In this Photoshop tutorial, we’ll learn how to create a text effect in Photoshop CS6. We’ll be creating light beams around a text like this:
For this Photoshop tutorial, you’ll need:
- Photoshop CS6
Step 1
Let’s start this Photoshop tutorial by creating a new document. Go to File > New and use the settings shown below.
Step 2
We’ll now add the text required for this Photoshop tutorial. Select the Type Tool and press D to set black and white as the foreground and background colors respectively. In the Options bar, choose your font and its size.
Now, type your text.
If your text’s too small, make it bigger by going to Edit > Free Transform and dragging the corner handles outwards while holding the Shift key. Press Return (Macs) / Enter (Windows) when you’re done.
Now, select Type > Rasterize Type Layer to convert the Type layer into a pixel-based layer.
Step 3
We’ll now save a selection of the text so that we can load it later. Command-click (Macs) / Ctrl-click (Windows) the text layer’s preview thumbnail.
To save the selection, go to the Channels panel and select the Save Selection As Channel option at the bottom.
Go back to the Layers panel and press Command+D (Macs) / Ctrl+D (Windows) to deselect the selection.
Step 4
Hide the background layer by clicking on the layer visibility icon (the eye) in the Layers palette.
We’ll now fill the space around the text with white. Go to Edit > Fill and use the settings shown below.
You can now make the background layer visible again by clicking on the layer visibility icon.
Step 5
We’ll now blur our text. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and use the value shown below.
Now, select Filter > Stylize > Solarize.
We’ll now brighten the text by selecting Image > Auto Tone.
Step 6
Duplicate the text layer by pressing Command+J (Macs) / Ctrl+J (Windows).
With the duplicate text layer selected, go to Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates and use the following settings.
Now, select Image > Image Rotation > 90° CW.
Invert the image by pressing Command+I (Macs) / Ctrl+I (Windows).
Now, go to Filter > Stylize > Wind and use the following settings.
Click OK when you’re done. We need to apply the Wind filter two more times, so press Command+F (Macs) / Ctrl+F (Windows) twice.
Step 7
We’ll re-invert the text by pressing Command+I (Macs) / Ctrl+I (Windows).
Let’s brighten the text again by selecting Image > Auto Tone.
Apply the Wind filter three more times by pressing Command+F (Macs) / Ctrl+F (Windows) thrice.
Rotate the image to its original position by selecting Image > Image Rotation > 90° CCW.
Go to Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates and use the following settings.
Step 8
Change the duplicate text layer’s blending mode to Screen.
Step 9
Let’s add some color now. Click on the New Fill or Adjustment Layer option at the bottom.
Choose Gradient from the list and click on the gradient preview bar.
Choose the Black, White gradient.
Double-click on the black color stop present in the Gradient Editor’s bottom-half.
Choose any color you want. I picked a reddish-orange color.
Now, double-click on the white color stop.
Choose any color you want. I picked an orange-yellow color.
Change the Gradient Fill layer’s blending mode to Color.
Step 10
Select the original text layer, click on the menu icon on the top-right and select Convert to Smart Object from the list. Now, go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur and use the following settings.
Step 11
Now, let’s finish this Photoshop tutorial. Select the New Layer icon.
Go to the Channels panel and Command-click (Macs) / Ctrl-click (Windows) the Alpha 1 channel.
Go back to the Layers panel, go to Edit > Fill and use the following settings.
Press Command+D (Macs) / Ctrl+D (Windows) to deselect the selection and this Photoshop tutorialis complete!