In this tutorial, we will create this effect using very basic Photoshop tools and layering effects. This tutorial is simple enough for a beginner to understand, but I should warn you that in this tutorial there ends up being over 60 active text layers, which will require a heavy use of your computer's memory. Let's jump into this tutorial and layer some glowing text.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click the screenshot below to view the full-size image. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership.
Step 1
Make a new document that is 2000px by 1200px. Then make a new Gradient Adjustment Layer with a linear gradient that goes from a dark gray (#464646) at the bottom to black (#000000) at the top. This will be our background base.
Step 2
Make another linear Gradient Adjustment Layer above the previous one, and make it a rainbow of colors of your choice. There are some colorful presets that you can choose from in the gradient palette, or create your own. Set the layer's Fill down to 25%. Then set the layer's blending mode to Color.
Tip: When you set the blending mode to color it makes it so the layer only affects the color of everything below it, while leaving the lightness/darkness alone.
Step 3
Finally make another Gradient Adjustment Layer above the previous two. This one will be a radial gradient. Set this one up so that the only 2 colors in the gradient are black and then make the transparency go from 100% at one end and 0% at the other end.
If you see that black is covering the center of the image, check the Reverse box. Then make it so the black goes around the edges of the canvas. Set the layer opacity to 65%. I moved the transparency handles around a little to get the exact effect that I wanted.
Step 4
Now lets begin with the text treatment. Hit (T) for the type tool, and make a (single click) on the canvas. Then type your letter, in my case a P. Then grab the Move tool and (Hit CMD+T) and transform the letter, adjust it until it's the size that you want it. Hit (T) again for the type tool, and if it's not already, make the letter black by clicking the text color box in the property bar. Set the letter layer's blending mode to Screen. The letter will disappear.
Step 5
(Double click) to the right of the letter layer's name in the layer palette to bring up the layer styles palette. Put an Outer Glow and a Stroke on the layer with the exact settings that you see below. You will see a very faint image of the letter now.
Let's use this first letter as a starting point for all the text in the image. Once we layer several different letters on top of each other, our effect will come to life.
Step 6
Duplicate the letter layer by dragging it down to the New Layer button at the bottom of the layer palette. Select the type tool (T) and then change the font on the new layer. If the new font doesn't line up how you want to hit (CMD+T) to free transform the new letter. Make sure that you always line up the baseline of the letters. You can move the anchor point to the base line when you are transforming to keep it lined up correctly.
Now do this step 20 times, each time using a different font. I chose to use all different fonts that have serifs. You can use all fonts that are sans-serif if you like, but I wouldn't mix the two.
Step 7
Select all the text layers that you have. Then hit (CMD+G) to group them. With the group selected in the layer palette, hit (V) for the move tool. Then (while holding ALT), click and drag on the letters on the canvas to duplicate them. Drag them to the right where you want the next letter to be. Now there should be 2 groups of text in the layer palette. Turn off all the letter layers in the new group (except the bottom one) by clicking in the little 'eye' icon next to each one.
Now select the text tool (T), and highlight the single letter. Then change it to the next letter that you want, in my case an S. Finally, turn the S layer off. Then turn on the next one and do the same. Repeat this until all the letters in your new group are changed. Turn all the layers back on.
Repeat this step for each new letter you need.
Step 8
Select the elliptical marquee tool and make a very thin ellipse at the base of your letters. Then Feather the selection about 20px. Enter quickmask mode (Q). Then go to Filter>Blur>Motion Blur. Make the angle 0 and the length 700px and hit OK. This gives us a nice fade out to the left and right sides. Then exit quickmask mode (Q).
Now make a curves adjustment layer above the gradients, but below the letter groups. Then apply a curve that looks like the one below. This just gives our letters something to sit on.
Step 9
Make a new document that is 300px by 300px. Double click on the background layer to make it an active layer. (Double click) to the right of the layer name to open the layer styles palette. Apply a color overlay to make the layer black. Then add an inner stroke that is white to make a border. You can see my settings below.
Go to Layer>Flatten Image to flatten the image. Hit CMD+A to select all and then go Edit>Define Pattern.
Step 10
Go back to your other document. Make a new blank layer just above your curves layer by hitting the New Layer button at the bottom of the layer palette. Not go to Edit>Fill and select Pattern for the Contents. Then select your black box that should be at the end of the list, and hit OK.
Now Hit (CMD+T) to transform the layer so that it fits in the foreground space. Then (right/control+click) anywhere in the transform box and select perspective. Drag the bottom right handle way out so you get a nice perspective on the pattern layer. Set the layer's blending mode to screen and the opacity to 15%.
Step 11
There is one last step to add a finishing touch. Select the type layers and duplicate them by dragging them down to the New Layer button. With the new groups selected hit (CMD+T) then (right/control+click) in the transform box and select Flip Vertical. Move them down so they look like a reflection.
With all the reflection groups selected hit (CMD+G) to put them into another group. Set that group's opacity to 25%. Add a mask to the group by clicking on the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the layer palette. With the mask selected hit (G) for the gradient tool and apply a linear gradient from black to white, so the reflection fades out as it goes down to the edge of the image.
Conclusion
This tutorial covered some simple steps and effects to achieve stylish results. The final image is below. If there are any questions, put them in the comments section. I will answer them as soon as I can. I hope you enjoy this tut!
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )JPOG June 5th
Ah beautiful! I am going to try this the soonest I can, very neat effect that seems so simple to pull off.
Bob June 5th
Word.
Andrew Pryde June 5th
Brilliant, what a neat idea! These tutorials are a bit long but worth persevering with!
Thanks again
Andrew Pryde
Carlos June 5th
Amazing tutorial. Great outcome. So simple. Very very good.
Saad June 5th
aah @ pretty very pretty and adorable typo, best
Constantin Potorac June 5th
Wow… I love it. Great work and very well done.
adrienne June 5th
nice one!
photoshop brushes June 5th
great out come, at first i was saying ” Not light effects again” but once i read the steps i found it pretty good, thanks
Joefrey Mahusay June 5th
Wow Great effect!
Markus June 5th
Thats just awesome :O
kamel June 5th
very nice
styxz June 5th
awesome effect very nice!
Esben Meincke June 5th
Looks great but there is a little ups in there.
For the mirror effect to look real it should follow the perspective of the floor.
I’m looking forward to a correction.
… Still great tut on the light effect though!
D. Carreira June 5th
Fantastic effect!
David Carreira
Wouter June 5th
Nice
Keith June 5th
Thats pretty impressive. Where do you guys come up with stuff like this?
MONSTER June 5th
This is definitely useful.
Mac Tyler June 5th
It really is incredible how much I love this website!
Diesel June 5th
Simple and effective, great tut guys. Thankyou.
Mason June 5th
Fantastic work. Creative thinking, I like it
Rakzo June 5th
It’s a goood tutorial, thanks for share.
Palmz June 5th
Thanks for the tut. Simple and great result.
Deketa June 5th
I love your work honestly, thank you soo much for the time and effort you put into helping people with your tutorials!
Can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Monya June 5th
Very nice effect & useful. Thank you.
snmsnl June 5th
WOW! this is what im lookin’ for!! great.
Colin Stein June 5th
it’s probably annoying to do that 20 times! but the end results look very nice!
Snorri3D June 5th
nice one
will try this for sure
Seraphim Collective June 5th
Thumbs up! Great Tut!
Sugz June 5th
Great tutorial
dlv June 5th
great one! i learn some really usefull tips
thank to share it !!!
becca June 5th
i did the tutorial. great. thanks!
Andrew June 5th
Awesome tutorial. I love the result.
Ravi Vora June 5th
Definitely different, but probably the weakest of the most recent typography tuts.
bl4kdev1l June 5th
very but very coool!
Ben Griffiths June 5th
Great tut, thanks
w1sh June 5th
Nice effect. Good idea. Great tut. I like your face.
Gen June 5th
great tut! Thanks a lot Kyle!
MD June 5th
Awesome!
thnx again!
Callum Martin June 5th
Wow , this is simple but looks great
AndrewD June 5th
nice, I like this alot!
giackop June 5th
looks amazing.. thanx..
Arik June 5th
The effect is nice yet the type is off for this type of effect if you ask me, then again it’s a matter of taste.
Dullface June 5th
Oeh that looks wicked, another awsome tutorial. Don’t you get tired of hearing that?
Danny June 5th
What an awesome effect!!
Arnaud Alves June 5th
Really cool effect !
Salva June 5th
i think the reflection is wrong, anyway this tut rocks
Josh June 5th
I agree that the reflection does not look right. Shouldn’t it comes towards you instead of going straight down?
Daniel June 5th
great and beautiful work! thanks a lot!
Tyler Bramer June 5th
I’m not sure if I like the glow underneath the text, and the reflection should have the same perspective applied to it that the grid surface has, but other than that it is a pretty creative idea. I know that most people don’t think to move the anchor point when they are transforming an object, so I’m glad that you brought it up.
b00m June 5th
very nice effect
Nate June 5th
Cool effect, thanks.
Zach LeBar June 5th
cool tut man, i like it!
K3v June 5th
Cool effect, pretty easy to do too!
Fabian June 5th
nice!
Kyle Pero June 5th
Reflections don’t follow perspective. Not sure what you guys are talking about.
Braden Keith June 5th
2 words: That was (adding a third) amazing.
Cole June 5th
Reflections DO follow perspective, it’s just that since the reflections appear at the same horizontal distance in space then they will follow the same perspective as the object they are reflecting off of. If the object is at an angle, the perspective of the reflection will be symmetrically inversed. (If that makes sense?) Thus the reflections in the tutorial are correct.
Great tutorial, by the way!
lay a mirror on a flat surface and place an object on the surface, now change the angle of the object and notice the change in the reflection.
Aminur Rahman [aka Tom R] June 5th
nice
Has.n June 5th
Very nice effect!!!
TheBolivianessence June 5th
Incredible. I’d love to come up with awesome techniques like this everyday…lol…
Rijalul Fikri June 5th
wow, a nice effect, I’ll surely use this. Thx’s for the great tutorial
ZaFaR June 5th
Amazing Fantasy look, I really like the work, thank for sharing brother.
Anjerit June 5th
Anjriiit !( English = damn) … great tutorial. Thank u for sharing. God bless!!
crazyhunk June 5th
very neat effect…. love it…
Thanx a lot.
amin hidayat June 5th
look like cool ice
Andrei Constantin June 5th
I say nevermind the glow, reflections, etc.. it’s the technique which it counts
And thanks for one of the promising writers on PSDTUTS, I might finally have a header for my new website 
RUGRLN June 5th
Alright, great and easy to follow but….
I have 1700 fonts but they are all different, very different, can’t find ones that will match. Any particular fonts that I could use?!?!
Shane June 5th
Very nice tutorial. @RUGRLN: that’s a problem I always have - choosing the right font for a job such as this.
Carlos June 5th
I love how some of you guys just try and pick bad things (even when there isn’t any) just to mkae yourselves feel more like designers. Cole is absolutely right, and Kyle Pero got this one spot on.
David June 5th
fantastic!
Dofash June 5th
fantastic!
jbcarey June 5th
Hmmm…. interesting idea…. I don’t like the text effect much, but the “floor” looks great…
LarryLar June 5th
love it. final result you wonder how it’s done. you make it so easy.
VertigoSFX June 6th
Looks great! I love this effect, has a simple look but really looks cool…love the color choices as well.
Rax June 6th
looks awsome! gonna try it right away
Mr Kuzio June 6th
Un ottimo tutoral, non ho avuto il tempo di leggere tutto, ma ho visto il risultato finale ed è uno spettacolod egno di questo nome.
Complimenti!
Very cooool !!!
I like very much the final result, i will come back to read the rest of the tutorial (now i can’t). Anyway the final result is great !
Tim June 6th
Not sure if anyone will agree but I think the current NBA Finals banner on the espn.com homepage might have been inspired by this tutorial and maybe a few others on this site. It was the grid effect that particularly reminded me of this. Thoughts?
Daniel June 6th
Awesome tutorial thanks man can’t wait to try this out.
Lamin Barrow June 6th
Awesome. Thx.
Rjton June 6th
very very good i like it so much….
Hamid June 6th
Wow
May June 6th
very nice effect!
great tutorial!
Thx~
Naki June 6th
nice tutorial. thanks!
1000 June 6th
hi…i ‘don’t understand step 8 because the elliptical marquee tool do it in new layer ?
and then the red color i do to paint boocket tool….sorry for my ugly englisc..thnks
1000 June 6th
hi step 8 what the layer do it..? the layer step 1, the layer step 2 or the layer step 3……?????thanks..
Mark Abucayon June 6th
wow I have nothing to say about this tut really rocks, two thumbs up great job…
ayoub June 6th
awesome , great tuto thanks
Ariful Alam Khan June 6th
Okay, it’s great.
J.Glow June 7th
Wow, very nice! This will be a big help with my new company logo. Thanks for a great tutorial!
Klaus June 7th
just beautiful! my version: http://eldesubicado.deviantart.com/art/Amor-Amor-87852250
Daniel June 7th
I like this .form simple and cool, anyway… i love this tutorial exelen art incredible. Men I YOUR FAN!
J.T. Shaver June 7th
Very cool. I love using pseudo 3D elements in PS. It looks so cool.
- Graphic Design Portfolio of J.T. Shaver
JAWAD June 8th
hey im an arabic man
thank you for these lessons … its fantastic
please help me , i cant understand step 6
im wait
thanks to every one here
Dan June 8th
beautiful!!
Cielo June 9th
Great tutorial, i did this. Is not exactly like that but this sure helped me a lot.
http://x-cielogris.deviantart.com/art/Rihanna-88063648
dario June 9th
very interesting!!
my best compliment!
http://www.dariobologna.com
JAWAD June 9th
PLEASE HELP ME
Virginia web design June 9th
Love this tutorial!
broadsighted June 9th
Sweetness, thank you, I needed a text effect just like this (item # 5 in my portfolio). I modified your technique a bit.
Titoff_77 June 9th
hi from france
thanxs for that tutorial i realy enjoyed it
kszhang June 10th
nice done,
Ivelin Ivanov June 10th
That’s just way too cool man!!! I must try it sometimes just for the enjoyment of seeing my name in this effect lol!!!!
It looks fantastic!:)
Danielle Patenaude June 10th
When I change the text layer mode to screen it turns white instead of black. Because of that this whole tutorial won’t work!!! GRRRRR!!!!!!!
KASHIF RAHUL June 10th
Well done! buddy keep it up.
Mathew June 10th
Thanks a lot for this great tut!
Mark June 10th
great effect and not as complex as it first seems. keep up the good work guys
Peter Fox June 10th
To Danielle and anyone who has the text go white when you set it to screen, what you have to do is set it to pure black, instead of 000000, make sure C,M,Y and K are all set to 100%, hope that helps!
Web Design June 10th
This is great!!
K.Brown June 10th
Very cool!
Lawrence June 11th
speechless
+91 9965859603
laranz.joe@gmail.com
I love GOD, thnks him to give such wonderful tutorial to me!!
evyan June 11th
Fantastic!!! COOL!!!
Soph June 11th
I’m stuck on step 8. when you press quickmask mode the whole screen goes red and white… then you blur and all that jazz but when you exit quickmask mode its still just a marquee selection……….. so therefore you cant put curves on it! Has anyone else had this problem? And more importantly……. can anyone fix it???
Ramesh June 11th
It was an fantastic effect………and also no words to express about the effect………
Jizman June 12th
This effect is awwwwwwwsome dude!
ale June 12th
fantastic!!! i will add it in my website… in the new layout ^^ great!!
janett June 12th
WOOOW!!! i could do it!!! =) it was a great tutorial
ariadne June 12th
step 10,2nd line…you ve written not insted of now
anyway it s awsome!
here s my try ^^
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i269/ariadne_2006/Untitled-2copy.jpg
tom June 12th
@soph: yeah i don’t think that all the people who say it’s great have actually tried it. i’m stuck on step 8 as well. pretty useless if no extra information is given. doesn’t seem like the author is monitoring the comments.
Murali June 12th
Very Nice Now I Cam To Know That To Photoshop What we Can Do. it is really amazing!!!!!
Sasuke61694 June 13th
That’s a nice effect, thanks
Ahmed June 13th
thank you my friend
it seems difficult
velocity91 June 13th
tanks….this is the best site of tutorial…………..
harry June 13th
I could not get past slecting all the “P” layers and duplicating them
Beau de Noir June 14th
I have done!!!! I have done!!!!! GREAT tutorial & THANK YOU ALL!!!!
sean hamilton alexander June 14th
stuck on STEP 8 as well…
as we reach the end of STEP 7, i’ve got all my type layers in a group (folder) and my letters are looking great!
but if i dive straight into STEP 8, i’m to be making the thin eliptical marque where exactly?
if on a new blank layer, prevent i’m prevented from making the blur & curves adjustments in STEP 8.
are we to (copy, then) merge the type-layers in the group?
please advise!
seannarae
Josh June 14th
I hate photoshop so much. I’ve tried about a billion different tutorials and i cann