layer => Unchecked. Before closing the dialog box, drag the center of the gradient up, as in the below image.

Those Strips Need Some More Style
Now apply a Bevel and Emboss style using these settings: Style => Inner Bevel, Technique => Chisel Hard, Depth => 120%, Direction => Up, Size => 2 pixels, Soften => 2 pixels, Angle => 145 and Altitude => 55 degrees. Set Highlight and Shadow Opacity values at 75%.

Arrange the Layers
Duplicate the "front" layer. Make the Bevel and Emboss style invisible. Create a new layer above "Front copy" layer and name it "Extrude". Select both "Extrude" and "Front copy" layers and merge them. Doing this will flatten the layer styles. Drag the "Extrude" layer below the "Front" layer in the Layers Palette, and make "Front" layer invisible for now.

Put Some Color
Make sure "Extrude" layer is selected in the Layers Palette and go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Check the Colorize and set Hue to 40, Saturation to 35 and apply.

Create an Action to Extrude
Now here’s the tricky part. We’ll now create an action that will help us extrude our layer. Open the Actions Palette by going to Window > Actions. Open the Actions menu in the Actions Palette and select New Set. Name it "Extrude". This will create a new action set. Click Create New Action button and name the action "main". Click the Record button.

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