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So hello again! It’s time for my first tutorial I’ve ever been made. I actually hope You will enjoy this one, and that will encourage me to do some more. We will use Xara 3D to get 3D text effect, then export text to Photoshop and add some style there. If You haven’t got Xara 3D, You can download demo for free ( 15 days trial) and You can read my review about Xara and their pros and cons. And yeah, If You don’t want to download program I will give You *.psd file with text elements, so You can skip Xara part and get straight to Photoshop retouching part.
Before we start here is what we will be creating today:
Click on image to enlarge
Do this with every letter, change 3D effects, maybe colors – play with options until You are satisfied. I got 4 png files at the end, one for every letter – T,Y,P,E.
If You are starting just from now on – click here to get *.zip file with all 4 *.png files.
I will use many Photoshop keyboard shortcuts, if You want to learn about most useful ones, read my article – 48+ Greatest Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts.
1.step
2.step
Now lets create some background,click on background layer to make it active:
Now click and pull Your mouse like in the picture to get same result:
3.step
Now let’s add shadow to create more realistic effect:
1. Select all four text layers – easy technique is to select first layer, hold SHIFT and select on last layer You want to select, then right click and press duplicate;
4.step
I added more shadow to make it more realistic, You can skip this step if You want:
4.Click and drag marque tool below the letters, then change opacity to ~20-40%;
5. step
In this step we will add some colors to actual text, I took idea here actually from Nick Ainley’s work -
1.Double click on T text layer to get blending options:
Check everything as in the pictures below, to get different colors just play with gradient overlay:
My result is like this:
6.step
Okay now lets add some more interesting background and styling:
Do this in big zoom ( click ALT+ Mousewheel to zoom in/out), so You can erase lines more precise:
Repeat those steps, add some blending options to get Your own unique results!
This is my final result:
If You couldn’t do something, check out my *.psd file – click here to download.
If You couldn’t do anything – please ask, I will be here to help You!
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Dainis Graveris is 23 years old blogger and designer, founder of 1stWebDesigner, now more silently managing everything behind the scenes. He usually hangs out in Twitter tweeting design related links and chatting with people. If you have any questions or feedback that's the best place to start! Cheers!
Friday, October 10th, 2008 17:01
Huh, so You solved the problem or I need to check it again???
Friday, October 10th, 2008 14:57
I’m so stupid, I did forget to name the file. Sometimes i just wonder what this head is for? thanks
Friday, October 10th, 2008 14:52
I’ve been trying to export that x3d file, and tryed to save it but it doesn’t work for me. I don’t get the export window as you do, it only shows a normal save as window and if i try to save this as PNG, JPG or any other format it doesnt work.”what the..”am supposed to do about this. anyone having a clue?
Friday, September 26th, 2008 14:35
You’re welcome :) Sure thing I will create some more :)
Friday, September 26th, 2008 12:59
thanks a lot… for a very nice tutorial… I hope you make more tutorial
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 23:07
@Dainis Graveris thankx.
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 17:39
@Matthew Cheers! Hope You will learn something new too!
@Jonathan I understand You, but in this case no matter which kind of curves You use, so I just found free vector swirly curls resources, You can grab from:
http://www.deviantart.com/#catpath=resources/vector&order=9&q=swirls
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 16:42
I kind of figured that, but when doing a tutorial for the first time, I like to, follow exactly as possible. Does that make any sense? I mean, besides using paint shop pro, i would like to do exactly what you’re doing, substituting when necessary.
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 03:56
Great tut, very detailed with a great outcome!
Matthew Heidenreichs last blog post : Retro Dark Blue Header Design
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 00:27
Jonathan actually those brushes I used are just for example – You can use any brush You want with this technique.
Saturday, September 20th, 2008 23:41
I use Paint Shop Pro XI, can you change the brushes into images so i can use them. thankx. i think u can see my email, if not it is jon.watkins@yahoo.com. Thankx again.
Saturday, September 20th, 2008 15:36
@CoolProducts Thanks! You just need to try! If You can’t do something just ask!
@Tay Zar Yeah, Nik Ainley’s designs are just amazing! Thanks!!! Good luck!
Friday, September 19th, 2008 18:04
nice Dainis:) that tut is hot;)i like it.keep up the good work buddy!!!
Ronald
NaldzGraphicss last blog post : Create a Billiard Balls in Photoshop
Friday, September 19th, 2008 19:35
@Janko Thanks! :)
@Ronald I really appreciate Your words, I will :) You too keep up ,see you!!
Friday, September 19th, 2008 10:38
Very nice!
Jankos last blog post : Turn postcard photo into a stunning comment form using CSS
Friday, September 19th, 2008 05:51
Fantastic Dainis! Very well explained, and great result. :)
Friday, September 19th, 2008 04:28
Really Nice Effect, good tutorial thanks.
Friday, September 19th, 2008 03:59
Nice tutorial Dainis, I’ve seen this kind of thing a few times before but I think yours is the best explained. Hopefully we’ll see some more tutorials from you soon :D
ps. Nik Ainley has been Xara 3D’s best marketing tool ;)
Rosss last blog post : Stylish Floral Typography
Friday, September 19th, 2008 02:31
Thats your first tutorial Adelle? Thats quite impressive, i was expecting a normal photoshop begginner text effect for a first tutorial, but you have kind of made it much more complicated (in a good way) but anyways, amazing tutorial, their wasn’t one step in that guidance I never understood at all, very well explained. Hope to see more tutorials from you Adelle!
Friday, September 19th, 2008 02:21
great tut! That’s your first? Awesome! :)
adelles last blog post : Inspire yourself with Graffiti Art
Friday, September 19th, 2008 08:50
@Ross I really appreciate Your words! If there is so much good words, I will surely keep creating new tutorials :) I think Nik was one of the first who used this technique, totally agreed! :)
@Max thanks for passing by! You’re welcome.
@Jay thanks!! There surely will be more :)
@beets again thanks for Your great words!
Friday, September 19th, 2008 05:14
Great tut Dainis. Nicely explained.
Look forward to seeing a lot more =)
Best of luck.
~Jay
Friday, September 19th, 2008 02:42
@Antonwoods my apologies, but this is my first tutorial not Adelle’s..:) It’s hard to read if review is adressed to other person, but anyway I appreciate Your comment! :)
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Yves
Friday, March 12th, 2010 13:44
Thank you very much for this great tutorial, it was very help full, good written and easy to understand! Hope to read more from you.
Cheers Yves
Murat Demir
Friday, October 30th, 2009 01:13
The .psd files are missing. But great tuto anyway
Tanhee
Thursday, October 1st, 2009 19:52
Wow, i think i have some kind of special interest for anything related to 3d, games, animations, videos, films, and this is amazing, im trying it and will write the results here. Amazing and complete information dear colleage. Best wishes
zenaire
Monday, August 31st, 2009 12:04
Xara is new one of course but looking at your work I must need that. I will try the demo first of course. Thanks to them who introduce us to some amazing software..The thanks goes to you too..
Michel
Sunday, September 13th, 2009 19:26
I have downloaded the letters and tried to open them in Photoshop.
By copy and paste them just like it is explained in the tutorial.
But it didn’t worked.
Can I use photoshop CS4 for this?
Or is this not the right one?
wali
Friday, March 26th, 2010 18:02
yeah this is very nice tutorial bro. Where were u before. Insha Allah i will learn more tutorials.
Thanks.
chesca
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 18:56
hello, i wish you could have added more tuts on the brushes :( size, the layer, etc in applying the brushes. I’m a total noob :( But, it’s a really great tut. Keep it up! I’ll be tuning in for more tutorials from you :)
Todd
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 01:44
check this post please…!!! :(
I like your site… :) :D
Dainis Graveris
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 12:11
Apologies,now everything is fixed :)
Lyndall
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 18:05
This “free sharing” of information seems too good to be true. Like comunmism.
Mersin Nakliyat
Thursday, August 11th, 2011 16:07
great tutorial,thank you so much
gretchin
Friday, June 3rd, 2011 18:11
hello! guys! I’m new to Photoshop, I need help>>…this is my Skype gretchin.plaza1…..Thank you so much!
Dainis Graveris
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 13:30
@Rusli Zainal sure, just make sure you link to this page as original and give credits – then it will be okay.
@Alex i didn’t understand you, maybe you need to use another font or you just didn’t check all settings carefully in xara 3d before exporting on PS?
Rusli zainal
Sunday, July 5th, 2009 16:09
Dainis, I am planning to translate this tutorial and publish it in my blog so will be benefits for other who dont speak english, I’ll let you know when translation is ready, and will ask your permission, thanks
Penske
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 01:46
Yeah I did… it only let’s me go to 400%! Once I go that big then go back to photoshop, I get the same problem… it’s beating my brains out! I have no clue how to fix it or what’s wrong!
Dainis Graveris
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 16:10
@Penske there is also option – Fit to width, and max font size 288pt to me. Maybe You did something wrong in export settings?
You put file size to “Current windows size”, maybe you’ve got user defined size and it’s small, I can just guess too. Check out step 1.5.2.
Penske
Monday, January 19th, 2009 08:05
I had a problem… after I saved the .PNG image I opened photoshop, new document, opened .PNG image, then tried to import it to the new document…unfortunately the letters came out real small on the new document… if I try to expand/resize the letter it’s really pixelated! What am I doing wrong or what can I do to correct this?
Dainis Graveris
Monday, January 19th, 2009 09:08
@Penske You should just create bigger letters while working still in XARA, just use bigger font size.
Dainis Graveris
Friday, November 28th, 2008 21:18
@Htoo Tay Zar – nice outcome! Thanks for showing Your outcome :)
@Dean Kennedy Thanks, I like easy transparency creation too in Xara 3D, also color settings are very interesting.
Text Effect
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 20:35
very excellent keep it up ..
Text Effects last blog post : 20+ Great Photoshop Text Effect Tutorial
Kirsten
Friday, January 23rd, 2009 07:54
Just so you know you’re out of bandwidth so I wasn’t able to download the 3d text file, but great tutorial nonetheless :) Thanks!
Jene
Sunday, February 1st, 2009 13:07
This is a great tutorial, step by step and explained well. There is nothing more frustrating than getting half way through a tutorial only to find you don’t understand something or there is a step missed. Thank you and I look forward to more tutorials from you.
psdlovers
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 17:57
thanks for the tutorial…but can i share it on my site? ill give you full credits.
Dainis Graveris
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 23:43
@psdlovers sure thing, just don’t forget about linking and credits and I don’t think we’ll have any problems :)
Gus Yehia
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 15:26
reading and practising it, great work, mate
Gus Yehias last blog post : Is sulumits retsambew an alien?
Denise
Friday, May 8th, 2009 23:24
this is so awesome TnQ so much…the best tut I’ve seen on this 3d font effect…great stuff!!!
Denises last blog post : New Release day @PDW!!!
Lawrence77
Friday, February 6th, 2009 00:10
hi friend,
i think you remember me… :)
There are lots of spam comments in your blog, try to stop that by anyone of the method!
thanks..
Lawrence . J
jose
Friday, April 24th, 2009 00:24
hello thank you very much for tutorial
but idon’t have photoshop i need to make the letters FPOC
please if you do for me thank you thank you
zeta
Friday, April 24th, 2009 05:21
You have nice writing skills!
I enjoyed very much the use of shortcuts, every tutorial should be written that way.
Very nice effect!
please show me some more!!
Zeta