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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.
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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Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 20:29
I just want to thank you for the tutorial. It has helped me a lot.
Thanks! You are the best!
Monday, February 6th, 2012 11:35
suddently i became expert in design..
thanks for the tutorial..
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 11:30
hey nice tutorial but how do you do step 6
thanks
Monday, January 30th, 2012 16:40
Thanks A Lot for the tutorial !!! Great, Awesome, Brilliant !!!
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 07:58
Excellent! THANKS!!
Friday, January 13th, 2012 17:04
thank for tutorial
Friday, January 13th, 2012 04:17
As a complete beginner, I tried all the logical places to change the background color but all failed to do so. I have been unable to find instruction on the web that allow me to change the background color in CS5 without creating layers or running scripts, etc. Why is it so difficult to do?
Monday, December 26th, 2011 11:35
Nice Tutorials & easy
thanks a lot.
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 04:49
Hey this is going to sound stupid. But when i try the third step my gradient is too big for the piece. When i try the linear it looks alot similar to the example but still way to big.
Help!
Monday, October 3rd, 2011 01:54
Your technique was used on the cover of a rap album! Look up DJ Khaled-Victory. Great tutorial.
http://planetill.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/dj-khaled-victory.jpg
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 23:56
Thank you so much for this! I used this to create a Coming Soon page for a site.
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 19:36
I don’t understand this bit:
“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.”
When I click Ctrl and then the large text layer I don’t get the selection around it.
Saturday, August 20th, 2011 11:25
me too :(
I can’t do the other steps :((
Please help me !
Saturday, August 20th, 2011 14:11
Ah, I’m no expert, but if you’ll notice the very little thumbnail beside the layer, that’s what you’d have to click. CTRL+ click on the little thumbnail of the layer, it should select the whole selection of the image of that layer.
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 08:45
I don’t get it too. It is weird.
Monday, October 24th, 2011 07:58
I did not understand it at first either, so what I did was create a new Group and move all my words by dragging them into the group folder (I’m sure there’s an easier way). Then I double clicked and duplicated the group and moved them around with my cursor. Hope that helped.
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 22:34
When you figure it out let me know. I dont understand the Duplicate..and layer thumbnail step….help help
Monday, August 8th, 2011 20:51
Awesome! Finally, I know now how it is done. It’s pretty simple for a fantastic design, really. Thanks for sharing this!
Sunday, June 19th, 2011 01:51
When I press Control J it just duplicates the layer. It doesnt look like the picture. Please help
Saturday, September 24th, 2011 19:21
have you made your words layer invisible? (u can do that by pressing that eye button located left of the layer)
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 03:17
I produced one using the word “History” and focused on U.S. history. I did it using GIMP and you can find it here:
http://ebturner.deviantart.com/art/History-Typography-Wallpaper-213201981
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 14:44
Heres mine. I found a few steps were hard but I worked through it.
Friday, May 13th, 2011 02:19
I’m an instructor at a local college and one of my students used the technique above to create a very beautiful piece… The piece was so spectacular that it was entered into a contest and won “best of show.” My question is, if my student used this technique to create his own design, and it looks similar to the one used in this tutorial, would that be considered a “copyright breach?”
Friday, May 13th, 2011 11:25
Hi, I am not an expert when it comes to copyright, but I believe it would not an issue. Although it would be good if your student add a little tweak on it, since there are lots of tutorials that teaches people design techniques, it won’t hurt to merge two or more. Again, I don’t see any problem with it when it comes to copyright..nobody owns it anyway.
Sunday, April 24th, 2011 03:02
Tip: To make it go fast, type alot of words first, then use the marquee tool to cut out one word at a time, then, once a word is marked press and hold CTRL/CMD and move the marked word to where you want it and continue like this with all words! :)
Monday, January 3rd, 2011 04:26
I am having a problem with this step. Once I press Ctrl + J and then make B and C invisible only the large text layer with no small text is showing in my letters. I am using a MAC and Photoshop CS3.
Sunday, November 28th, 2010 15:04
this is great, thank you for sharing!
Sunday, November 28th, 2010 00:52
I Loved the tutorial. I tried to do but yours it’s better so far. Well, I’m a beginner, but someday I’ll do something like this. Congratulations, it’s awesome. Kisses from Brasil ;*
Sunday, November 14th, 2010 13:13
Heya I tried this and it went really well so thanks a lottt!
However at the end when you added text underneath what font did you use?
Thursday, September 30th, 2010 19:50
GOOD ONE..!!! and thanks for providing the psd of this as well..
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Tueksta
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 00:13
I tried it, worked just fine. But I tried to change font-size to 300 and use more letters, that didn’t work well, as the letters are too small to be really filled be small words, only bits and pieces flying around. Font-sizes are key to the design of this background concept.
Tutorial Lounge
Saturday, February 13th, 2010 18:09
amazing techniques you sharing for create an amazing typography effect using Photoshop.
Ernest
Friday, March 19th, 2010 23:11
Very nice tutorial! Easy&Cool
Roland
Monday, June 7th, 2010 05:13
Like Tea, I’m stuck at the step: 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.
If I click Ctrl+J I get a new layer… but the next step doesn’t look like the picture.
PS: I have a MAc so instead of Ctrl I use CMD.
Daniel
Friday, July 16th, 2010 12:20
So you have your big text layer -A
You have group with all small text layers in it – B
You have merged duplicate of this group – C
CMD+ Click on A
Click on C
Press CTRL+J
Make invisible B and C
You should have something like in picture.
Craig Hull
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 13:34
This doesn’t work for me. In which order should the layers be? Or does that not matter?
M.
Sunday, November 28th, 2010 15:04
this is great, thank you for sharing!
Farrah
Monday, January 3rd, 2011 04:26
I am having a problem with this step. Once I press Ctrl + J and then make B and C invisible only the large text layer with no small text is showing in my letters. I am using a MAC and Photoshop CS3.
Sarah Almeida
Sunday, November 28th, 2010 00:52
I Loved the tutorial. I tried to do but yours it’s better so far. Well, I’m a beginner, but someday I’ll do something like this. Congratulations, it’s awesome. Kisses from Brasil ;*
Rosie Curtis
Sunday, November 14th, 2010 13:13
Heya I tried this and it went really well so thanks a lottt!
However at the end when you added text underneath what font did you use?
Halima
Monday, August 30th, 2010 20:34
Fantastic tutorial. You rock. Thanks a million!
Prithivi
Thursday, September 30th, 2010 19:50
GOOD ONE..!!! and thanks for providing the psd of this as well..
PsdDude
Monday, February 8th, 2010 12:09
Amazing result! The tutorial was written very well and also very helpful ! thanks
Saket
Sunday, January 17th, 2010 09:20
Awesome guide for the wallpaper creation Daniels..Looking forward for more such tips from you!
Thanks
Jacques//An1ken
Monday, November 9th, 2009 14:49
Really nice tutorial, I would recommend adding some depth to the plain though. The text just seems blunt off the bat.
Adding some lighting and depth could produce a warm and comfy outcome.
Keep up the good work none the less.
Regards,
Jacques
Ben G
Monday, November 9th, 2009 18:14
Great tut
Tomas
Monday, November 9th, 2009 14:47
Great tutorial Daniels, thanks.
Lasha
Monday, November 9th, 2009 02:08
I’ve always wanted to create a type-based design such as this, but never had the time or chance. Great inspiration! I will be creating something like this the moment I get a chance. Thanks! :)
CL
Sunday, November 8th, 2009 19:42
It’s realy great, Daniels! Thanks!!! Good luck and waiting for new posts :)
Christina
Sunday, November 8th, 2009 19:45
It realy great, Danels! You’re good! Love your post and waiting other! Thanks a lot!!! Good luck! :)
Lam Nguyen
Monday, November 9th, 2009 10:38
I’m really surprised with the effect that step 3 did. I always use filter noise for the effect likes this one. Great tutorial!
Webstandard-Team
Monday, November 9th, 2009 15:19
Great Tutorial! If you need some more Typo-Stuff, don’t miss Best of Typo-Blogs!
Sam Davis
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 15:48
DUDE. Amazing tutorial!!! i love it, probably the best one i have EVER done! and this is the first comment i have ever posted on a tutorial! so i’d feel pretty special if i were you haha! TY
Nick Walker
Sunday, December 20th, 2009 01:51
Amazing Tutorial! I bookmarked this site after about a second of seeing it. Bloody brilliant!
You, mate, are awesome! Thankyou!
Laurent JOUVIN
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 04:39
Wow! I love that. This is a very cool effect. Thank you very much for sharing.
J.Silver
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 00:37
Hi,
Really interesting. I was wondering for awhile how to do this. Thanks. :)
Luis Lopez
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 00:41
Great tutorial, I think is a really awesome the way you use to create the main word.
Thanks