3D Layered Text Effect ~ Multimedia Tutorial

3D Layered Text Effect

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.

Record the Action The following four steps will be recorded and we’ll repeat these steps by playing the action back. Now the first thing is to duplicate the layer. Make sure "Extrude" layer is selected in the layers palette and hit Command+J to duplicate. The second step is to scale it down a little. Hit Command+T and set Horizontal and Vertical Scales at 99% and hit Commit Transform button or simply hit Enter twice. The next thing we’ll do is to change the color and lightness. Everytime we play the action back, Photoshop will duplicate the layer, scale it down slightly and change the color of the layer and reduce the lightness so that it gets darker step by step. Hit Command+U to bring up the Hue/Saturation settings, set Hue to -50 and Lightness to -8 and apply. Finally we need to get the "Extrude copy" layer below the original one. In the layers palette drag the "Extrude copy" layer down and place it below the "Extrude" layer. Now click the Stop button on the Actions Panel.

Now Apply It Duplicate the "Extrude" layer and name it "Reflection Extrude", we’ll use this layer later for the reflection. Now we’ll play the action we recorded 25 times. Make sure the ""Extrude copy" layer is selected in the Layers palette and "Main" is selected in the Actions Panel, click the Play button 24 times. Select "Extrude" layer and all the copies in the Layers Palette and hit Command+E to merge them. Turn "Front" layer back to visible.

Create the Light Rays Duplicate the "Extrude" layer and name it "Rays". Move the "Rays" layer to top of the layer stack. Go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur, Set Amount to 100, Blur Method to Zoom, set Quality to Best and apply. Hit Command+F to apply the filter again with the last settings. Set Blending Mode for "Rays" layer to Color Dodge.

Arrange Layers It’s now time to make the reflection. Duplicate the "Front" layer. Create a new layer above the "Front copy" layer and name it "Reflection Front". Select "Reflection Front" and "Front copy" layers and merge by hitting Command+E. Take both Reflection layers just above the "Background" layer as in the below image.

Create the Reflection Get the Move Tool, select "Rays", "Front" and "Extrude" layers and move them up as in the below image. Now select both "Reflection Front" and "Reflection Extrude" layers, go to Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical. Move these layers down where the reflection will be.

Create the Reflection The next thing we’ll do is to extrude the reflection. Again we’ll create an action for that. Make sure "Reflection Extrude" layer is selected. Go to Actions Palette and click on the Create New Action button and name it "Reflection". Duplicate the "Reflection Extrude" layer. Hit Command+T, drag the pivot point up to the center of the PSD text as in the below image, and then set Horizontal and Vertical Scales at 99% and apply. Hit Command+U to bring up the Hue/Saturation settings and set Hue to -50 and Lightness to -8. Drag the "Reflection Extrude copy" layer below the "Reflection Extrude" layer in the Layers Palette. Now go to Actions Palette and stop recording.

Create the Reflection While the "Reflection Extrude copy" layer is selected play the "Reflection" action 23 times. Then select all Reflection Extrude layers in the Layers Palette and hit Command+E to merge.

Reflecting Light Rays Now duplicate "Reflection Extrude" layer and name it "Reflection Rays". Select both "Reflection Extrude" and "Reflection Front" layers and hit Command+E to merge. Rename the merged layer as "Reflection". Move "Reflection" layer below the "Reflection Rays" layer in the Layers Palette. Set Layer Opacity for "Reflection" layer at 20%. Select "Reflection Rays" layer and go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur. Set Amount to 100, Blur Method to Zoom and Quality to Best. Move the Blur Center up as in the below image and apply. Set Blending Mode of "Reflection Rays" layer to Color Dodge and Layer Opacity at 60% .

Create the Reflection Go to Laters Palette and select "Reflection" layer and click on the Add Layer Mask button. Get the Gradient Tool, pick Black, White gradient and fill the Layer Mask as shown in the below image. Now you should have a vanishing reflection. Now we have to do the same for the "Reflection Rays" layer. To apply the same layer mask to "Reflection Rays" layer just Command-click on the layer mask you’ve just created, then go to "Reflection Rays" layer and click the Add Layer Mask button.

Create the Shadow Create a new layer above "Reflection Rays" and name it "Shadow". Get the Polygonal Lasso Tool and make a selection like in the image and fill with black. Hit Command+D to deselect. Hit Command+T and scale it down vertically as in the below image. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and apply with a Radius of 8 pixels. Then, go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur and use these settings: Distance => 85, Angle => 0.

Edit the Background Now we’ll apply a layer style to "Background" layer. But before, double-click the "Background" layer and hit OK to convert it to a regular layer. Apply a Gradient Overlay to "Layer 0" using these settings: Blend Mode => Overlay, Opacity =>25%, Gradient => Black, White, Style => Linear, Angle => 90, Scale => 40%.