I Worked on this tutorial with a good friend of mine Negreu Andreas. This text will be created using a series of shapes with different transparency and color effects. Let's get to it!
Final Image Preview
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Step 1
First of all open up a new document and fill it in with black. Then add your text using a font you like and the color #00e5ff.
Step 2
Next duplicate the layer by pressing (Command + J), set the layer Opacity to 65% and move it down and left 1 px each.
Step 3
Next duplicate the text layer in Step 2 four more times. Then move each 1 px down and left as you did before.
Step 4
Next you need to select all the layers except for the background and the first text you created. Now right-click and chose Rasterize Type, then Merge the layers and set the new layer to 47% Opacity.
Step 5
Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and make a selection, as shown below. Next, use the Smudge Tool (R) set to a Master Diameter of 19 px, Hardness of 100%, Strength of 30%, and smudge the right part of the layer so you can cover up that empty part.
Step 6
Repeat the same process with the other letters.
Step 7
For the lower part of the "S" letter, make a selection as shown, but this time simply erase the unwanted part of the letter by pressing Backspace.
Step 8
Erase the upper part of the letters: "d," "t," "u," and "t," then erase the lower part of the "s."
Step 9
Next use the Smudge Tool (R) as you did in Step 5. Use the Smudge Tool for the letters "t," "t" and "s."
Step 10
Next move the original text layer above the duplicate. Also, set the Opacity of the duplicated layer to 35%. Select the original text layer and double-click on it to enter the Blending Options and then add a stroke.
Step 11
Next select the text layer below and duplicate it. Use the Pen Tool (P) and create a stroke like below and transform it into a selection. Now simply erase over the selection using the Eraser Tool (E) set to 24% Opacity.
Step 12
Next create a new layer above the duplicated text layers. In this layer add some color to the text. To do this you first need to make a selection of the entire text by holding down the Command key and pressing once on the duplicated text layer thumbnail. Now fill the selection with #ff009c. Don't mind the blue clouds behind the text.
Step 13
Set the layer to Hue and Opacity to 35%.
Step 14
Make a selection of the first text layer and then go into each of the below layers and press backspace to clear the selected areas. As you can see below, the text effect will still be visible, but we need to erase some areas for future adjustments.
Step 15
Create a new layer below the "pink" layer and make a selection as shown below, then fill the selection with white. Also, set the layer to 38% Opacity and the original "text" layer to 68% Opacity.
Step 16
Make a selection of the original "text" layer. Now use a soft brush for the Eraser Tool (E) to clear the corners of the white layer that don't look good.
Step 17
Make another selection of the original text layer and create a new layer above it. Then select the Lasso Tool (L) and right-click on the screen and choose stroke. Set the stroke to 2 px and color to #00fcff.
Step 18
Duplicate the stroke from Step 17 and move it like below. Now make a selection as shown, and use the Eraser Tool (E) set to 40% Opacity to erase the stroke that is inside the selection. In the end, set the layer to 10% Opacity.
Step 19
Make another selection on the original text and then subtract like below. Create a new layer above the original "text" layer, and apply the same color as you used for the stroke add a simple gradient. Then add another stroke using #c2feff.
Step 20
Duplicate the "white text" layer and brush over it with the color #f1ff12. Then set the layer Opacity to 23% and move it as shown.
Step 21
Make a selection like below by Command-clicking on the original text thumbnail and inverse the selection. Then using the Eraser Tool (E) you need to erase the edges like in Step 16.
Step 22
Now it is time to get back to the "pink" layer. Activate it and set the Opacity back to 100%. Make a selection like below, invert it and erase the excess using the Eraser Tool (E).
Step 23
Move the "pink" layer you just created above the original text layer and set it to Overlay.
Conclusion
You are finished with the text effect but to make this a bit more interesting I will create another element and that is the plus using the same techniques. Also, add the final element, which is an interesting background that I purchased from Graphic River. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )starlight86 June 16th
thanks for the tut man.really cool.got to try it.
( )bodhi June 16th
Yes.. It’s very cool.
( )Thank for this tutorial.
emmanuel June 16th
first
( )Peewee1002 June 16th
HAHA Fail.
Its nice tutorial I might try it out sometime. Though I am not really a typography person.
( )EyeforQuality July 19th
I Agree
Rafi June 16th
moron
( )emmanuel June 16th
jks when i comented i was the first it’s the stupid school computer that made me second
( )Ulle June 16th
I think the very fact that you even posted that comment was fail
Please stop doing that in the future.
Anyways, I like this type effect very much, it has a retro meets glossy vista type feel too it..
graphicartist2k5 June 16th
and it’s sooo important to be the first person to comment, isn’t it? after all, when you comment first, you are the coolest person on the whole plant, right?
simon June 17th
At least he can spell!
Ramon June 17th
Not the computer is stupid…
emmanuel June 17th
Love how saying something like “first” can start a whole discussion :>
( )ruben June 16th
this looks cool
( )and some effects I’ve never used
Jonny Pioww June 16th
Seen better glass effects to be fair.
( )Martin Gonzalez June 16th
very nice tut man, thanks!
( )Margaret June 16th
Nice! I’m going to have to try this one out, beautiful colours btw…
( )… the more I’m thinking about this… it’s cool, you could really apply it to any shape. it’s not at all limited to text…
Mark Dijkstra June 16th
Nice tut but whats the font name?
And Command + J ? Well i am a windows user so i think this is for the mac?
( )David June 16th
The author wants you to find your own Mark, that’s why he says ‘try your own’.
Here’s the translation for Mac –> Win
( )Command=Control
Mark Dijkstra June 16th
I know thats why i ask which font this is
Peewee1002 June 16th
http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
What the Font! Its a cool website.
( )Ramon June 17th
Looks like Bauhaus
( )B-82 June 19th
I think it’s REZland : http://www.dafont.com/fr/rezland.font
yep, that’s it !
Germansn June 16th
wow nice effect i’ll try
( )masoud nazary June 16th
tnx,,veri good
( )Diego SA June 16th
Wow, that’s cool! It also could be used in a lot of things. Again, I really cool tutorial Constantin! Thanks a lot!
( )sayan June 16th
Nice tut…a real pleasure.
( )Craigsnedeker June 16th
AWESOME!
( )Phenotype June 16th
Great tutorial! I can’t wait to try it. Someone needs to fix the title though, should it be, “How to Create a Gorgeous Glossy Text Effect”? It says “Glassy”.
( )Phenotype June 17th
Still says “Glassy”.
( )Phenotype June 17th
Nevermind, I get that it’s supposed to be “glassy” as in “glass-like”. I’m so used to seeing the word “glossy” when it comes to PS tutorials I just thought it was a typo. Sorry!
( )EyeforQuality July 19th
Cool
( )Mujtaba June 16th
sorry but i think the problem is with my opera mini browser… I fail to see anything glassy (or glossy) in it …
( )(i am using my nokia 6630 to read this tut !!!)
its_me June 16th
looks glassy to me…
wouldn’t it be easier just to use the 3d fx in cs4?
( )DyStarlight June 16th
Good Job Man! thanks for sharing …
( )Brianhxc June 16th
No…. because this is a “glassy” look, not glossy.
( )Temujin June 16th
learn to make some tutorials b4 starting off with a hectic one like this…
im not noob at ps3 but i couldnt follow what u were doing in some steps…
maybe its just my ps3 but mine looks nothing like urs…
however very very AWESOME looking
( )lawrence77 June 16th
Not a big deal…..
but learn something from that, learning something is a part of tutorials usually so thats ok…..
And i think the background is also in this tutorial, but Constantin Potorac cheats me
he simply drop a link in the final step 
( )Felix June 16th
Really great one. will try this
( )Gery.M June 16th
imi pare bine ca vad tot mai multi designeri romani pe psdtuts!
bafta:D
it’s nice to see more and more romanian designers on PSDtuts!
Nice work!
( )Gorgeous the III June 16th
whats so gorgeous about this? seems lately spdtuts is accepting kinda anything but who am i to judge. free stuff is always welcome
nice tho`
( )AlexR June 16th
si mie imi pare bine , constantin potorac are cateva tutoriale faine
i’m glad too , constantin potorac has some cool tutorials
Congrats Mate
( )Negreu Andreas June 25th
merci frumos pentru aprecieri
C-tin e cam “rau” 
)
( )snnaqvi June 16th
Good job
( )Bryan Grajales June 17th
Woow Awesome! Finally a good and easy tutorial to follow, because lately the tutotials have been really hard like for expert people and it makes feel like not doing.
I love this tutorial 100%
Reminds me of the old PSDTUTS…
( )منتديات ماى بكتشرز June 17th
Wow Coooooooool
( )Jamie Allsop June 17th
Nice tutorial, I am looking forward to trying this out not only with typography but with shapes as well. Its nice to see typography used in a creative way, thanks for the tutorial.
( )Symon June 17th
Nice. Thx
( )noobtuts June 17th
IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE GLASS LOL
( )yatrik June 17th
Simple and nice.
( )Lau June 17th
Simple and easy. thx
( )Chris June 17th
Very nice, going to add to toptuts.com
( )massafakka June 17th
simple and clean.
( )Obsilion June 17th
Hi,
really nice tutorial. The font used is really nice, may you please give me the name? It would be really nice to you.
Have a good day!
( )Michael June 17th
Very nice outcome. Will definetly try to use this.
( )DoYouReallyGiveAShi June 17th
Personally I like the state its at in step 21 more than the final… I think the pink was a little overkill…nice tho
( )Photo June 18th
Good Job maaan! thanks for sharing))
( )Bheki Kunene June 18th
Lovely stuff I hpoe I’ll remember all of the techniques
( )Mars June 18th
a very detailed tutorial. love to do this one
( )Oktigh June 18th
nice tutorial but english
im turk but i know english and I Love psd.tuts+
( )Falsk arm June 19th
Really nice
( )red June 19th
this tut is not so good to pe honest…. too bad
( )SiR.BlaCk June 19th
Bro. I Can’t Make This Tut. Plz. Help .. ;( .. i Really Wanna Make A One Like This .. But By Another Word..I Wanna Write SiR.BlaCk .. Plz. Tell Me What To Do On This E-Mail .. : b.na_01@yahoo.com
( )Melody June 19th
Steps 15 & 16 were confusing
( )Jazz June 20th
Nice tutorial. Great outcome.
Some good techniques learned. I think, however, it would allow people a bit more creativity if the specific colours weren’t supplied. Techniques are learned more thoroughly with experimenting. I tried this with other colours and it worked quite well.
Thanks for posting this tutorial, it’s very helpful.
( )CgBaran Tuts June 21st
Nice effect thanks
( )Gareth Hardy June 21st
Somewhat a cliche but nicely written
( )Joe June 21st
I like that text effect. Its clean, yet glossy and modern.
( )cudz June 22nd
way too many steps for soemthing that isnt even that impressive, i would refer to other tutorials for much better glass effects
( )Fred June 25th
Anyone knows how to create that background? I think the background image looks fantastic.
( )Gin June 27th
Many thanks for this tut, it’s the best dude
( )CLIPBER July 2nd
Many thanks for this tut, it’s the best dude
( )eU July 2nd
thx man, very cool!! *-*
( )mE July 2nd
Txh man, very cool.
( )caty July 3rd
I think that after step 17 it st arted getting out of hand and too many things were applied. I would have liked it more without the pink and the stroke around it.
( )shekhar saxena July 3rd
Good Job Man! thanks for sharing …
( )Moksha July 4th
thanks very cool effect
( )youly July 5th
hi…nice tut…but my duplicate layer doesn’t move when i press the down arrow:(
( )sasy July 7th
love it love it love it
( )Jack July 7th
Really like this effect but would be too tempted just to grab a 3D text render from Illustrator and work on it from there.
Overall though the idea really is that people could put a little more effort into working with typography in design rather than living with defaults!
Thank you for using my background as well! Great to see it in use.
( )Ryan Gliozzo July 7th
Nice tutorial.
I like the way you added the 3d look by duplicating the layers. I will try this method on the new website I am working on .
( )Empire Elements July 12th
Going through this tutorial step-by-step just makes it all so simple.
Thanks
Angela
( )Kaijin July 21st
While the result is great, this tutorial isn’t. There are many steps that seem to be incomplete starting at about step 15. The white layer seems to be moved down and to the left, but this is not mentioned in the text. Step 16 could be achieved simply by selecting the main text, inverting the selection and clearing away the extra white. With an opacity of 10% and so much else going on, steps 17 and 18 hardly seem necessary for the effect.
Step 19 is quite confusing. The subtraction from the text selection looks very similar to the path in step 11, yet it is actually different. Is this a new selection? Is it supposed to line up with the selection from step 11? A simple gradient? Please be far more specific. In the part two of the image for step 19, it looks like you’re trying to show using a soft brush to brush in the gradient along the edge of the selection, but this is not mentioned in the text of the step at all.
Step 20, what do you mean “brush over it?” Am I changing the color entirely, or doing personally stylized brushing? Please be more specific when you say “move as shown”, at 23% opacity it isn’t easy to tell where you moved the layer to.
Step 22 suffers from a similar dilemma as steps 4 and 10. In step 4 and step 13, you changed the opacity of the layer, only to change it again in steps 10 and 22 respectively. The pink layer also didn’t need to be created way back in step 13, it could be just as easily made in step 22 since the shape of the original text hasn’t been moved or modified. The text also says to make a selection like below, yet in the image there’s what appears to be an inverted selection of the main text, but there’s something messed up in the selection in the horizontal middle of the first “S”.
Step 23, why couldn’t you put the pink layer on top of the text layer in step 22? Here again you’re changing the blending mode from Hue, set in step 13, to Overlay?
( )Joenel July 29th
I’m happy to see that my method of creating 3d text in this tutorial i thought it was obsolete due to many 3d apps available.
( )jay August 1st
it’s really nice but we need detail explanation . because we don’t knoe about
the photoshop. how did i select like this you are done in Step 5.
Thanks,
( )Programming tutorials August 3rd
Looks pretty sweet. I liked the effect you made on the edges of the text.
( )Kaplang August 10th
your tutorial has really helped me, thanks
( )prabhakar August 12th
nice tutorial
( )randomer August 14th
how do i select the layers in stage 4 help pleasee !!
( )yarenay August 14th
Is this much:)
( )realy perfect been. thanks
Violet August 17th
I love this effects pretty much…gona try this later…
( )It looks hard…hope not
luigi.f September 7th
Awesome, great tut. Mine didn’t turn out much glossy, but it’s a great tut. Thanks man
( )osama September 7th
cool
( )Ethan September 20th
How do you move an image 1px? I’m very beginner at this but no matter how hard i search i cant seem to find out how…
( )Metin Ucar October 29th
The tutorial is nice in general. But I think some steps, for instance step 18 & 19, could have been described better. If this is a pro tutorial, I’ll agree that I’m not capable of accomplishing those steps. But, if it’s not, I’d say the author should have added better descriptions and/or illustrated via pictures in order to make it easier to follow.
I agree with the some fellows that this is not such a great text effect. Yet, it works.
cheers!
( )