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This tutorial will lead teach you how to create really interesting and unique typographic wallpaper in few easy steps. Really even beginner will be able to recreate this effect, add their own style and thought in it, I am sure you will enjoy and learn a lot from this tutorial! You will learn how to create good looking background, add lightning effects and work with fonts, sizes, colors to make just necessary places stand out! Let’s get started!
Step 1 – Creating background
First open blank document with size 1920×1200 pixels. Fill the background with color #242424. Duplicate the background layer and name it Film grain. Then go to Filter – Artistic – Film Grain. Apply settings shown below.

Set layers opacity to 50%. So far your wallpaper should look like this.

Step 2 – Lightning
Create a new layer and name it Lightning. Then select Radial Gradient Tool with black and white color.
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Draw the gradient as shown below.

Set layer to Overlay and opacity to 55%. You should have something like this.

Step 3 – Adding Brushes
Download Adys grunge brushes, create new layer and brush around little bit. Set layers opacity to 15%. Download Concrete texture, place it in your document and set it to Overlay and opacity to 10%.

Step 4 – Creating Main Text
Download BEBAS font, create a new layer and type your text. I chose 350 pt size with smooth mode. Color really doesn’t matter. Name layer PEACE.

Step 5 – Add Background Text – Important Step
Lower your text opacity to around 15%. Create a new group (Layer – New – Group) and name it Words. Create new type layers in this group and start typing. Try to use different fonts and sizes. Try to avoid large spaces between words. Fonts I used:





Step 6 – Creating effect
When you’re done duplicate your words group (Layer – Duplicate Group) and merge it (Ctrl+E). Make invisible your unmerged words group. Find your large text layer (in my case it’s PEACE), hold CTRL (Command on mac) and click on layers thumbnail. That should load it’s selection.

Then click on your merged words layer and press Ctrl+J. If you make invisible your merged words layer (and unmerged words group is still invisible) you should get something like this.

Step 7 – Create Background Text Effect
Make merged words layer visible again and apply following layer style.

Set layers opacity to 30%.

Then duplicate merged words layer and place it under merged words layer. Then go to Filter – Blur – Motion Blur and apply following settings.

Set layers opacity to 15%.

Add text under your title if you want.

Step 8 – Final touches
Locate your PEACE text layer and lower its opacity to 4%.

Create new layer, go to Image – Apply Image, then go to Filter – Render – Lightning Effects and apply following settings.

Set layers opacity to 30% and we’re done. I also added gradient map to one of the letter layers. Here’s final result. Click to enlarge.

Download wallpaper (various sizes):
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chilling, living, dreaming. you can check out my blog, find me on flickr and follow me on twitter.
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 15:06
one word – AWESOME!! thanks a lot! its so simple… used it to make a t-shirt design.. came out really well.. thanks a lot!
Monday, April 2nd, 2012 01:36
Supeer wonderful tutorials !!
At first, it’s very hard for me to understand the step 6, but after a million times, I already realize that the problem is my common sense ! hahaha THANK YOU !! :D
Friday, March 9th, 2012 04:39
i cant get step 6… anyone can answer this?
Thursday, February 16th, 2012 13:46
Thank you for this! I did not do it on Photoshop but I wrote out in sharp bubble letters with eraseable pen, wrote in the inside of the lines then erased the lines! WaaLaa!! I have typography on paper via pen :D
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Mat Carpenter
Sunday, November 8th, 2009 14:58
Great tutorial for beginners looking for some helpful tips.
Felix
Saturday, April 10th, 2010 17:13
This is just great! I love the effects applied on the text. I want it for my logo. Wow!
Nikita
Thursday, April 15th, 2010 16:59
I want to write thank you in Russian :
SPASIBO
Samir
Friday, March 26th, 2010 08:30
Well done, Love the tutorial and the wallpaper. One of the Best!!!!