Create Abstract Text Effect with Metal Scraps in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the processes of creating an abstract style, shattered text effect with metal scraps in Photoshop. We will use just one scrap metal stock image and build the text effect based on it. Methods including image adjustments, selection, brush painting will be used in this tutorial.

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Here is a preview of the final effect I have for this tutorial: (click to enlarge)

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To complete this tutorial, you will need the following stocks:

Metal Scrap

Abstract Brushes

Step 1

Create a new document sized 800px * 1147px with black background. Load the abstract brush set into Photoshop and use the following brushes:

With the brush opacity set to 40% and flow set to 60%:

Paint some patterns over the background as shown below:

Step 2

We will start working on our text in this step. Use any font you like and type a letter over to our canvas:

Load the selection of this text layer:

Load the scrap metal stock image into Photoshop and move the selection over to this image:

Copy and paste the selection over to our document, and cover the letter as shown below:

Use a soft eraser, remove parts of the metal texture as shown below:

Apply the following adjustment layers as clipping masks to this metal layer:

Black and White

Levels

Curves

and here is the effect so far:

Step 3

We can paint some lines to joins the broken metals with a small, soft brush with red colour:

We will add some shattered metal pieces around the text. Choose one of the brushes from the abstract brush set we downloaded:

Go to the metal stock image, create a new layer and paint as shown below:

Select this new painted layer as shown below

Go back to the background layer and press Ctrl + C to copy the selection:

Paste the texture over to our document, resize and position the texture as shown below:

Use an eraser tool to remove parts of this metal particles as shown below:

Repeat the above process and add more metal particles into the image:

Step 4

We will add some extra effects for our text. Use a cloud brush to paint some smoke/cloud effect to the left side of the brush:

And use a small, soft brush to paint some curvy lines to the following positions of the text:

Step 5

We’re almost done! For final touches, we can apply the following adjustment layers to add some colours for our text:

Selective Color

Set this selective color adjustment layer’s blend mode to “Multiply” and opacity to “60%”:

Curves

and this is my final effect: (click to enlarge)

That’s it for this tutorial! Hope you enjoy going through it and find it useful. Drop me a comment below if you have any question.

Till next time, have a great day!