A quick way to create a metallic effect in Adobe Photoshop. Colossus: Turning Skin into Metal in Adobe Photoshop

As promised, a photoshop lesson close to technical design, since sometimes you need to draw a metal texture, you can of course find a good source, but sometimes it’s difficult or the requirements are not very big, then you can draw it yourself. In this lesson there will be an example of a non-smooth texture, but in the near future I will probably post a lesson on how to draw smooth metal.

1. First of all, we create a document, the size is not particularly important, I took for example 400*300px, then we create new layer fill it with white and apply the add noise filter to it, setting the amount to maximum and checking the monochromatic box, you should get something like this

2. Next, go to the Filter menu again and select a filter there Motion Blur setting the angle to 45 degrees and the blur strength at your discretion, the stronger it is, therefore, the smaller the texture, here I took 30px

Then set the blending mode of this layer to Overlay, it should turn white so don’t be alarmed.

3. Then create another layer under it and fill it with white, open the layer style and set up the Gradient Overlay at your discretion, that is, roughly look at where you want the highlight to be and adjust it, I did it this way

and as a result, a layer with a texture and a highlight on it should become visible, something like this:

4.Now create a copy of our texture layer and set the blending mode to Multiplay for this layer. Then we add an Add Layer Mask layer mask on it, take the Gradient Tool, set the gradient type from black to white and draw a gradient on the mask diagonally closer to the right corner, that is, look at the layers to see how it should turn out.

Thus, it turns out that we have darkened the corner but lightened our highlights. Next, we need to repeat the process and make several copies of the texture but with different gradients in the corners to create shadows in the places we need.

IN in this case It turned out to be four layers, it’s up to you depending on where you want to darken or lighten.

5. Now copy the texture layer again but leave the blending mode set to Overlay. Add a layer mask again, again take the Gradient Tool in the tool settings, select the Reflected gradient type and draw it perpendicular to the main highlight diagonally.

6. That's all for greater effect You can try to play with the Sharp sharpness only carefully and in the end we will get this wonderful texture:

And of course, if at the very beginning you use different tool Motion Blur try playing with the angles and the strength of the blur and you can get different kind metal textures, and for more realism you can add scratches with a white one-pixel brush, but this mainly applies to smoother textures. Also, for example, instead of gradients, you can use the Dodge and Burn tools, depending on what is more convenient and who knows what better.
Here are a couple of examples:

Quite often we are faced with the question of how to create text with a metallic shine effect, or with the effect of a golden glow or silver reflection. You can, of course, use ready-made styles, but they all don’t look very high quality. For professional quality development, let's see how to make a metallic text effect using different parameters style effects. Let's start the Photoshop tutorial. This lesson Even a beginner can repeat it.

Step 1

Before opening Photoshop, we will need to install the Rothenburg Decorative font, which is perfect for us, and beautiful set brushes Subtle Grunge Brushes.

Open Photoshop and create new document with dimensions 1800 x 1300 px in RGB mode, 72 DPI and then fill the background with dark gray #1f1f1f.

Step 2

Create a new layer, name it “texture” and using Grunge Brushes, click a couple of times in the center of the document using white color. Use different brushes from this set, try to cover the center of the document, change the type of brush.

Step 3

Double-click the texture layer icon to open the Layer Style panel. In the “Blending Options”, reduce the ‘Fill’ to 0, and then apply the “Drop Shadow” and “Inner Shadow” layer effects using these options. This will give the texture a realistic embossed appearance.

Step 4

Click the Add Layer Mask icon and then press Command/Ctrl + (I) to invert.

Take a big one soft brush with hardness: 0% – size: 950px and click in the center of the document. This way, the texture layer will only show more in the center, fading towards the edges of the document.

Step 5

Use the Type Tool (T) and the parameters as in the screenshot, enter the word Labdes or whatever you want. If you don’t see the ‘Character Window’ tab, go to the Window -> Character menu.

Step 6

Open the 'Layer Style' of the 'Labdes' text layer and apply following settings. For each parameter you can see preview effect that was just added.

Step 7

Once you have changed the style, click OK. Now select the word “Labdes” using the Type Tool (T). Select everything next to the first one capital letter(except herself), and reduce the kerning to -5, as in the image below. Let me remind you that you can display the Character Window through the Window -> Character menu.

Step 8

Duplicate this layer with Command/Ctrl + (J), click right click mouse over the layer icon and select Clear Layer Style. So the text below will exactly match the one above and we can now add additional effects. Great way working with 2 layer styles is about creating a solid base like we did in the first text layer, and now let's add lighting and reflection to the second, new layer above. This way it's much easier for us to blend the light and color with the texture of the layer below.

Step 9

Creating a texture that imitates metal is one of the Photoshop features widely used by designers. Today there are many ways to imitate metal surfaces, including shiny chrome, nickel, iron, corroded, acid-etched, elegant surfaces made of precious gold, silver, platinum, and mercury. These effects can be implemented either using special additional filters or actions that help give letters or other objects a metallic sheen and prominence, or using standard Photoshop tools that provide an equally professional result.

The easiest way to achieve metallic effect- take advantage of a suitable action, of which there are many on the Internet. For this purpose, it is worth looking, for example, at the following addresses: http://www.webmaster.ru/~porcupine/actions/index.cfm?row=19&curpage=5, http://easyphotoshop.chat.ru/actions/actions. htm, http://gribnick.da.ru/, http://www.fotoshop.ru/cgi-bin/actions/detail.pl?id=76, etc. However, there are not many options here, and those who want to get non-standard effect this method will not work. It's better to try to achieve desired effect using special plugins, which, as a rule, will allow you to get a good imitation and quite quickly. In more complex cases, you will have to act manually, relying only on the standard capabilities of the program.

Metal imitation using standard Photoshop tools

This option is very labor-intensive and far from simple, but it opens ample opportunities for creativity, especially since various techniques for simulating metal can be found on numerous online resources. Interesting ways creating metal rings, corroded metal effects and chrome, gold and bronze text can be found on the website. The original imitation of blue metal can be found on the website http://ash.aiq.ru/. Having looked at http://www.savvy.net/, it is not difficult to understand the creation of metal textures, chrome and mercury objects. The site http://www.pegaweb.com/tutorials/ discusses how to create eye-catching metal buttons. This list can be continued for a long time, but we will limit ourselves to only the most interesting options.

Bronze

The imitation of a shiny bronze surface, presented on the website http://www.eyesondesign.net/, makes a strong impression. To implement it, create a new image in RGB mode and fill it with light brown, and then depict the intended metal object with dark brown (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Original image

Select the future metal object and save the selection as new channel Alpha1 by using the Select→Save Selection command. Then merge the layers, change the foreground color to a darker one and use the Edit→Stroke command, setting suitable parameters. In this case, the selected Width (Border Width) 5 pixels, Location (Position) Inside (Inside), Opacity (Opacity) 100% and Mode (Mode) Normal (Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Image after applying the Stroke command

Apply the command Select→Modify→Contract (Selection→Modify→Compress) with a compression width of 15 pixels, and then fill the selected area with white (Fig. 3). Stop highlighting.

Rice. 3. Image after compressing the selected area and filling the selection with white

Apply the Gaussian Blur filter: Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur (Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur) with a blur radius of 5 pixels and change the layer mode from Normal to Overlay (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4. The result of Gaussian blur and changing the layer mode

Make a copy of this layer and name the new layer Chrome. Go to the Alpha1 channel and apply a Gaussian blur sequentially: Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur (Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur) first with a blur radius of 9 pixels, then 6 and 3 and finally 1 pixel. The result will look something like in Fig. 5.

Rice. 5. Image after repeated Gaussian blur

Activate the Chrome layer and add lighting effects: Filter→Render→Lighting Effects (Filter→Render→Lighting Effects) with parameters as in Fig. 6. The result will resemble rice. 7.

Rice. 6. Window for setting parameters of the Lighting Effects filter

Rice. 7. Chrome layer after applying the Lighting Effects filter

Activate the main layer with the object, select the background, make an inversion as a result the object will be selected, and then expand the border by 1 pixel using the command Select→Modify→Expand (Select→Modify→Expand). After this, delete unnecessary parts of the border by pressing the Del key and discard the selection (Fig. 8).

Rice. 8. Result of border cleaning

Activate the Chrome layer, create a new layer Curves 1 using the command Layer→New Adjustment Layer→Curves (Layer→New Layer Setting→Curves), turning on the Group With Previous Layer checkbox and with all other parameters at default, and adjust the curves in accordance with Fig. 9. Reactivate the Chrome layer and again use the command Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Curves (Layer → New Layer Setting → Curves) with the same settings and with the Group With Previous Layer checked (Merge with previous layer) a new layer Curves 2 will appear ; the curves should be adjusted according to Fig. 10.

Rice. 9. Window for setting curves for the Curves 1 layer

Rice. 10. Window for setting curves for the Curves 2 layer

Merge the layers with the Flatten Image command and apply the command Layer→New Adjustment Layer→Hue/Saturation (Layer→New Layer Setting→Color/Saturation), turning on the Group With Previous Layer checkboxes with the Colorize parameter activated and adjusting Hue and Saturation parameters. IN in this example the option selected is: Hue - 33, Saturation 34. The result you should get is shown in Fig. eleven.

Rice. eleven. Final look bronze surface

To make it more convincing, you can introduce a suitable texture as a background, imitating, say, rusty metal; with such a texture, the result should resemble the image in Fig. 12.

Rice. 12. Sparkling bronze on a rusty texture

Gold

One of the most interesting options for imitation gold is provided on the website http://iolabs.virtualave.net/photoshop/gold/. To get a similar simulation, print black text on a white background (Figure 13), select the entire black area and save it as a selection using the Select→Save Selection command. After that, combine all the layers using the command Layer → Flatten Image (Layer → Flatten) and blur the entire image using Gaussian, applying the filter Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur (Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur) with a blur factor of approximately 5 pixels (Fig. . 14).

Rice. 13. Original image

Rice. 14. Image after Gaussian blur

Now you need to create a kind of border to do this, load the selection with the command Select→Load Selection (Select→Load Selection) and fill the selected area with black. Then invert the selection, reduce it using the Select→Modify→Contract command by 4 pixels and fill it with white (Fig. 15).

Rice. 15. Picture with a border

At the next stage, you need to slightly illuminate the object from different sides to form highlights, using the Filter→Render→Lighting Effects filter (Filter→Render→Lighting Effect) with approximately the same parameters as in Fig. 16. Please note that the settings must be changed for all three light sources. The result will look like in Fig. 17.

Rice. 16. Lighting Effects filter options

Rice. 17. Image after introducing three light sources

To give the material the appearance of metal, use the Image→Adjust→Curves command and draw a curve in (Fig. 18); As a result, the picture should resemble the image in Fig. 19.

Finally, the unspecified metal must be turned into gold by adjusting the levels using the command Image→Adjustments→Levels (Image→Adjustments→Levels) with the Input Levels equal to 100; 1.0 and 255, and selecting the color and saturation using the command Image→Adjustments→Hue/Saturation (Image→Adjustments→Color/Saturation) with the Colorize parameter enabled and the values: Hue (Hue) - 35, Saturation (Saturation ) - 35. The result should resemble the image in Fig. 20.

Rice. 18. Curves settings window

Rice. 19. Appearance images after setting Curves

Rice. 20. The final version of imitation gold

Chromium

The most original way to create chrome objects can be found at http://www.eyesondesign.net/. To implement it, create a dark gray object (Fig. 21). Rename the active layer in Chrome.

Rice. 21. Original image

Select the object, save the selection with the Select→Save Selection command and reduce it by about 3 pixels using the Select→Modify→Contract command. In this case, one must be guided by the principle: what larger size image, the larger the value you must enter.

Create a new layer above the Chrome layer, Layer 1. Set the Foreground color to white and the Background color to black, select Reflected Gradient and create a gradient fill from top to bottom within the selection (Figure 22). Stop highlighting.

Rice. 22. Image after applying the gradient

Go to the Alpha1 channel and blur the selection using Gaussian: Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur (Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur) three times in turn. The blur radius directly depends on the image size, but the principle of changing the radius when moving to the next blur is constant: the next value of the blur radius should be half the previous one. In this case, the radius was 4 pixels the first time, 2 pixels the second time, and 1 pixel the third time (Fig. 23).

Rice. 23. Result of Gaussian channel blur

Return to the Layers palette, activate the Chrome layer and add lighting effects Filter→Render→Lighting Effects (Filter→Render→Light Effect) with the same parameters as in Fig. 24.

Rice. 24. Setting the Lighting Effects filter parameters

The next step is to give the image a metallic sheen. To do this, open the Curves dialog box: Image→Adjustments→Curves (Image→Adjustments→Curves) and create the curve shown in Fig. 25. In this case, the coordinates of the first point of the curve are set to (60; 190), and the second to (190; 60) Fig. 26.

Rice. 25. Curve settings window

Rice. 26. The appearance of a metallic sheen

Finally, use the command Image→Adjustments→Brightness/Contrast (Image→Adjustments→Brightness/Contrast), setting the appropriate values for the Brightness and Contrast parameters. In the example under consideration, the Brightness value is 70 and Contrast 40 (Fig. 27).

Rice. 27. The final version of the chrome surface

Mercury

As for imitation of mercury surfaces, on the Internet on many sites you can find two fundamentally different options implementation of this effect. One, undoubtedly, first appeared on the website http://www.savvy.net/, and the authorship of the second is difficult to establish today. It is the second option that gives a more effective imitation of mercury, so we will focus on it.

Create a new image in RGB mode, set the background to black and white as the foreground color. Create a new channel Alpha 1 and draw the intended metal object (Fig. 28), and then discard the selection.

Rice. 28. Original image on channel Alpha 1

Make a copy of the Alpha 1 channel by default the new channel will be named Alpha 1 copy. Then blur the Alpha 1 copy channel using Gaussian: Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur (Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur) with a blur radius of about 3 pixels (if the object is very large, you can use a larger blur radius value; Fig. 29).

Rice. 29. Channel Alpha 1 copy after Gaussian blur

Make a copy of the Alpha 1 copy channel - the new channel will be named Alpha 1 copy 2. Switch again to the Alpha 1 copy channel and apply the filter Filter→Other→Offset (Filter→Other→Shift) with parameters (-1,-1) and the Wrap option Around (Cycling). Go back to the Alpha 1 copy 2 channel and use the same filter, but with the settings (1; 1).

After this, carry out calculations for the channel using the Image→Calculations… command, selecting the settings as shown in Fig. 30. As a result, a new channel Alpha 2 will be created, and the image will look like in Fig. 31.

Rice. 30. Calculations command settings window

Rice. 31. Image after calculations

On the Alpha 2 channel, successively apply the commands Image→Adjustments→Invert (Image→Adjustments→Negative) and Image→Adjustments→Auto Levels (Image→Adjustments→Auto Levels) - fig. 32.

Rice. 32. Result of negative and tone correction

Now use the Airbrush tool to soften the edges of the image. Set the pressure to 6%, select a brush of about 45 px, set the foreground color to white and spray it.

At the next stage, you will need to enhance the reflection effect using the command Image→Adjustments→Curves (Image→Adjustments→Curves), constructing a curve approximately like the one in Fig. 33. The result should resemble the image in Fig. 34.

Rice. 33. Curves settings window

Rice. 34. Image after enhancing the reflection effect

Load the selection saved in the Alpha 1 copy channel using the Select→Load Selection command, invert it and fill the selection with black.

Load the Alpha 1 copy selection again and compress the selection by about 3 pixels using the Select→Modify→Contract command. Make an inversion and apply the command Image→Adjustments→Invert (Image→Adjustments→Negative). As a result, the image on the Alpha 2 channel will look something like the one in Fig. 35.

Rice. 35. Channel Alpha 2 after all the manipulations performed

Now select the entire image, copy the selection to the clipboard, switch to the RGB channel and paste the selection into it. Then give the metal the desired shade using the Image→Adjustments→Hue/Saturation command with the Colorize option turned on and the appropriate Hue and Saturation values. The result should resemble the image in Fig. 36.

Rice. 36. Final view of the mercury surface

Metal imitation using plugins

Quite a few plugins have already been created in which the metal imitation effect is implemented to one degree or another. For example, pseudo-3D metal objects can be achieved using the Lighting effect of the Ulead Type.Plugin. The realistic texture of gold is easily simulated using the Gel filter from the KPT 6.0 group from Metacreation. Various options for shiny metal surfaces (chrome, gold, silver, etc.) can be created very quickly using the Chrome filter from the Eye Candy 4.0 group from Alien Skin, and matte ones metal surfaces turned out well thanks to the PhotoGroove 3.0 effect from the Extensis PhotoTools 3.0 group.

Let's consider the possibilities of using plugins to simulate shiny surfaces of liquid metal using the example of the Chrome filter from the Eye Candy 4.0 group, and to create matte surfaces using the example of the PhotoGroove 3.0 filter from the PhotoTools 3.0 group.

In the first case, select the object to which you want to apply the filter (Fig. 37), and use the command Filter→Eye Сandy 4000→Chrome (Filter→Eye Сandy 4000→Chrome) with approximately the same parameters as in Fig. 38. As a result, we obtain the image shown in Fig. 39.

Rice. 37. Original image

Rice. 38. Setting the parameters of the Chrome filter from the Eye Candy 4.0 group

Rice. 39. The result of the Chrome filter from the Eye Candy 4.0 group

To use the PhotoGroove 3.0 filter, also select the object and use the command Filter→PhotoTools→PhotoGroove 3.0 (Filter→ PhotoTools→PhotoGroove 3.0), setting the appropriate parameter values, for example as in Fig. 40. As a result, we obtain the image shown in Fig. 41.

Rice. 40. Setting parameters for the PhotoGroove 3.0 filter from the Extensis PhotoTools 3.0 group

Rice. 41. The result of the PhotoGroove 3.0 filter from the Extensis PhotoTools 3.0 group

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a very interesting, stylish effect for text. We can talk about it a lot and for a long time, since this effect is now very fashionable and is often used for designer text labels, and for text in general. In the meantime, while some are still talking, we won’t waste time, let’s start the lesson!
That's exactly what we'll be talking about. Like? Then go ahead!

Step 1. Preparing the document in Photoshop.
Create a new document in Photoshop (Ctrl + N). The author uses a size of 600 * 400, but you can create a larger document if you need it.

Step 3: Add Layer Styles.
Now that your text layer still active, let's add layer styles. Go to menu Layers - Layer Style

Translator's note: You can call up layer styles simply by double-clicking on the layer.

Inner shadow:

Note translator: If you really need a pattern exactly like in the lesson, then by looking closely at the screenshot, you can make the same one. Create a 5 px document, enlarge it to maximum and use the pencil tool to add colors as on the screenshot.
It will help you create your own pattern.

Now let's add a gradient stroke to add depth to the text.

Here's what we got with all the layer styles, if you applied them correctly of course. If your result is different from this, then go back and check all the settings for the layer styles. This is just the technical part for now, so you shouldn't have any problems.

Step 4. Background.
To make our text look more interesting, we'll change the background a little, giving it some depth. Activate the background layer and add layer styles to it. Go to menu Layers - Layer Style (Layer-Layer Styles), and apply the following settings...

For the gradient use the following colors:
1. # 667c85
2. # 475e68

Result.

Step 5. Adding highlights.
Press "Ctrl" and click on the text layer thumbnail in the Layers palette, this will load the text selection.

Create a new layer on top of all others. Use the tool gradient(gradient), from white to transparent, and drag it from top to bottom. This will add a moderate yet visible gradient to the text.

Now oval discharge(Elliptical Marquee) draw an oval like in the screenshot below.

Go to menu Selection - Inversion(Select-Inverse) to invert the selection and press "delete". This will only leave the glitter on the top of the text:

Set the blending mode of this layer to Overlap(Overlay). This will make the highlight more natural.

Step 6. Let's make the text sparkle.
In this step, we will add glitter throughout the text, this will give it more depth, a dreamy and elegant look.
Create a new layer on top of the others. Use the tool Brush(Brush Tool) 27px. With soft edges, white and randomly draw a few dots around the edges of the text.

Advice: Draw dots along the light edges of the text, this will increase the lighting effect.
You should get something like this:

You can add a little more glow with different brushes, but don't overdo it because it's better to have less glitter than too much.
That's all. We've come to the end of the lesson, and you've managed to learn this stylish effect!

I really hope that you liked the lesson and will find it useful in the future!

In this tutorial you will learn how to create bronze text using layer styles in Photoshop program. So let's get started!

Final result

1. Create the background

Step 1

Load the black_background.pat texture by double-clicking on the source file.

Step 2

Create a new document, let's go File - New(File > New). Set value Widths(Width) to 600 px, and the value Heights(Height) by 500 px. Permission(Resolution) should be 72 dpi(ppi).

Step 3

Being on the background layer, duplicate it, for this we go Layer - Duplicate Layer(Layer > Duplicate Layer) and click OK. Name the duplicate layer Background Pattern(Background Pattern).

Step 4

Go to (Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay), select the 'black_background.pat' texture from the dropdown menu, set Scale(Scale) 50%, and click OK.

Step 5

To add lighting effects from above, select a layer style Embossing(Bevel & Emboss). Apply settings for of this style layers shown in the screenshot below:

2. Create the text

Step 1

Write the word 'Round' or any word of your choice using the 'Stonecross' font. Install Font size(Font Size) 132 pt, and also set Tracking(Tracking) 20 pt. To improve quality, change the method Antialiasing(anti-aliasing) on Sharp(Sharp). Name this layer with text ‘A01’.

Translator's note: The anti-aliasing method can be changed in the lower right corner, in the font settings.

Step 2

Next, select a tool Moving(Move Tool), select the text layer and the background layer, and then in the settings of this instrument, select the following options: Aligning centers horizontally(Align Horizontal Center) and Aligning centers vertically(Align Vertical Center) to align the text.

Step 3

Duplicate the text layer and name the duplicate layer ‘A02’. Arrange the layers as shown in the screenshot below. Temporarily hide the 'A02' layer so that it is convenient for you to work, because... We won't use this layer until part 4 of this tutorial.

3. Apply styling to the main layer

Step 1

Load the texture 'scratched_metal.pat'.

Step 2

We will be working with layer 'A01'. Go Layer - Layer Style - Pattern Overlay(Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay), click on the box Pattern(Pattern) to select the ‘scratched_metal.pat’ texture from the drop-down menu. We use this texture as a base to create a metallic effect.

Step 3

To get a realistic bronze color, we go Layer – Layer Style – Color Overlay(Layer > Layer Style > Color Overlay). Change the blending mode to Multiplication(Multiply), and also set the following values:

Step 4

You will need to create the outlines of the curves yourself to get the volumetric effect. Please read the screenshot below carefully and also apply the values indicated in the right column.

Step 5

Select the 'Cove - Deep' path from the path set.

Step 6

Now we'll improve the metal's shine effect by adding a glow. Let's go Layer – Layer Style – Inner Glow(Layer > Layer Style > Inner Glow). Set the values shown in the screenshot below.

Step 7

Next, we need to add shadows to separate the text from the background. Let's go Layer – Layer Style – Outer Glow(Layer > Layer Style >

4. Apply styling to the second layer

Step 1

Now we will work with layer 'A02', do not forget to turn on the visibility of this layer! Next, let's go Layer – Layer Style – Outer Glow(Layer > Layer Style > Outer Glow). Set the values shown in the screenshot below.

Step 2

To improve the 3D look, we will emphasize the light and shade on the edges. Let's go Layer- Stylelayer— Embossing(Layer >Layer Style > Bevel & Emboss). Set the values shown in the screenshot below. Create your outline using the values shown in the right column.

Step 3

This is very important step. We'll create perspective using a central vanishing point in perspective.

Let's go to the bookmark Symbol(Character) and change Horizontal scale(Horizontally Scale) by 98%, as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 4

To make the colors of both text layers match each other, go Layer - Layer Style - Color Overlay(Layer > Layer Style > Color Overlay). Set the values shown in the screenshot below.

Step 5

Tip: To add a gradient stop, you need to click below the gradient bar. By clicking on control point gradient, you can edit Positions(Location) and Colors(Color) control point.