Sometimes text needs more than simple fonts and layout techniques to come alive. Here are some ways that 3D effects can bring your typography to life!
These tutorials utilize non-destructive Photoshop techniques to produce stunning results that can easily be tailored for your next project. Give it a try now!
Create a New Document
Photoshop is an impressive photo-manipulating program capable of doing many different things, such as 3D text effects. These effects make posters or flyers look more professional while sitting better atop any piece of content.
This tutorial will demonstrate how to create a 3D text effect in Photoshop using just a few techniques. You will learn about extrusion, bevel, contour options and simple textures as well as adding lighting effects into your final image.
Step one is to open Photoshop and create a new document; do this by selecting File, New Document. A window will appear that allows you to configure document settings as well as search Adobe Stock for more templates by typing your search term into the Find More Templates box. When finished typing in your search terms click Go for accessing all templates available.
Once you’ve created your new document, be sure to save it as a template by clicking File and choosing Save As Template….
Once your document is created, the next step should be adding text. Selecting the Text Tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of your screen allows you to type your desired text before customizing font size and style to meet your requirements. When done typing your text, its layer properties allow for further changes such as changing its color or size by simply selecting and editing its properties.
Create a Text Layer
If you want to add 3D text to an image, using Photoshop’s built-in 3D tools may take some work but can yield desired results. To start off, select the Type tool from the left side of the toolbar, set your font of choice, type out your text on a new layer and finally click on the 3D icon in your toolbar to convert it to a three dimensional object.
Adjust the height of your text by dragging it up or down in the Layers panel, while altering its font size and color by double-clicking and selecting options from the Properties panel. Furthermore, you can apply different forms of lighting effects by changing settings on the Light tab; such as diffusing specular reflections to make more realistic effects appear in real life.
An alternate way of creating three dimensional text in Photoshop is to select it and apply a gradient overlay – this will make the text appear to come out from behind your subject.
Text can also benefit from texture by using the Fill dialog box to select either solid colors or gradients for its fill layer. After using this technique, you can move and reposition the text layer inside a selection if necessary, change its opacity as needed (darker/lighter), or turn it off altogether. Furthermore, using Stroke in Layer Style dialog box you can add further details like drop shadowing or sampling colors within text to form an outline effect.
Create a Shape Preset
If you plan to create multiple 3D text effects with identical shapes, creating custom shape presets may save time as it won’t require drawing them every time. Simply drag one or more shapes onto the Options Bar or select one before clicking Create Preset in the Options Bar and create one or more presets!
This Photoshop tutorial shows how to use layer styles and the 3D tools of Photoshop to achieve an eye-catching inflated text effect. Additionally, this guide shows how you can achieve this stunning look using layer styles alone.
Learn to add bevel and emboss effects to text, as well as apply 3D extrusion effects to it, making the texture look more realistic by adding color and using adjustment layers.
After creating your 3D text effect in Photoshop, you will learn how to render it non-destructively without altering or distorting its original form.
Learn to use the 3D tools in Photoshop to create a futuristic blue glow for your text, then add a grid background and modern bokeh for extra style! Non-destructive techniques will enable you to achieve this exciting result; and have lots of fun creating this memorable image!
Clicking the 3D icon in the Toolbar transforms text layers into 3D objects that you can rotate and move within camera view by dragging. Furthermore, perspective can be altered by dragging coordinates in the Properties panel.
Create a 3D Extrusion
Photoshop may offer advanced tools to assist with creating 3D text effects, but achieving your desired look takes significant effort and dedication. For an easier, quicker solution try Filmora: with its user-friendly interface it provides powerful tools for producing amazing 3D graphics in mere minutes!
To create a simple 3D effect, start by selecting your text layer and creating a new 3D Extrusion layer. Choose one of the preset shapes, customize their settings as necessary and use the controls within the 3D panel to move and rotate objects as you see fit; additionally use deform or cap icons to alter text shape accordingly. When satisfied with your results click OK to apply this 3D Extrusion layer.
Now to give your 3D text an even more realistic appearance, add a drop shadow and stroke. To do so, select the text layer, click fx in Layers panel to open drop shadow options (as per screenshot above) and use settings shown here in image below (screenshot above).
Finish off the look by using a lens flare to give your text an eye-catching sunburst effect, followed by some additional layers of adjustment to customize its appearance even further.
With practice, you’ll soon be creating stunning 3D text effects in Photoshop with ease. Need some additional inspiration? Check out our Effortless Editing with Lightroom course to discover how magazine-quality photographs can be achieved quickly! Additionally, sign up for Envato Elements now so you have access to our full library of courses and video tutorials!
Create a 3D Camera
Photoshop may be complex for beginners to navigate, but there’s an easier option in Filmora that provides powerful video editing tools and intuitive software to creatives of any experience level. Filmora was designed to simplify complex operations while giving creatives access to professional-grade content creation capabilities.
This tutorial will teach you how to quickly create an awesome 3D text effect using Photoshop’s 3D Camera feature. The technique is straightforward and easily implemented into future projects.
Start by opening a new Photoshop document and choosing the Type tool from its toolbar. Create some text on the canvas, duplicate (Ctrl+J or Command+J), drag to left of original layer, change text color to darker hue, as this will serve as shadow.
Next, navigate to the 3D Camera menu in the top panel and click Orbit. Next, rotate your text around as you spin the camera for better results and adjust its axis as necessary to control how far away its shadow appears from text.
Once satisfied with your results, simply save your image. This method works well for text and other elements found within designs – give it a go now!
