Create a Glowing Text Effect in Photoshop

Using multiple layer styles for different text layers can help achieve great text effects pretty easily and quickly. This tutorial will show you how you can use smart objects and layer styles to create an easy, editable glowing text effect.

1.Create the background

Step 1

Create a new 1200 x 800px document, then click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose Solid Color.

Step 2

Use the color #162c3a.

Step 3

Double-click the Solid Color fill layer to apply a Gradient Overlay effect with these settings:

Check the Dither box

Blend Mode: Linear Burn

Opacity: 20%

Style: Radial

Scale: 150%

Click the Gradient box to create the gradient fill using the colors #ffffff to the left and #ababab to the right

2. Create the text

Step 1

Create the text in All Caps using the font Bungee. Set the Size to 200pt, the Tracking to 100pt, the Kerning to Optical, and the Color to #da1a75.

Step 2

This is an optional step, but it makes changing the text easier after the effect is created.

So, rename the text layer to Text, the right-click it, and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Step 3

Duplicate the Text layer twice, then hide it by clicking the eye icon next to it.

Rename the first copy to Back and the second to Front.

Step 4

Use the Move Tool to nudge the Back layer a little bit to the right and downwards.

Step 5

Duplicate both the Back and Front layers, place the copy layers in a group, and name the group Glow.

3. Style the back layer

Double-click the Back layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

– Bevel and Emboss

Size: 7

Gloss Contour: Cove – Shallow

Check the Anti-aliased box

Highlight Mode – Opacity: 30%

Shadow Mode – Opacity: 25%

Step 2

– Contour

Contour: Cone

Check the Anti-aliased box.

Range: 100%

Step 3

– Stroke

Size: 1

Position: Inside

Blend Mode: Screen

Fill Type: Gradient

Use the faucet 70 gradient fill

Step 4

Click the + icon next to the Stroke effect tab to add another instance, then click the bottom effect’s tab and use these settings:

Size: 5

Position: Outside

Blend Mode: Screen

Opacity: 52%

Fill Type: Gradient

Use the stove pipe 10 gradient fill

Step 5

– Outer Glow

Opacity: 31%

Color: Use the aluminum 70 gradient fill

Spread: 28

Size: 5

Contour: Gaussian

Check the Anti-aliased box

Step 6

– Drop Shadow

Opacity: 70%

Distance: 20

Size: 50

Step 7

This will style the back part of the text.

Right-click the styled Back layer and choose Copy Layer Style.

4. Style the front layer

Step 1

Right-click the Front layer and choose Paste Layer Style.

Then, double-click the Front layer to add an Inner Shadow effect with these settings:

Opacity: 35%

Uncheck the Use Global Light box

Angle: 141

Distance: 10

Spread: 3

Size: 20

This will style the front part of the text.

5. Create the middle part

Step 1

Duplicate both the Back and Front layers then expand the copy layers’ Layer Effects list by clicking the arrow to the layers’ right.

Step 2

Next, you’ll need to get rid of the Drop Shadow effects for the two duplicated layers.

To do so, click-drag each Drop Shadow effect tab you have to drop it in the Delete icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Step 3

Select both copy layers, right-click any of them, and choose Convert to Smart Object, then rename the resulting layer to Middle, and place it between the Back and Front layers.