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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!
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..
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?
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
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 17:57
thanks for the tutorial…but can i share it on my site? ill give you full credits.
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 :)
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 15:26
reading and practising it, great work, mate
Gus Yehias last blog post : Is sulumits retsambew an alien?
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!!!
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
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
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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?
Monday, January 19th, 2009 09:08
@Penske You should just create bigger letters while working still in XARA, just use bigger font size.
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 20:35
very excellent keep it up ..
Text Effects last blog post : 20+ Great Photoshop Text Effect Tutorial
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.
Friday, November 28th, 2008 21:00
Jeroen’s words were a little harsh, but the point is, Dainis, your tutorial was inspired by Nik’s design. Perhaps a nod to him and his tutorial mentioned at the beginning would have be more appreciative of others’ artwork?
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 23:28
Great tutorial Dainis! Have been using Ulead’s 3D product, but have to remove background in Photoshop (not too hard to do, but I like that you can export transparent in Xara as you show). Cool brushes you pointed out too, thanks again!
Now I’m off to check out your business cards post!
Dean Kennedys last blog post : Rhythm of Three
Monday, November 3rd, 2008 21:27
Oh, that’s really good :) Glad someone really downloaded Xara 3D :)
Monday, November 3rd, 2008 12:00
I tried this tutorial last night. You can check my outcome here. Anyway, Thanks for tutorials.
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 16:28
Thanks people for good words!
@Jeroen before You start to yell about tutorial You could compare those tutorials and I mentioned Nik Ainley excellent pick of blending tools too, if You read carefully. I did and explained everything from Xara 3D until Photoshop, opposite to following tutorial. Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 17:38
This tutorial is indeed nice. But the bad thing its almost completely stolen from a designer. I hate this crap.
Why do u STEEL a tutorial and repost it with your own things? and dont give credits to the original tutorial. for all ppl who are interested in finding the original tutorial watch on
http://www.shinybinary.com/
Sunday, October 26th, 2008 19:06
Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. Well explained & easy to follow, thank you.
Saturday, October 11th, 2008 17:32
yes I did solve it. apparently I forgot to name the file and it was doing nothing. spoke to soon, anyway thanks for the great post. I’m going to experiment on this for a while.
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Dainis Graveris
Monday, November 3rd, 2008 21:27
Oh, that’s really good :) Glad someone really downloaded Xara 3D :)
Dainis Graveris
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 16:28
Thanks people for good words!
@Jeroen before You start to yell about tutorial You could compare those tutorials and I mentioned Nik Ainley excellent pick of blending tools too, if You read carefully. I did and explained everything from Xara 3D until Photoshop, opposite to following tutorial. Enjoy!
Jeroen
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 17:38
This tutorial is indeed nice. But the bad thing its almost completely stolen from a designer. I hate this crap.
Why do u STEEL a tutorial and repost it with your own things? and dont give credits to the original tutorial. for all ppl who are interested in finding the original tutorial watch on
http://www.shinybinary.com/
Matthew
Friday, October 17th, 2008 16:40
thank u r information
it very useful
HENNA
Sunday, October 26th, 2008 19:06
Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. Well explained & easy to follow, thank you.
Dainis Graveris
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
Jonathon
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.
Antonwoods
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!
Ross
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
adelle
Friday, September 19th, 2008 02:21
great tut! That’s your first? Awesome! :)
adelles last blog post : Inspire yourself with Graffiti Art
Dainis Graveris
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!
Dainis Graveris
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! :)
Jay
Friday, September 19th, 2008 05:14
Great tut Dainis. Nicely explained.
Look forward to seeing a lot more =)
Best of luck.
~Jay
Max | Design Shard
Friday, September 19th, 2008 04:28
Really Nice Effect, good tutorial thanks.
beets
Friday, September 19th, 2008 05:51
Fantastic Dainis! Very well explained, and great result. :)
Dainis Graveris
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.
Matthew Heidenreich
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 03:56
Great tut, very detailed with a great outcome!
Matthew Heidenreichs last blog post : Retro Dark Blue Header Design
Jonathon
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.
Dainis Graveris
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!
Janko
Friday, September 19th, 2008 10:38
Very nice!
Jankos last blog post : Turn postcard photo into a stunning comment form using CSS
Dainis Graveris
Friday, September 19th, 2008 19:35
@Janko Thanks! :)
@Ronald I really appreciate Your words, I will :) You too keep up ,see you!!
NaldzGraphics
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
Dean Kennedy
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 23:28
Great tutorial Dainis! Have been using Ulead’s 3D product, but have to remove background in Photoshop (not too hard to do, but I like that you can export transparent in Xara as you show). Cool brushes you pointed out too, thanks again!
Now I’m off to check out your business cards post!
Dean Kennedys last blog post : Rhythm of Three
Austin Shaffer
Friday, November 28th, 2008 21:00
Jeroen’s words were a little harsh, but the point is, Dainis, your tutorial was inspired by Nik’s design. Perhaps a nod to him and his tutorial mentioned at the beginning would have be more appreciative of others’ artwork?
Julie Hollie
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 20:07
I have to agree I tried that other tutorial before I found yours and could not get my text from Xara to PS. It was saving it as an index file which was locked. In the other tutorial he does not explain how to export the file. Thanks for the tut, it has opened a new way of designing for me.
zaka
Monday, June 7th, 2010 21:29
Ya this is very much the best
i have some more to share