Creating Your Own Metallic Type (Adobe Photoshop CS Tricks and Tips)

Metallic effects are widely used by artists as the drop shadow for texts. You usually see them in car ads, CD covers, and movie logos. Even magazines are abundant with this metallic type. I found these great tips in the Internet in creating metallic effect to your text. Let me share it with you.

1.To start with your artwork, create a new file large enough to contain the full logo you're about to make.

2. Use the Gradient Tool. Add a liner gradient from top to bottom using any color you like. Changing the setting is easy. Just double-click on the Gradient tool icon and the Option palette will be opened.

3. Add a type with the Horizontal Type tool, and enter the name you want to use.

4. Create a warped text by clicking on the Create Warped Text icon on the Type Options bar. Choose the effect and the amount you want. Then click OK.

5. Create a path from the type by getting to the Layer > Type > Create Work Path. The new path can be found under the Path palette. The original layer can now be trashed or turned off. By using the Direct Selection tool, the path can be changed to any shape you want. Points can be added to create distortions or mutated shapes.

6. Create a new layer and fill the path with a color after you have completed the path. This can be done in many ways. One way is to click on the Fill Path button at the bottom of the Path palette. Just a simple advice, whatever color you choose is not that important. You will be overriding it anyway later.

7. To add drop shadow, double click or Alt-Double click (the former for Mac and the latter for Win) on the layer in the Layer palette with your logo to bring up the Layer Style dialog box. In that dialog box, click on Drop Shadow. Adjust to your specifications.

8. Click on Bevel and Emboss to add them. Choose Chisel Hard for the Technique and pump up the Depth.

9. To add Gradient Overlay, click on the gradient icon to bring out the Gradient Editor. Choose the gradient type that looks almost exactly like the reflection used in metallic type. When you choose a particular gradient, it appears in the Editor box. Adjust it in any way you want. When you want to move the position or change the color of the paint wells, just click them. The paint wells are located below the gradient. On the other hand, clicking below the gradient when there's no paint well will automatically insert a new one. These wells along the top of the gradient control opacity.

10. Adjust the angle. Once you have the gradient you want, click OK to exit the Editor to get back in the Layer Style dialog box. Back in the dialog box, just adjust the Angle to allow the gradient to intersect the logo at the right angle to simulate the reflections in the metal.

Finally,

11. Choose Stroke to add an edge to the logo. Click OK to exit the Layer Styles dialog.

You now have a brand new metallic type text for your CD or car ads. Just remember that these steps are just samples of what you can do with your Adobe Photoshop program. Be creative and imaginative. Creating your own design and art is easy with the Adobe Photoshop CS suite.