starting a thread for photoshop text effect techniques since this is one of those topics where theres a million youtube tutorials but most of them are from 2019 and half the methods are outdated
my current go-to text effects and how i make them:
chrome/metallic text: bevel & emboss + gradient overlay + inner shadow. the trick is using a harsh light blend mode on the bevel instead of screen. makes the reflections look way more realistic. took me embarrassingly long to figure that out
glitch effect: duplicate the text layer 3x, shift each one 2-3px in different directions, set each to a different color channel using blending options. add a displacement map for the wavy distortion. way better results than those one-click actions tbh
neon glow: outer glow isnt enough by itself. you need the base text in white, inner glow in your neon color, outer glow slightly larger, AND a separate soft brush layer behind it for the wall reflection. thats what makes it look real vs fake
anyone else want to share their photoshop text effect tutorials or techniques? trying to build a reference thread since i keep searching for the same stuff over and over
the neon technique is spot on. that separate brush layer for the wall glow is what 90% of tutorials miss. its the difference between “text with green glow” and “actual neon sign on a wall”
one addition: for the wire/cable coming off neon letters i use the pen tool with a thin stroke, add a subtle bevel, and put a tiny shadow underneath. small detail but really sells the effect
for the glitch effect i actually prefer using the wave distortion filter over displacement maps. quicker to dial in and easier to animate if you want a gif version. apply wave filter to each color channel separately with slightly different settings and you get that digital interference look
but yeah the multi-layer approach is way better than those one-click actions. those always look so generic
This is great stuff. my go-to photoshop text effect technique thats not mentioned: emboss + texture overlay for a letterpress/debossed look. duplicate the text, move the bottom copy 1px down and 1px right in a lighter color. then add a paper texture on top set to multiply. looks like actual physical letterpress printing
anyone doing text effects in photoshop for UI mockups specifically? i need realistic engraved text on metal surfaces for an industrial dashboard design. tried bevel & emboss but it always looks too “photoshop-y” if that makes sense. like its obviously a layer effect not actual engraving