Chrome text effect

Make a new document 1000×1000 with black background.

Using the text tool, write whatever you want with white color (I am using “photoshop” for this tutorial) with Arial black 100 pt. Right click on it and choos “Rasterize type”

select a dark gray (#2f2f2f) for your foreground color and a light gray (#b9b9b9) for your background.Keeping the CTRL key (Command key on Mac) and clicking on the text layer, you’ll have the selection of the text. Select the gradient tool (Linear, fore to background) and drag from the top to the bottom of the image. By keeping the SHIFT key pressed, you’ll constrain it to 90 degrees.

Your image should look like this:

Double click on the text layer to bring up the Layer style dialogue. Choose “Bevel and Emboss”, check it and Set the Depth to 200%.

Your text will look like in the example:

Now we want to remove the layer style, but we want to keep the bevel (Merge the effect into the layer).We do this by adding a new layer and dragging it directly underneath the layer with the effect. Now select the “text” layer thumbnail and press Ctrl+E (Cmd+E on Macintosh). This merges the selected layer with the one directly under it and “renders all effects”

Go to Filters>Artistic>Plastic wrap and apply these values: Highlight strenght: 20, Detail: 13 and Smoothness: 8. Remember, these values are relative, you can play with them until you reach the wanted effect.

Go to Image>Adjustments>Curves to “build” the chrome. Make the curve as in the example.

Repeat the same settings 2-3 times, by holding down the Alt key (Option key on Mac) as you open the dialog box Image>Adjust>Curves. This is your chrome effect.

You can proceed further with imagination, by colorizing it. Hit CTRL+U (Command+U on Mac) to bring the Hue/Saturation dialogue and play with values as I did.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 12th, 2005 at 8:51 am and is filed under Photoshop Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Creating A Chrome Text Effect In Photoshop”

1. Photoshop Nerds : Photoshop Tutorials » PSD Download of Chrome Text Says:
   November 14th, 2005 at 8:10 am

   […] This is the PSD of the tutorial written about how to create Chrome Text. […]

2. Prespd Says:
   November 28th, 2005 at 1:27 am

   Got so far through the tutorial up to the bevel and emboss step.

   Text looks like the example before the, “Now we want to remove the layer style…”

   Can’t get to the Filters–>artistic section as it is grayed out in my copy of PS CS2 after I create, move and select the thumbnail on the text layer with CTRL+E.

   Any ideas?

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