3D Text Logo

2006-07-09T21:11:00.000+03:00

Difficulty: Intermediate

With this tutorial you will learn how to create a 3D text logo in a few and simple steps and get an impressive result.

Here we go!

1. Open a new document (CTRL+N) and set the dimensions to as big as 1,000x800 pixels with a transparent background. The bigger the background the easier you will find it to give the perfect shape to your logo and later resize it and lose no quality ;o). (see image)

2. Now, it is time to put the text/name for your logo and name the layer LogoText. Choose a thick-lettered font and a vivid but a kind of dark colour for the main colour of your logo. The font I chose is Ballpark (font size: 200, colour: #12AACA) as it is combines thick letters and an elegant calligraphic style-you will find it at DaFont.com and it is TOTALLY FREE!!! Note: Do not cover 100% of your background!!! Try to leave around 100-150 pixels space for each side. You will need this space latter, for producing the 3D effect.

3. This where the fun begins! Right-Click on the LogoText layer and choose Blending Options to set the layer style. Then choose stroke and set the size to 5 pixels, position: outside, blend mode: normal, opacity: 100%, fill type: color, #FFFFFF. (see image)

4. At this point we need to rasterize the LogoText layer and make it a flat layer. There two ways to do that, so choose what is best for you:
a) the long way - you may right-click on the LogoText layer and choose rasterize layer. This will make the text layer lose its text properties and become just a shape. However, the layer style (stroke) is still there. For this reason you need to create a new layer and link it with the LogoText layer. Then click on the layers menu and choose merge linked or press CTRL+E. (see image)
b) the short way - create a new layer, link it to the LogoText layer and then press CTRL+E or click on the layers menu and choose merge linked. Name the new layer LogoText-Rasterized.

5. CTRL+click on the LogoText-Rasterized to get its selection. Then create a new layer and name it Shadow. In the Shadow layer now select the paint bucket tool and set your colour to a vivid tone, much lighter than your text. I chose in this case #9CE1F0. Fill your selection with the vivid colour and deselect (CTRL+D).

6. Move the Shadow layer just underneath the LogoText-Rasterized layer. Perhaps, you think that pretty much nothing happened. Be patient! Click on the Shadow layer and make sure to select the move tool. Now take the following steps carefully: click ONCE the right arrow (it moves by 1 pixel right) then ONCE the down arrow in your keyboard (it moves by 1 pixel down) and after that duplicate the Shadow layer. Now you will be able to see the new layer as a small shadow behind the text. Repeat this sequence of actions until you are happy with the thickness of the shadow created (this will take you around 6-8 times, in total). (see image)
Tip: A quick way to do it! Holding ALT and pressing an arrow key makes a new layer and moves it 1 pixel up, down, right, left depending on the arrow key you use!!!
At this point you may think that this could be done easier by just moving the Shadows layer opting out the step of dublicated layers. This may not be a bad idea, however, the outcome would be much poorer and pretent ;o).

7. To get rid of the multiple layers you created for the shadow effect you will need to link them with each other (including the original Shadow layer) and then press CTRL+E to merge them. Rename the new layer ShadowFinal.

8. We are almost there! Select the LogoText-Rasterized layer we created earlier and link to the ShadowFinal layer. Now name the new layer LogoFull. Right-Click on the LogoFull layer and choose Blending Options to set the layer style. Then choose stroke and set the size to 4 or 5 pixels, position: outside, blend mode: normal, opacity: 100%, fill type: color, # 014857. And you are ready!!!

This is the final image...

Congratulations!!! You have created a beautiful logo!

Note: By adding more to your 3D text logo, such as other shapes etc., but always keeping a similar to text technique you may create a quite professional logo ;o)!!!

Have fun!!!

Previous Tutorial: Cool Blue Gradient Content Headers, Buttons and Tabs

Cool Blue Gradient Content Headers, Buttons and Tabs

2006-03-30T10:35:00.000+03:00

Difficulty: Advanced

Create cool gradient content headers, buttons and tabs in a few simple steps.

Content Headers and Buttons

Tabs

A. Content Headers and Buttons

Note: This my very first tutorial so please-please try to be patient with me! Should you need clarifications or more help with this tutorials do not hesitate to contact me.

1. Let's start then! Open a new document 200x200 pixels with white background.

2. Set your Foreground colour to #2A7EC6. Grab your Round Rectangle Tool, set it to the Fill Pixels mode and draw a rounded rectangle about 240x40 pixels or any dimensions you are happy with. Name this layer Header_Body.

3. CTRL+click on the Header_Body layer to select it. Set your Foreground colour to #0E4C80. Create a new layer and name it Gradient. Now take your Gradient Tool and set it to the Foreground to Transparent mode. Start a gradient from top to bottom as shown in the image below (keep SHIFT pressed while you are making the gradient in order to keep it straight).

4. Now comes the hardest part but also the most important one. Grab your Pen Tool, set it to Paths mode and start a path from the upper right part and then to lower left part to continue at the bottom right corner to the right upper corner and close at the point you started.Change to Convert Point Tool and try to form a wavy shape as shown below. Note that you can always change the position of your anchors by means of the Direct Selection Tool-I had to make some small changes to "catch" the right (!) wave ;o).

As soon as you're finished right-click on the path and select it (Make Selection). Set the Feather Radius to 0 pixels. Press CTRL+SHIFT+I to inverse the selection and hit delete.

5. And now the fun begins! While you are on the Gradient layer make sure that the Header_Body layer is just below that and press CTRL+E to merge down. Name the merged layer you created Header_Full.

6. In the new layer (Header_Full) apply the following styles:

a) Bevel & Emboss: Inner Bevel, Technique: Smooth, Depth: 100%, Direction: Up, Size: 2 pixels, Soften: 0 pixels, Angle: 120o, Use Global Light: chacked, Altitude: 30o, Gloss Contour: Cove-Deep, Anti-Aliased: UNCHECKED, Highlight Mode: Soft Light #ffffff, Opacity: 85o, Shadow Mode: Soft Light #000000, Opacity: 90%.

b) Inner Shadow: Multiply #000000, Opacity: 15%, 120o, Use Global Light: checked, Distance: 2 pixels,Choke: 0 pixels, Size: 2 pixels,Quality: Contour: Gaussian Blur, Anti-Aliased: UNCHECKED, Noise: 0%.

And your are ready!!!This is my end result with some add-ons.

B. Tabs

1. Open a new document 200x200 pixels with white background.

2. Create a new layer and change its name into Tab_Body.

3. Grab your Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw a rectangle 100x30 pixels or any dimensions you are happy with. Keep your selection, set your Foreground colour to #2A7EC6 and your Background colout to #7BAEDA. Then with your Gradient Tool set to Foreground to Backgound mode draw a top-to-bottom gradient. Keep your selection!

4. To make the left and right bottom corners smoother grab your Lasso Tool set it to Substract From Selection mode and draw a triangle first to left bottom corner and then to right bottom corner. Hit CTRL+SHIFT+I to invert your selection and delete the new selection. Now CTRL+D to deselect.

5. Take your Rectangular Marquee Tool again and select a 6-pixels-wide part of your rectangular, cut it (CTRL+X) and paste it (CTRL+V) on a new layer. Name this layer Right_End.

6. Activate the Tab_Body layer again and add a Stroke with the following settings: Size: 3 pixels, Position: Inside, Blend Mode: Normal, Opacity: 100%, File Type: Gradient (#241B6E, #7BAEDA, #7BAEDA (opacity 0%)), Style: Linear, Align with Layer: checked, Angle: 23o, Scale: 100%.

7. Create a new layer and name it Gradient. CTL+click on the Tab_Body layer to make a selection. Grab the Gradient Tool and set it to Foreground to Transparent. Change your Foreground colour to #407ABC and draw a gradient starting from the bottom right corner to the left top corner like in the image shown below.

8. Now with your Elliptical Marquee Tool set to the Substract From Selection mode draw a circle to cover the most of the tab but leaving the lower right part out (see image below).

Again with your Elliptical Marquee Tool make a small circle to select a small part on the left so that you will be left with the right bottom selection only.

Press CTRL+SHIFT+I to inverse your selection and hit delete to clear the unwanted part of the gradient.

9. We almost there! CTRL+click on the Tab_Body layer to select it. Create a new layer and name it Gray_Stroke and put it under the Tab_Body layer. Expand your selection by 5 pixels (Select/Modify/Expand). Fill your selection with #E4E4E4.

10. Flatten your image (Layer/Flatten Image). Grab your Rectangular Marquee Tool and select the upper part of the tab strokes like in the image below.

Hit delete to get rid of the selection and then CTRL+D to deselect and you are ready!!!

This is my end result with an added navigation.

Enjoy!!! ;o)

Next Tutorial: 3D Text Logo

Cloud No9 v.1.0

3D Text Logo

Cool Blue Gradient Content Headers, Buttons and Tabs