How to Create Perspective 3D Text in Photoshop CS

You probably have seen those stunning text that were made with graphics software and 3D programs. This Photoshop tutorial is all about showing you how to create the 3D text effect in Photoshop Creative Suite and render it a shiny metallic look. When used as head (title) banner, image such as this can add greatly the visual impact to your web page.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC platform machine with Windows O.S. XP/Vista installed
• Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite (any edition)
• Time and patience
• Practice
• Be creative

1. 
   Example settings for new file

   Launch your Photoshop and start with a new file. Set the file size to (w)700 x (l)450 pixels, for example. Enter other desired settings for your new image document. See insert image.
   
   We are using light purple for the main layer background. Click on the "Background Color" square in your tools box.
   
   Next, from the "Color Picker" pop-up window, select from the purple shades. Click "OK" to select the chosen color. Use the Polygonal Lasso tool to select areas on the purple background that you want to adjust, then go to Image > Brightness/Contrast..., click "OK" to finish process.

2. 
   Using Arial MT, size 86 for the word PHOTOSHOP

   Use the "Type" tool (T) and select "Horizontal". Type something for your text image. I used font Arial MT, size 86 for the "Photoshop" text in the introduction image for this article.

3. We will create a perspective illusion to our text layer.
   Click the Layer option on your Photoshop top menu bar. Select "Type" > Convert, then go to Edit > Transform > Perspective.

4. 
   Creating perspective view for text

   Hold down simultaneously CTRL + SHIFT + ALT keys to bring up the transform feature. Pull upwards while holding down your left mouse key, on the upper left corner (the small square) of the Perspective box. Press "Enter" key on your keyboard to complete process once you are satisfied with the result.
   
   See image and note pull direction of the red arrow.

5. 
   Highlighting individual characters

   We have now created a perspective look to your text layer. We can rasterize the text shape. Click Layer on the top menu bar. Choose "Rasterize".
   
   Duplicate your text layer by going to the layer box and right click mouse, then left click "Duplicate Layer". Move the copy below the original text.
   
   Make "black" your foreground color by pressing SHIFT + ALT + BACKSPACE to fill your copied text layer with black color.
   
   You can now individually tweak color on each alphabet (both the original and copied layer text) using the Polygonal Lasso tool to outline the area that you want to highlight. To highlight the select text area, click "Image" on the top menu bar, then select Adjust > Color Balance..., or Image > Adjust > Brightness/Contrast..., click "OK" to finish step.

6. 
   Merging all visible layers

   Now we have created several layers and we want to merge them together.
   
   To hide our original text layer and merge with the duplicated layer and background layer, press together SHIFT + CTRL + E to merge visible layers. Or go to the "Layer" option on the top menu bar, select either "Merge Layer" or "Merge Visible" from the drop-down menu.

7. There we have our perspective 3D text image. Save the file then use it for your website, banner, wallpaper and anything else you can think of.
   
   Notes: I've cropped and resized my eHow spring avatar; pasted to the lower-right corner on the finished text image. Add anything you want to create interesting details to your 3D text image.