WEBEXPEDITION18 Never Stop The Exploring

For a more interesting title for posters, catalogs or even business cards, it is a must to always be creative with how the text is displayed. Besides the font styles, you might also want to try using other kinds of interesting complementing elements that will make your titles stand out. This tutorial aims to do just that. Here are the steps.

Step 1

First, let us create our document. The dimensions for your document are essentially dependent on your design of course, but make sure that the resolution is set correctly for your end goal in terms of distribution. You will need a high 300ppi resolution if you plan on printing this design in paper and other physical materials. Otherwise, for digital display and distribution, use 72 ppi.

Step 2

Once we have a new document open, setup your background. To make our design  pop out though, we are using something dark for example. We are using a black (#000000) and dark grey (#464646) gradient background. Just use of course the background that you want.

Step 3

Next, we draw our metal plate. Just use the Rounded rectangle tool and inscribe the plate unto your canvass. For now, use a light grey colour for this. Take note that you can make the corners more round by adjusting the radius of the rounded rectangle shape above. Note that depending on where you’re adding this design element, you can adjust the size if, say, you’re adding this plate to a poster or business card.  You can also change the orientation if you wish.

Step 4

Now that we have our plate layer, double click on it to bring up the layer styles and blending options. First stop is the Outer Glow. Just click on the corresponding checkbox for it. Now set these options:

• Opacity: 20%
• Color: Black
• Size: 3
• Rest default

Step 5

Next, click on Bevel and Emboss. Use the settings below to make our plate a little bit more solid.

• Depth: 320%
• Size: 2
• Soften: 0
• Shadow mode color: Gray
• Rest default

Step 6

Next, click on the Gradient Overlay option. This should add that metallic sheen effect. Just click on the corresponding checkbox and use the values below.

• Blend mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Gradient color: Use the following colors -  #363636,  #ebebeb,  #898989,  #e1e1e1, and just estimate the locations.
• Style: Linear
• Angle: 90 degrees

Step 7

Great! Now we have something that looks like a plate.

Step 8

Next, we add the text. First, simply use the text tool to write your text. Choose your font wisely of course. It might be better to use something a bit thick. Sans serif type fonts will be good here, such as Impact or Helvetica, but it would be your choice for the style.

Step 9

Once the text is set, we shall add some more blending options to it. Just double click on the text layer to access its own layer options. First click on the drop shadow effect. Use the following values for it:

• Blend mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Angle: 90 degrees
• Size: 1
• Rest to default

Step 10

Then, click on the Inner shadow options. Use the following settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal Colour Gray
• Opacity: 75%
• Angle: 90 degrees
• Distance: 2px
• Choke: 41%
• Size: 4

Step 11

Then, click on the Outer Glow options. Use these values.

• Blend Mode: Screen
• Opacity: 75%
• Size: 49px
• Rest default

Step 12

Finally, add a nice dark grey colour overlay at 100% Opacity.

Step 13

After all those options, you should get something with metal pressed text style. Just adjust the size and shape to fit the text with your plate correctly.

Step 14

Next, we will add the bolted circles in the four corners. Do this by first using the ellipse tool to create a small circle. Use a grey colour for now and hold down the SHIFT key as you draw it so that it is a perfect circle.

Step 15

Now, select the plate shape again and right click on it, choose the option to copy layer style. Then select our circle option, right click on it and select “paste layer style”. This adds all the options we chose in the plate layer, unto the circle layer.

Step 16

Next, we will alter two layer style sections on the small circle. First go to Bevel and emboss. Use a Chisel soft technique here. Adjust the size value to 16, and the soften value to 8.

Step 17

Then, go to the gradient overlay options and set the style to ANGLE.

Step 18

Finally, just duplicate the small circle layer 3 times to distribute it to the four corners.

Authored by Irene Thompson

Irene Thompson is a professional writer and a graphic designer for 5 years. She works at PrintPlace.com, a trusted online printing company that offers business card printing, catalog printing, and other powerful printed marketing materials.