Fantasy Spring Text Effect

This tutorial will show you how to create a simple brush, then modify its settings, in order to create a nice fantasy spring fresh text effect.

The Final Result:

Notes:

* the software used in this tutorial is Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended
* the size of the final result image is 1024 * 768
* you might want to check the Basix Page to see some useful topics on dealing with Photoshop basics, such as loading palettes and some shortcuts.

Resources:

* Pip Paper by ~struckdumb.
* Monster texture by =redwolf518stock.
* Sparkles Brush.

Step 1:

- We will start by creating the brush. So open a new document that is something around 230 x 230 px, and use the Elliptical Marquee Tool to create a circle that fits the document, and fill it with any color, then press Ctrl + D to get rid of the selection, or simply use the Ellipse Tool instead.

- Double click on the circle’s layer to apply a Gradient Overlay effect. Change the Styleto Radial, and the Scale to 120%, then click the Gradient box to create the gradient.

- You will need 3 colors to create the Gradient, (you can add the colors by clicking under the color bar to create Color Stops), #e9e9e9 to the very left, #636363 to the very right, and #b3b3b3in between. Make sure that the color in the middle’s Location is 60%.
(You can assign the value after you click on the Color Stop).

- When you click on the #b3b3b3 color stop, two Midpoints will appear, one to its left, and another one to its right. Click on the Midpoint to the right, and change its Location to 55%.

- Then, change the Location of the Midpoint to the left to 50%.

- Now that the gradient is finished, click OK to get out of the Gradient Editor, and while the Layer Style box is still open, click on the circle to move the Gradient around, until you get a result similar to the one below:

- When you’re happy with the result, hit OK. Then go to Edit -> Define Brush Preset, and type in a name for the brush.

Step 2:

- Create the original document now, set the Foreground color to #a6a301, and the Background color to 486024, then, create a Radial Gradient from the center of the document to one of the corners.

- Place the Pip Paper texture on top of the Background, then go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation to -100.

- Change the layer’s Blend Mode to Sof Light

- Click the New Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and chooseHue/Saturation.

- Change the Hue value to -10, and the Saturation value to -66.

- Open the Monster texture and place it on top of all layers, then change its Blend Modeto Multiply. And we’re done with the Background!

Step 3:

- Create the text using the color #6f500c. The font used is Brie Light and the size is 250px. You might need to change the Leading value if there are multiple lines, and the Trackingvalue to avoid overlapping. (Found in the Character Panel ‘Window -> Character’).

- Double click on the text layer to apply a Drop Shadow effect. Remove the check next toUse Global Light, and change the Angle to -36. Also, change the Distance to 18, theSpread to 15 and the Size to 35.

- The text should have more depth.

Step 4:

We are going to adjust the Settings of the “Brush” we’ver created in the first step. So open the Brush panel (Window -> Brush), and change the settings as below:

- Brush Tip Shape:

- Shape Dynamics:

- Scattering:

- Color Dynamics:

* You can play around with the values if you like, especially if you are using a different font or font size.

Step 5:

- Back to the original document, Right Click on the text layer, and choose Create Work Path.

- Set the Foreground color to #a7a400 and the Background color to #5a5919, and grab the Direct Selection Tool. Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it “Green”.

- Right Click on the work path, and choose Stroke Path.

- Choose Brush from the Tool drop down menu, and make sure that the Simulate Pressure box is un-checked.

- This will stroke the path with a nice leaves-like stroke.

Step 6:

Pick the Spatter 27 pixels brush, and modify its settings as below:

- Brush tip Shape:

- Shape Dynamics:

- Scatter:

- Color Dynamics:

- Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it “Roses”. Set the Foreground color to#f49e9c and the Background color to #df0024. Repeat the “Stroke Path” process to stroke the path with the new brush.

- Change the “Roses” layer’s Blend Mode to Color Dodge, this will give an illusion of roses spreading all over the green “leaves”.

Step 7:

Load the Sparkles Brush into your Brushes Preset. Create a new layer right below the text layer and call it “Sparkles”, and set the Foreground color to #fef99d.

- Again, stroke the path with this Sparkles brush. this will add a more fantasy-like feel to the effect.

- This step is a good time to use the Eraser Tool to get rid of any extra stuff. Just use a soft round brush with whatever size is suitable, and clear any scattered spots from any layer.

Step 8:

- The last thing we’re going to do is add a simple green illumination behind the text. So set the Foreground color to #a7a400 once again, then create a new layer under the “Sparkles” layer and call it “GreenBG”. Use a big soft round brush to paint randomly around the text. Do not cover much of the background though.

- Change the “GreenBG” layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay. And we’re done!

This is the Final Result once again.