Before we start here is what we will be creating today:
Click on image to enlarge
1.Xara 3D tutorial part:
- Okay, let’s open Xara 3D programm. By default there will be “X3D Version 6″
- Click on the Text options, press CTRL+A to delete existing text and type T, choose font, You like and press OK.
- 1.2. Now we will change text a little bit -
- 1. Click on Text toolbar, to get off that rounded circle;
- 2.Click on Bold – to make text little bigger;
- 3.Click on Lightning to show lightning arrows;
- 4. Click on Bevel options to change default Bevel settings;
- 1.3.
- 1.3.1. Change bevel shape to rolled to add little bit emboss effect;
- 1.3.2.Click to Round to round corners a little bit;
- 1.3.3. Change depth to 10 – to soften a little emboss effect;
- 1.4. Okay, now we will play with lightning and 3D effects.
- 1.4.1. Click on Text as shown and move Your mouse cursor to add any 3D effect while it is exactly as You want;
- 1.4.2. Click on the arrows and move them around to get glossy view and better lightning, if needed;
- 1.5.Okay, We are done in XARA, now let’s export text to Photoshop:
- 1.5.1. Click File-Export or CTRL+SHIFT+E to get export view;
- 1.5.2. Choose where to save file,then do check everything like picture below, to add transparency choose *.png format and in the options click Transparent checkbox;
Do this with every letter, change 3D effects, maybe colors – play with options until You are satisfied. I got 4 png files at the end, one for every letter – T,Y,P,E.
2.Adobe Photoshop part
If You are starting just from now on – click here to get *.zip file with all 4 *.png files.I will use many Photoshop keyboard shortcuts, if You want to learn about most useful ones, read my article – 48+ Greatest Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts.
1.step
- 1.1.Create a new document, call it TYPE, I used 1000×750 size.
- 1.2.Open T document in photoshop, press CTRL+A to select all, then CTRL+C, open Your TYPE document and press CTRL+V to drop it in the document;
- 1.3. resize text with CTRL+T and holding ALT+SHIFT to resize from center point and to resize it proportionally, rotate it to get better result;
- 1.4. Repeat those steps for all 4 text documents until You got result similar like mine:
2.step
Now lets create some background,click on background layer to make it active:
- 1. Press G to activate gradient editor;
- 2.Click on radial gradient;
- 3.And then double click on the gradient editor, to get gradient editor;
- 4.Choose Foreground to background;
- 5.Use color codes to get output as mine, copy those RGB codes and use them: #f8b1d7, #8871a1
Now click and pull Your mouse like in the picture to get same result:
3.step
Now let’s add shadow to create more realistic effect:
1. Select all four text layers – easy technique is to select first layer, hold SHIFT and select on last layer You want to select, then right click and press duplicate;
- 2. Now press CTRL+E to merge those layers into one, rename it – shadow and move it below all text layers.
- 3. Hit D to reset foreground/background color;
- 4.CTRL+CLICK on the shadow layer to select it, then press ALT+DELETE to fill it with black color;
- 5. Hit CTRL+D to deselect layer;
- 6.Go to Filter–>Blur–>Gaussian Blur and type 10 to radius pixels, hit OK;
- 7. Change opacity to ~40% to soften shadow;
4.step
I added more shadow to make it more realistic, You can skip this step if You want:
- 1.Click on Elliptical Marque tool and change feather to 50px;
- 2.Hit D to reset background/foreground color;
- 3. Click CTRL+SHIFT+N to create a new layer;
4.Click and drag marque tool below the letters, then change opacity to ~20-40%;
5. step
In this step we will add some colors to actual text, I took idea here actually from Nick Ainley’s work -
1.Double click on T text layer to get blending options:
Check everything as in the pictures below, to get different colors just play with gradient overlay:
- 2. Okay, now You have one text nicely colored. To copy layer style –> right click on the layer – click “copy layer style”;
- 3.Click on the other text layer – right click and “past layer style”, just change gradient overlay colors to get different results;
6.step
Okay now lets add some more interesting background and styling:
- 1.Download those curvy line brushes – of course, better is to make those curves in Illustrator and then just import to Photoshop, but I will not bother You to do it now. I am sure You want to get faster to the final illustration.
- 2. Load brushes into just by double clicking and find them clicking F5 – to get brushes panel.
- 3.Click CTRL+SHIFT+N to create new layer and move it to top of all layers.
- 4. I used white background color.
- 5. Now change opacity to ~60-70% and click E, to grab eraser tool and erase few places to get effect that those lines are rambling through the letters:
Repeat those steps, add some blending options to get Your own unique results!
This is my final result:
If You couldn’t do something, check out my *.psd file – click here to download.
If You couldn’t do anything – please ask, I will be here to help You!
