How to Create Metallic Embossed 3-D Text in Photoshop

Using 3-D text with a metallic effect is a great way to enhance the design of a web-page or other project, giving it a sleek, modern look. The Layer Styles feature that Adobe PhotoShop offers makes this a fairly easy project to do. Adobe PhotoShop is one of the most popular programs for working with images for the web. The final creation will look like the first image in this tutorial. Read on to learn how to create this text that sports a metallic effect.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Launch Adobe Photohop. Click on "File" and then "New" to open a new document that has a white background and size400X200 pixels. Choose the "Type" tool by clicking on the text icon "T" in the "Tools" Tab. Now select a font of your choice. Type in the text that you want to work with to create a metallic, 3-D effect.

2. Select your text with the text tool, and pick a color for your text from the color palette or the options bar. Alternatively, use Photoshop's magic wand to select your text color. Now click on "Select" then "Modify" and then "Contract" to contract your selection by 4px. Next, delete the selected area.

3. 
   You'll use the layer options to create the 3-D effect

   Open the layer options, which you'll use to create the 3-D effect. Click "Layer" then "Styles" and then "Bevel and Emboss." Next, select the "inner bevel" style.

4. 
   Right click on your Type layer in the Layers Palette

   Right click on your "Type" layer in the Layers Palette. Set the thickness at 161px and the size as 21px. Check the "drop shadow" radio button. Set the opacity at 25px and then set the distance as 9px. Choose "inner glow," which will give your text its shiny metallic effect.

5. 
   Set the opacity at 100 and then select gradient

   Set the opacity at 100 and then select gradient. Set the gradient scheme at black to white (#000000 - #ffffff). Select the "Gradient Overlay" and set a gradient pattern of black-white-black-white-black. Set the opacity at 100 percent.

6. 
   Add a background color of your choice to the background layer

   Add a background color of your choice to the background layer. The text will reflect this background color. You will now have 3-D text that has a metallic effect!

Tips & Warnings

• Here are a few keyboard shortcuts you can use for working with the text: To highlight the entire word, double-click on the word. To highlight an entire sentence, triple-click on the sentence. To highlight an entire paragraph, click four times anywhere in the paragraph.