Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Posted on November 30th, 2008 under Text Effects

In this tutorial, I will demostrate the steps I took to create a scratched Metal Text Effect using Photoshop.

Together we can practice different use of filter effects for create textures, adjusting layer blending styles, selection techniques, brush tool and dodge/burn tools.

Here is a preview of the final work of this tutorial:

metal text final1 500x211 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

All right let’s get started!

Step 1

Create a new document, size doesn’t really matter. I chose 800x400px because that’s where my comfort zone is. Fill the background layer with black colour.

We are now going to create a texture layer, which will be used later on to add effect to the text.

Create a new layer called “Texture 1″, fill it with a light grey colour (See image below for details)

1 fill grey colour 500x332 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Step 2

On “Texture 1″ Layer, go to filter > noise > add noise and use the following settings:

2 add noise Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Then go to filter > blur > motion blur and apply the following setting:

2 motion blur Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Then hit Ctrl + M to apply the Curve image adjustment, use the following settings:

2 curve Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

You image should look like this:

2 effect so far after curve 500x251 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Step 3

Still on the “Texture 1″ layer, go to Filter > Texture > Mosaic Tiles and apply the following settings:

3 msaic tiles 500x340 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

then go to Filter > Texture > Patchwork and apply the following settings:

3 patch work 500x284 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

After applying those texture filters, use the Dodge and Burn tool to give the “Texture 1″ Layer some lighting contrast.

Dodge Tool Settings:

3 dodge tool Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Burn Tool Settings:

3 burn tool Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Effect After:

3 after dodge burn 500x247 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

We can use the level adjustment tool to further adjust the output levels, see below for details:

3 level Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Effect after level adjustment:

3 after level 500x247 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Step 4

Create a new layer called “Color Overlay”, set its blending option to “Color Dodge”. Then grab a big round brush to paint some RGB colour on the layer.

Here is the effect so far:

4 colour brush rgb after 499x241 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Optional: You can apply a gaussian blur to the “Texture 1″ layer if you like, detailed settings see below:

4 gaussian blur Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Step 5

Hide the last two layers we created. Make a new layer  under the “Texture 1″ layer and type some texts on it. You may use any font you like, I chose this font from dafont.com. Name the layer as “Text”.

Adjust the position of your text according the image below:

5 text position 500x248 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Change the layer blending options of this text layer as follows:

5 layer blending 500x367 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Inner Shadow

5 inner shadow 500x367 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Inner Glow

5 inner glow 500x367 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Bevel and Emboss

5 bevel and emboss 500x367 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Gradient Overlay

5 gradient 500x367 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Your text will now look like this:

5 after blendin 500x247 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Step 6

Now we need some more textures with lots of scratches and cracks. I downloaded the following image from CG Texture.

scratchy 500x313 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Load this texture into Photoshop, then go back to our text document and select the “Text” layer. Use Crtl + Left-Click to select the text,

6 load selection 500x247 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

then drag the selection onto the texture image (anywhere you like). Hit Crtl + C to copy the selection and hit Ctrl + V to paste it onto the “Text” layer.

Name the new layer as “Texture 2″ and change its blending option to “Overlay”. Your image will look like below:

6 paste texture after 499x245 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Step 7

Make “Texture 1″ and “Colour overlay” layers visible, change the blending option of “Texture 1″ to color, see below for details:

7 blending texture 1 500x367 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

The effect will now look like this:

7 effect so far 500x240 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

Ok! That’s it for this tutorial! You may want to add some of colour, or change the existing colour overlay and add some more textures. That’s totally up to you!

Here is my final image: (I adjust the colour balance and add a bit more fancy effects)

metal text final1 500x211 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop

If you have any questions, just drop me a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Cheers and have a great day!

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  • Abdurrahman

    Super work,

  • http://www.psdvault.com James

    Thanks buddy!

  • http://www.photoshoplady.com/forums/text-effect-tutorials/140-create-scratched-metal-text-effect-photoshop.html#post473 Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop – Photoshop Lady Forums

    [...] brush tool and dodge/burn tools. Here is a preview of the final result: Please click here to access the tutorial on my website. If you have any questions, just drop me a comment there and [...]

  • Giacomo

    Hi! What’s the use of TEXTURE1? It doesn’t appear in anything? Please make me clear of it! Thanks

  • http://www.psaddict.com psaddict
  • http://www.psdvault.com James

    Hi Giacomo~ texture 1 is used for adding some final scratch effects on top of “texture 2″, it also creates some more depth for the text. Make sure you change the layer blending option of “Texture 1″ to “color” or “soft light” :)
    Hope this helps

  • http://www.psdvault.com James

    To psaddict.com: nice name! Thanks for the add!

  • Rosy

    Nicely done. Always appreciate a good tip/tutorial, thanks. :))

  • Phil

    Hi, I’m having a problem with step 3. Texture is grayed out so I can’t select it… any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help.

  • Melissa

    the links don’t work and I’m trying to follow the tutorial D:

  • http://www.psdvault.com James

    Hi Phil, with step 3 you don’t have to select anything, just apply the filters and dodge and burn tool straight onto the layer.
    Hope this helps :)

  • http://www.psdvault.com James

    Hi Melissa~ yeah the font link is down, look like their site is having problem. I uploaded the texture and insert it into the article already :)

  • Phil

    Hi James – not sure why I couldn’t adjust the texture first time I tried; it’s all good now. Thanks for the tutorial, and your help. Cheers.

  • http://www.psdvault.com James

    no worries buddy! :)

  • James Jenkins

    thats really cool !

  • http://speckyboy.com/2008/12/18/the-top-30-photoshop-text-effects-tutorials-of-2008-which-is-the-best/ The Top 30 Photoshop Text Effects Tutorials of 2008 – Which is the Best? : Speckyboy – Web Design, Web Development and Graphic Design Resources

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  • http://www.goldpreise.biz/altgold.html Altgold

    Hi there I like your post

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  • http://www.uprinting.com/Business-Cards.html Business Card Printing

    The mosaic tile effect is really cool! The final effect looks more like bloody scratched metal because of the red tones on the lower part. I can just imagine this in some suspense movie poster :)

  • http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/tutorials/photoshop-tutorials/stunning-photoshop-text-effect-tutorials.html 80+ Stunning Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials | tripwire magazine

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  • http://game4home.com http://game4home.com

    nice effect

  • iqra

    my texture tool is inactive..i dont know y..but i cant use it untill it becomes active

  • PSKIA

    The problem some of you have with getting the __Filter > Texture > …etc__ option to work is because your colour bit is too high (usually set to 16 bit) go to __Image > Mode > 8 bits/channel__ instead.

    Hope i helped :P

  • Steve

    Truly helpful and nonetheless AWSOME!

  • http://51feeling.com/?p=341 140+ High Quality Categorized Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials | tripwire magazine | 51Feeling

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    [...] Create a Scratched Metal Text Effect in Photoshop [...]

  • cimone key

    what other affects did you add..i want my letters to look like yours

  • http://Website Kiwi

    Yo man, I’m stuck at the beginning.. I’m using cs3, when i’ve added new layer and filled with light grey then tried adding the filter, but it does nothing? What have i done wrong? I’ve re-checked.. Done everything exactly the same as you.. Still stuck

  • http://Website Paul

    Hi all!Man i don’t know why at the step 2 ,i create the texture 1 layer ,i go to the filter >noise>add noise but when i click for add noise 1 message appears :area selected si empty.Please help.
    Thanks!

  • James Qu

    @Paul: you need to make sure you fill the texture layer with grey colour first before you add the noise. This will make sure the area is not empty.
    Hope this helps!