Carbon Fiber, Chrome, and Gold Text - Photoshop Tutorial

Ukio · (#1 (**permalink**))

1. Create a new image with the dimensions 450x350px. Use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill the background with black.

2. This tutorial has very specific settings, so it's best if you download the same font I used and follow the steps exactly. You can download it here: Viper Squadron. This package has 4 variations of the font. You want to use "Viper Squadron Solid." If you need help installing the font, check out their help/faq section. Now add the text "ST" with the following settings.

Use a white fill for the text, which should give you this:

3. The rest of the work will be done using layer styles. Double click the text layer in the Layers Window to bring up the Layer Styles window. Now click on 'Bevel and Emboss' and type in the values circled in red:

Here's a quick explanation:
1. Increasing the depth and size of the bevel will make more of a 3d look
2. The angle and altitude basically affect the direction of the bevel. You can play around with this setting and still get a nice result.
3. The gloss contour setting will give you an advanced highlight and shadow that is more like a real reflection
4. For the last 2 settings, you are just making the highlight lighter and the shadow darker. This will make your chrome more realistic.

4. Now click on the Satin layer style, using the following settings. You will be using it to give some roundness to the letters.

To do this step, I just experimented a little until I got the effect I wanted, which is this:

5. Now select the 'Outer Glow' layer style with these values:

The idea here is to make the text stand out more against the black background. The settings are pretty much self explanatory, except for "Precise," which gives a stronger glow effect then "Softer."

6. Now you will make a carbon fiber look by using a pattern. Click the 'Pattern Overlay' layer style, and choose the 'Woven Wide' pattern. Drop the 'Scale' setting down to 15%.

7. And you have glossy carbon fiber text:

8. Or try out a yellow 'Color Overlay' instead of a 'Pattern Overlay' for gold text