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Actions
What if you could create a great looking metal text effect quickly and repeat the process even
quicker? Well, with the magic of Photoshop Actions we can recreate a metal effect using a logo
or text in just moments with the push of a button. In this tutorial, we are going to add a metal
effect to our text while recording the commands with Photoshop Actions. When we’re done, you
can recreate the metal effect by simply pressing ‘Play’ in the Actions panel.
Preview
Tutorial Resources
Background: Wall Texture by Jay Leonhart
Texture: Old Film 10 by Lost and Taken
Before we start, make sure you are paying special attention to the settings in my screen captures,
especially those dealing with Layer Style Blending Options. You will need to copy these settings
in order to achieve the same effects.
Next, grab your Horizontal Type Tool (T) to type the text “Design Instruct”. I am using Franklin
Gothic Heavy, but feel free to use any bold font of your liking.
Open Actions panel through Window > Actions (Alt/Option+F9), and click on the Create new
set icon (looks like a folder) at the bottom of the Actions panel and call it “Metal Text”.
Create a new action by selecting the Create new action icon (looks like Post-it note).
Once you create a new action it should start recording automatically (you will see a red record
icon in the shape of a circle at the bottom of the Actions panel).
We are doing this instead of Rasterizing the text because we are trying to make the action
universal with text as well as logos and other one-color images.
Duplicate the new text by going to Layer > Duplicate Layer and move it down below the top text
layer (alternative: you can do this by right-clicking on the layer from Layers panel and select
Duplicate Layer).
We are going to have two light sources, so this text layer will be the first of the two sources. Go
to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow.
When you change these settings, make sure to uncheck Use Global Light. Global Light makes all
the shadows and embossing the same angle, and we want two different light sources.
Remember: both light source layers should be above the original text layer.
Step 4: Adding Our Second Shadow
Select the top text layer and go to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow.
Step 5: Adding the Bevel Layer Style
Now we are going to add in our Bevel, which will end up giving us that metal look. So click on
the top layer and go to Layer > Layer Style > Bevel and Emboss.
Go to Layer > New Layer (Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+N) and fill our selection with white.
Delete the selected area. This will get rid of the noise that is outside of our text.
You are now done creating our Photoshop action. You can now press stop in and Actions panel.
Download Wall Texture by Jay Leonhart and bringing it in as our background image and put it
behind all the layers.
Move the texture above all the layers and size it down to around 30% using Edit > Free
Transform (Ctrl/Cmd+T). It should match the canvas size.
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map. Select the Yellow to Purple Gradient and
check the reverse box.
Change the Blend Mode to Overlay and set the Opacity to 30%
Go to Layer > New Layer (Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+N), then Select > Inverse (Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+I) and
fill the new layer with black.
Create a new layers, so Layer > New > Layer (Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+N) and place the new layer
under the Old 10 Film texture layer.
Use white (#FFFFFF) as your brush color; dot the spots where the white parts are on the text
edges.
Change the Blend Mode to Color Burn and the Opacity to 30%.
Using the Gradient Tool (G), select Radial Gradient to click and drag a circle in the middle of
the document.
Now, click on the icon to Edit in Standard Mode (Q).
If the marquee showing isn’t on the edges of the canvas go to Select > Inverse
(Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+I).