How to Create Text Layer Smart Objects

Step 1

Create the text using the font Burford. Set the Color to White, the Size to 350 pt,
and the Tracking to -75.
Create the Text
Step 2

Rename the text layer to Text, right-click its layer, and choose Convert to Smart
Object.
Convert to Smart Object
Step 3

Duplicate the Text layer.

Duplicate the Text Layer
5. How to Create Extrusion Layers
Step 1

Duplicate the Text layer again, rename the new copy to Extrusion, and then put it
in a group and name it Extrusion as well.
Create the Extrusion Group
Step 2

With the Extrusion layer selected, press Command-T to enter Free Transform Mode.
Press each of the Left Arrow and Down Arrow keys once to nudge the Extrusion layer
1 px in each of those directions.

Hit the Return key to accept the changes.

Nudge the Extrusion Layer
Step 3

Press Shift-Command-Option-T around 21 times to create 21 copies with the same

transformation.

You can actually decide how many copies you want to create based on the extrusion
size you want, so feel free to go with any number of copies you like.
Create the Extrusion Copies
Step 4

Select all the Extrusion layers, and go to Layer > Arrange > Reverse to get the
correct order of layers.
Reverse the Extrusion Layers
Step 5

Place the top three Extrusion layers in a Front group, the bottom three in a Back
group, and the rest in a Middle group.
Group the Extrusion Layers
6. How to Create Shadow Layers
Step 1

Duplicate the last Extrusion layer (the bottom layer in the Back group), and rename
the copy to Shadow.

Drag the Shadow layer out of the Extrusion group, and place it in a new group with
the name Shadow as well.
Create the Shadow Group
Step 2

Use the same transform and duplicate steps to create a couple of copy layers for
the Shadow, only this time, you'll need to nudge the Shadow layer 1 px to the right
and 1 px downwards.
Create the Shadow Layers
Step 3

Make sure to reverse the Shadow layers' order when you're done creating the copies.
Reverse the Layer Order
Step 4

Place the Text and Text copy layers in a Text group.

Text Group
7. How to Style the Front Text Layers

Double-click the Text copy layer to apply the following layer style:
Step 1

Add a Stroke with these settings:

Size: 3
Position: Inside
Color: #fbe8d2

Stroke
Step 2

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Linear Burn

Color: #515151
Opacity: 50%
Distance: 6
Choke: 50
Size: 5

Inner Shadow
Step 3

Add a Color Overlay with these settings:

Color: #f5edea
Blend Mode: Darker Color
Opacity: 50%

Color Overlay
Step 4

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Color Burn

Pattern: Sawtooth
Scale: 50%

Pattern Overlay
Step 5

Change the Text copy layer's Fill value to 0.

Change the Fill Value
Step 6
Double-click the original Text layer to apply a Pattern Overlay effect with these
settings:

Opacity: 95%
Pattern: Front Pattern
Scale: 50%

Pattern Overlay

This will style the front part of the text.

Styled Text Front
8. How to Style the Extrusion
Step 1

Double-click the Front group to apply a Color Overlay effect using the Color
#3c3b3b.
Color Overlay
Step 2

Right-click the Front layer, choose Copy Layer Style, right-click the Back layer,
and choose Paste Layer Style.

Expand the Middle group, select all the layers inside it, right-click any of them,
and choose Paste Layer Style again.
Copy and Paste the Layer Style
Step 3

Double-click the Middle group to apply a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Divide

Opacity: 35%
Pattern: Diagonal line medium

Pattern Overlay

This will style the extrusion.

Styled Extrusion
9. How to Style the Shadow
Step 1

Double-click the Shadow group to apply a Color Overlay effect with these settings:

Color: #a89a96
Blend Mode: Multiply
Opacity: 75%

Color Overlay
Step 2

Change the Shadow group's Fill value to 0%.

Change the Fill Value
10. How to Add Texture Overlays

Before adding the textures, put the Text, Extrusion, and Shadow groups in a group
and call it Text Effect, to keep things organized.
Step 1

It is better to add the textures as smart objects by going to File > Place Linked.
Start by adding the UNRESTRICTED - Digital Grunge Texture 11 image on top of the
Solid Color layer, and resize it as needed.

Rename the layer to BG Texture, and change its Blend Mode to Color Dodge and its
Opacity to 30%.
Add the Background Texture Overlay
Step 2

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation value to -
100.

If you are using older versions of Photoshop or can't apply the adjustments
directly to the smart object layer for some reason, you can either rasterize the
texture's layer or use adjustment layers instead.
HueSaturation
Step 3

Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

Check the Use Legacy box, and change the Contrast to -50.

The legacy option helps adjust the contrast of full black and white, which creates
much less contrast.
BrightnessContrast
Step 4

Place the Film Grain image on top of all layers and resize it as needed.

Rename the texture's layer to Texture Overlay 1, and change its Blend Mode to
Overlay.
Texture Overlay 1
Step 5

Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels, and change the Gamma value to 0.70.
Levels Gamma
Step 6

Place the UNRESTRICTED - Digital Grunge Texture 16 image on top of all layers, and
resize it as needed.

Rename the texture's layer to Texture Overlay 2, and change its Blend Mode to Soft
Light and its Opacity to 20%.
Texture Overlay 2
Step 7

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation value to -
100.
HueSaturation
11. How to Add Global Adjustment Layers
Step 1

Add a Gradient layer on top of all layers.

Create a Transparent to Fill Color gradient fill using the colors #6f6f6f to the
left and #000000 to the right.

Change the Style to Radial and the Scale to 200, and then change the layer's Blend
Mode to Overlay.
Gradient Fill
Step 2

Add a Brightness/Contrast layer, and change the Contrast to 25.

BrightnessContrast
Step 3

Add a Photo Filter layer, and use the Color #ec9600.

Photo Filter
Step 4

Add a Color Balance layer, and use these settings:

Midtones

Cyan/Red: 20
Magenta/Green: 12
Yellow/Blue: 12

Color Balance
12. How to Create a Grungy Effect
Step 1

Select the Text Effect group, and click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of
the Layers panel to add a mask to it.
Add a Layer Mask
Step 2

Pick the Paint Bucket Tool, choose Pattern in the Options bar, and select a pattern
fill from the Grit and Grunge Repeat Patterns pack.

Make sure that the Text Effect mask is selected, and click to fill it with the
pattern.
Fill the Mask with Pattern
Step 3

To intensify the grungy effect, you can press Command-L to get the Levels box and
increase the Shadows value to darken the pattern fill inside the mask. This will
intensify the areas erased by it, resulting in a more grungy effect.
Intensify the Pattern
Congratulations! You're Done

I hope you enjoyed this Photoshop text effect tutorial. We learned how to create
and use a simple halftone pattern in Photoshop using a couple of filters.

Then, we created the text, converted it into a smart object, and duplicated it to
create the extrusion and shadow layers. After that, we styled each of the text,
extrusion, and shadow layers and groups to achieve the halftone retro effect.

Finally, we used texture overlays, adjustment layers, and pattern fills to finish
off the effect.
Final Result
Retro and Grunge Photoshop Text Effects From Envato Elements

Using Photoshop's modern tools to recreate classic text effects is always a fun
process. If you like this look and want to try out different styles, then check out
some of the downloads from Envato Elements. The site has many cool retro and grunge
text effects for Photoshop, including the ones below.
1. 3D Grunge Text Effects for Photoshop (PSD)
Grunge Text Effects
This set offers a few different options if you use Photoshop and want vintage text
effects for your work. Each included option is tactile and textured. When paired
with a retro font, you'll be able to create text that has stunning effects on your
audience.
2. Vintage Retro Text Effects (PSD)
https://elements.envato.com/vintage-retro-text-effects-YE2SP9D

Here are some cool 3D text effects for Photoshop that have old-school
sensibilities. There are 11 styles here, each one offering something different from
the rest. It's a great bundle to have if you're after Photoshop vintage text
effects.
3. Smudged Ink Text Effect (PSD)
Smudged Ink Text Effect

You won't need to learn how to add effects to text in Photoshop thanks to this
entry. That's because the Photoshop text effect's PSD is easy to use. The smudging
is very realistic, and it also has a grainy texture and a pair of color filters.
4. Rocking Retro PS Text Effects (PSD)
Rocking Retro PS Text Effects

Retro text effects can also be vibrant, as shown with this option. It uses its 80s
aesthetic well, with a well-made gradient and appropriate flair. You'll also get
multiple text effects for Photoshop here that nod to Stranger Things and Hotline
Miami.
5. Grunge Wood Photoshop Vintage Text Effect (PSD)
Grunge Wood Text Effect

The last grunge text effect for Photoshop that I'll leave you with is anything but
wooden. Its worn lettering has all the character of a well-used and weathered
barrel. This download is versatile too. You'll be able to apply this cool text
effect to words and logos in Photoshop.
Discover More Photoshop Resources

Looking for more fun Photoshop text effects to make from tutorials? You're in the
right place. Our instructors have some step-by-step guides you can use to liven up
the text in any creative project.

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