Wednesday, December 16, 2020

How to Create a Realistic Chrome Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

Final product image
What You'll Be Creating

This super easy and quick tutorial will show you how to use a couple of textures and layer styles to create a shiny, reflective chrome text effect. Let's get started!

Looking to create a similar chrome effect in Photoshop but want to save time? Hop on over to Envato Elements where you can find many chrome text effects, like this 3D Chrome Generator, as well as many Photoshop add-ons and Photoshop Actions.

Chrome Text Effect Photoshop Generator from Envato Elements

What you will learn in this chrome effect Photoshop tutorial:

  • How to create a chrome effect in Photoshop
  • How to apply a chrome effect to text
  • How to create a concrete background
  • How to make a chrome logo in Photoshop

Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.

1. Define the Pattern

Step 1

Open the Bus Seats image, and then go to Filter > Distort > ZigZag. Change the Amount to 20, the Ridges to 5, and the Style to Pond Ripple.

ZigZag Filter

Step 2

Go to Edit > Define Pattern, and type Reflection Pattern in the Name field.

Define Pattern

2. Create the Background

Step 1

Create a new 950 x 650 px document, place the AsphaltDamaged0043 texture on top of the Background layer, and resize it as needed.

Add the Asphalt Texture

Step 2

Double-click the texture's layer to apply a Gradient Overlay effect with these settings:

  • Blend Mode: Multiply
  • Style: Radial
  • Scale: 150%
  • Click the Gradient box to create the gradient fill using the colors #757575 to the right and #0f0f0f to the left.
Gradient Overlay

This will create a simple radial gradient.

Radial Gradient

3. Create the Text Layers

Step 1

Create the text using the font Bebas Neue Bold and set the Size to 220 pt and the Kerning to Optical. If you're wanting to apply this effect to a logo, make sure it's a Smart Object and then you can follow the tutorial to apply this effect to it instead of text. 

Create the Text

Step 2

Duplicate the text layer, and change the copy's Fill value to 0.

Duplicate the Text Layer

4. Style the Original Text Layer

Double-click the original text layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

  • Size: 1
  • Uncheck the Use Global Light box
  • Angle: 30
  • Altitude: 16
  • Check the Anti-aliased box
  • Highlight Mode - Opacity: 100%
  • Shadow Mode - Opacity: 100%
Bevel and Emboss

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

  • Contour: Cove - Shallow
  • Check the Anti-aliased box
  • Range: 100%
Contour

Step 3

Add a Stroke with these settings:

  • Size: 1
  • Position: Inside
  • Fill Type: Gradient
  • Use the stainless steel xx gradient fill
Stroke

Step 4

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

  • Opacity: 35%
  • Uncheck the Use Global Light box
  • Angle: -115
  • Distance: 3
  • Size: 7
Inner Shadow

Step 5

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

  • Blend Mode: Vivid Light
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Color: #f4f2e7
  • Choke: 0
  • Size: 3
Inner Glow

Step 6

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

  • Check the Dither box
  • Blend Mode: Color
  • Opacity: 90%
  • Check the Reverse box
  • Use the stove pipe 70 gradient fill
Gradient Overlay

Step 7

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

  • Pattern: Reflection Pattern
  • Scale: 50%
Pattern Overlay

Step 8

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

  • Blend Mode: Multiply
  • Opacity: 35%
  • Color: #404040
  • Size: 21
Outer Glow

Step 9

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

  • Opacity: 100%
  • Distance: 5
  • Spread: 10
  • Size: 10
Drop Shadow

Step 10

Add another Drop Shadow with these settings:

  • Opacity: 80%
  • Uncheck the Use Global Light box
  • Angle: 132
  • Distance: 17
  • Size: 38
Drop Shadow 2

Step 11

You can go back to the Pattern Overlay effect, and then click-drag the pattern inside the text to move it around until you get a result you like.

Move the Pattern Inside the Text

This will style the first layer of text.

Styled Text Layer 1

5. Style the Copy Text Layer

Double-click the copy text layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

  • Blend Mode: Linear Light
  • Opacity: 20%
  • Color: #e1e1e1
  • Technique: Precise
  • Size: 5
  • Contour: Cove - Deep
Inner Glow

Step 2

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

  • Blend Mode: Soft Light
  • Angle: 80
  • Use the steel pipe 10 gradient fill
Gradient Overlay

Step 3

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

  • Blend Mode: Color Dodge
  • Opacity: 50%
  • Color: #ececec
  • Size: 21
Outer Glow

This will style the second text layer and finish off the text effect.

Styled Text Layer 2

6. Add an Adjustment Layer

Step 1

Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Gradient Map.

Gradient Map Adjustment Layer

Step 2

Check the Dither box, and then create the gradient fill using the colors #554b70 to the left, #857177 in the middle, and #d8a082 to the right.

Change the adjustment layer's Blend Mode to Soft Light and its Opacity to 20%.

The Gradient Map Settings

Congratulations, You're Done!

In this tutorial, we applied a filter to an image and defined it as a pattern. Then, we created a simple background using a texture and a gradient overlay effect. After that, we created two text layers and styled them to create the text effect. Finally, we finished things off by adding a color adjustment layer.

Final Result

More Chrome Text Effects

3D Metal - Photoshop Action

Looking for something a bit quicker? This group of Photoshop actions creates a number of metal text effects with just a few clicks, including steel, copper, and bronze text effects! All the layers remain customizable, so you can fine-tune as you go. 

The Ultimate 1001 Text Effects

In this text effect pack, you will find gold and red foil, chrome metal, and even wood—all wrapped up in one handy PSD file! This pack includes both flat and 3D text effects, with textures that you can mix and match in Photoshop. 

Metal Pro-Instant

This text effect pack includes 25 different high-quality metal text styles for Adobe Illustrator. Even including a rose-gold text effect! 

Ultimate Metal Graphic Styles for Illustrator

This text effect pack contains a whopping 50 metallic styles made for Adobe Illustrator, all of which are completely customizable. 

Metallic Styles for Illustrator

A set of metallic layer styles made for Adobe Illustrator that are all one click to apply. This includes gold, rose-gold, and chrome text effects in either a glossy or matte finish. 

Looking to learn more? Why not check out the following tutorials:

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