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Home»Text Effect»Design an Awesome Geometric Shaped Typography with Grungy Background in Photoshop
Text Effect

Design an Awesome Geometric Shaped Typography with Grungy Background in Photoshop

By James QuSeptember 25, 20095 Mins Read
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In this tutorial, I will show the processes involved in designing and creating this really cool, Geometric Shaped Typography with Grungy Background in Photoshop. This is a simple tutorial yet the effect looks awesome, have a try!

Along the way, I will also give you some tricks that you can use for creating awesome lighting and smoky effect to spice up your design.

The techniques involved in creating this typo include layer blending, filter effects, image adjustments and custom brushsets. Hope you enjoy it!

Here is a preview of the final effect: (click to enlarge)

glossy-geo-typo-flatten-final

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OK let’s get started!

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

Font

Brushset

Step 1

Create a new document sized 1200 * 1700px, fill the background layer with black colour. Create a new layer on top of it and grab the brushset we just downloaded and paint some grungy texture as shown below:

1 effect

The trick here is to set your brush flow and opacity to a reletively low level, both around 30% – 40%, and vary the brushset size when you paint. Also don’t stick with one brushset, try mixing different ones together and see what result that brings you.

If you want to skip this step, you can simply download a copy of this background texture here.

Now we want to make a space for our text and create some depth for the image. To do so, on the texture layer, add the following layer mask to it:

1 mask

To adjust the lighting contrast a bit, we can add a Curves adjustment layer on top of all previous layers:

1 curves

and here is the effect so far:

1 effect 2

Step 2

Use the font we download before, type and position the text as shown below: (Use a dark gray colour as font colour)

2 type

Tips: type the texts on seperate layers, use the free transform tool (Ctrl + T) to rotate and fit them together.

Once you’re happy with the position, rasterise and merge those text layers and apply the following layer blending option to the merged layer:

Drop Shadow

2 drop sha

Bevel and Emboss

2 bevel

Gradient Overlay

2 gradient

and you will have the following effect:

2 effect

Now we’re in the fun part of this tutorial – Duplicate this merged text layer five times, and set each layer’s opacity as shown below:

2 type opacity

Use your up and right arrow key on your keyboard, repeatly type them until each layer seperates from each other and form this effect as shown below:

2 effect 2

Step 3

Load the selection of the last text layer (hold ctrl + left-click the thumbnail image of that text layer on the layer pallette), and apply the following refine edge settings:

refine edge

Maintain the selection, create a new layer called “cloud” and render some cloud in it: (Black and White colour)

3 render cloud

Duplicate this cloud layer three times, and drag the last text layer on top of the duplicated cloud layer, you will have the following effect:

3 drag layer up

Duplicate the cloud layer twice, and drag the two layers on top of text layer, change their blending mode to “overlay” and you will have the following effect:

3 effect 2

Step 4

Now we can add some colours onto the image to spice it up a bit. To do this, I simply create a new layer called “colour 1” on top of all previous layers, and grab a big soft round brush and select some colour I like to paint over it:

4 paint

Change the blending mode of this layer to “overlay”.

I also want to highlight the edge of the grungy background, so I add another layer called “colour 2” and grab a brown colour brush to paint around the edges:

4 paint 2

Set the blending mode of this layer to “colour dodge”.

You can also highlight some part of the text, simply create another layer called “highlight” and grab a white soft round, big size brush and paint over desired area:

4 paint 3

Change thie blending mode of this layer to “soft light”.

For final refinement, I added two adjustment layers on top of all previous layers:

Curves

4 curves

Colour balance

4 col bal

Apply the following mask to the colour balance adjustment layer:

4 mask col bal

Overall, you will have the following effect:

4 effect

Ok that’s pretty much it for this tutorial! Of course this doesn’t stop you from enhancing it and put it some your own creativity to it.

I further added some lines and apply some of this brushset around the edge of the text.

Here is my final effect for this tutorial: (click to enlarge)

glossy-geo-typo-flatten-final

That’s it for this tut! Hope you enjoy this tutorial and find it useful and inspirational! Cheers and have a great day!

background blending brushset effect filter grungy layer shape text
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James Qu
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James is a seasoned Photoshop expert with over 25 years of experience based in Australia. As the driving force behind PSD Vault, he authors the majority of its in-depth tutorials and insightful articles.

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70 Comments

  1. Kevin on September 26, 2009 6:04 AM

    Dumb question, but how do I add the layer mask to the texture layer (step1)?

  2. James on September 26, 2009 5:03 PM

    @kevin: you can go to layer > layer mask > Reveal All, or you can click the “add layer mask” button (a symbol has a circle inside a rectangle) on the layer palette.
    Hope this helps “)

  3. Kevin on September 26, 2009 7:34 PM

    @James, I appreciate your reply. Though, I still don’t get it. Once I did that, what do I need to do then? Nothing seems to happen to the grungetexture after I clicked Reveale All.

  4. James on September 26, 2009 10:46 PM

    @Kevin: after you add the layer mask and reveal all, click on the mask you just added, grab the eraser tool with a soft brush setting, erase the centre portion of the grungy texture.

    Again Hope this helps.

  5. Kevin on September 27, 2009 12:59 AM

    If I do that, the grunge layer becomes transperant and the black background shows up. that looks not like the picture shown in the tutorial. gosh, i guess should start learning more basics first. ;)

    Picture: http://i35.tinypic.com/3504hfq.png

  6. Santa on September 27, 2009 9:59 AM

    Awesome tutorial, well explained, had no troubles. Thanks man

  7. Ani Samuel on September 28, 2009 4:58 AM

    Wooow! this is great. have been looking for something like this for the past months. thanks for shering. looking forward for your next tuts

  8. James on September 28, 2009 8:53 PM

    @Kevin: I had a look at your screenshot – the layer mask wasn’t added, and the brush size you chose is too small. Try using a larger, soft round brush.

    For layer mask basic, you have a look at this doc here:

    http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/Photoshop/10.0/help.html?content=WS53F74E51-AED7-4f75-A1E3-7285F83FD96C.html

    Hope this helps!

  9. Taji on September 29, 2009 3:52 AM

    I have cs2 and not cs 3 so i am stuck on step 3

  10. hedda on September 29, 2009 5:38 PM

    That was fun – thanks for the tut! :)

  11. James on September 29, 2009 10:33 PM

    @Taji: cs2 can still achieve similar effect without the refine edge. You can make a selection around the text using Lasso Tool, and set its feather according the one shown on Step 3 refine edge, and render the cloud inside the selection.

    Once you render the cloud, perhaps use the free transform tool to adjust it a bit to fit the size of the text layer.

    Hope this helps

  12. Angad on September 30, 2009 8:28 AM

    Hey!

    Thanks for a brilliant tutorial. I tried to go for a radial blur instead of clouds. Here’s The End Result.

    http://i34.tinypic.com/16bkj9k.jpg

    Keep up the good work :)

  13. dotndot on September 30, 2009 7:33 PM

    Wonderful post…Great share.

  14. Taji on October 2, 2009 11:07 AM

    thank you so much that did help!

  15. Johnson Koh on October 2, 2009 1:24 PM

    Very colorful and interesting effect. Nicely done!

  16. Dwayne on October 3, 2009 6:41 AM

    i’m using cs4. . when i hold ctrl + left click the thumbnail to refine edges. . refine edges doesn’t show up. any help?

  17. Kidgico on October 4, 2009 5:52 AM

    After you ctrl+left click the thumbnail go to select refine edge for the window or press alt+ctrl+R for the shortcut.

  18. salek on October 4, 2009 10:54 PM

    i dont get the layer mask thing….when i erase it the checkered background comes into view.

  19. James on October 6, 2009 11:16 PM

    @salek: you can add the layer mask from the layer palette, there is a small button on the bottom and says “add layer mask” and click on it, then click on the thumbnail of the mask you just added, use the eraser tool to erase the portion you would like to hide.
    Hope this helps :)

  20. CWill 78 on October 10, 2009 7:07 AM

    very nice heres my version

    [IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/akuma007/deviant%20art/GrungeWallpaper.jpg[/IMG]

  21. tutorial blog on October 19, 2009 2:20 AM

    very nice. Thank for share

  22. teuingsaha on October 19, 2009 3:42 PM

    It`s a great tutorials . I have made it but in the others version .

    Thanks for sharing .

  23. Tigerclaw on October 22, 2009 11:44 PM

    i failed alot <_< didnt even bother to retry cuz if i dont get it on the first try i will bever do it

  24. Onfinay on October 25, 2009 9:17 PM

    THX nice Tut. !!

  25. Onfinay on October 26, 2009 8:04 AM

    My version =)
    [IMG]http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/q13657/wallpaperremake.jpg[/IMG]

  26. MAtt on October 27, 2009 4:06 PM

    Dude, this was a great tutorial, and amazing looking effect, I am going to probably use it on my bands next myspace layout. Thanks a ton.

  27. Alvaro on November 1, 2009 11:43 AM

    THANK U so much!!!! The best tutorial I’ve found today :D

  28. Rikke on December 11, 2009 8:35 AM

    can one person be so kind and take a screenshot of everything he / she dos in step 3?
    everything is just wrong when I do it …
    Pleas help me .

  29. Drknzz on December 22, 2009 1:38 AM

    Well really cool tut, but i couldn’t understand this:

    “Now we want to make a space for our text and create some depth for the image. To do so, on the texture layer, add the following layer mask to it”

    How do i embed an image into a mask? O.o

    Still, made the mask all by myselft, and here’s my result :D

    http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5273/drknzzprototype.png

  30. Bill Pope on December 22, 2009 9:07 AM

    Fantastic tutorial, thanks very much for taking the time and trouble to prepare this for us…………did my own, now adorns my desktop ! : )

    This is mine, by the way……….

    [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o58/encee_2006/abstract.jpg[/IMG]

  31. Michiel on January 17, 2010 10:54 AM

    Very nice tut, one of the best i ever do (in effects).

    Here is my result: http://yfrog.com/jbtekstdinges2j

  32. R10 on January 18, 2010 2:08 PM

    very good tutorial, it would be very good if you give me a free PSD copy

  33. Tips Menulis Online on February 11, 2010 11:52 PM

    Thanks. very very very nice. i’m gonna try it.

  34. José Gomes on February 15, 2010 4:39 AM

    Great Tutorial

    But for some reason Refine Edge is not working for me…
    Im using CS4 and refine edge like you explained just makes the whole image black, and does nothing

  35. NeiL on April 10, 2010 1:23 PM

    nice tuts!

    here’s mine..

    http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac86/crave_kevin/n.jpg

  36. Azri on April 13, 2010 1:31 AM

    hye there, i did bought ur PSD file – http://www.psdvault.com/text-effects/design-an-awesome-geometric-shaped-typography-with-grungy-background-in-photoshop/

    currently i’m still waitin to receive that PSD file.

    Thanks.

  37. Paola Lozano on April 30, 2010 2:15 AM

    Great tut, i’ll link this tutorial in my blog :D

  38. Deoxys on May 1, 2010 1:34 AM

    Very nice effect. Simple and cool.
    I used it for my new Flyer, look here:
    http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2687/audiovisual.jpg

  39. justin marcelo on May 1, 2010 2:58 AM

    why cant i use the text ? the one you let us download

  40. justin marcelo on May 1, 2010 6:00 PM

    can understand this
    Use your up and right arrow key on your keyboard, repeatly type them until each layer seperates from each other and form this effect as shown below:

  41. john on May 4, 2010 11:04 AM

    need help with step 1 on the texture mask layer

  42. James on May 15, 2010 6:13 PM

    Thx man!!
    this is my first time making a design!!

  43. Noble on May 18, 2010 3:18 AM

    I LOve It !

  44. Niko on June 9, 2010 2:28 PM

    I’m just stuck at step number 3 because i dont know where to find “Refine edges” im using cs3 Please Help Thanks

  45. blu3 on June 29, 2010 11:49 PM

    Awsome .. great work friends .. so happy to get the experience from each-others …

    wish u all ahve fun

  46. DailyCreative on July 4, 2010 7:36 PM

    Nice 3d effect!

  47. JOHN L on July 19, 2010 11:34 AM

    thnksss i really enjoy doing this tut

  48. Femi on August 11, 2010 11:59 PM

    great tutorial. lol i made one but it came out wierd. i think its because i used my logo instead of a font :) dis is my version
    http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs143.ash2/40490_435423704312_725199312_4427974_3753190_n.jpg

  49. rose on September 9, 2010 1:27 PM

    Maintain the selection, create a new layer called “cloud” and render some cloud in it: (Black and White colour)
    i’m stuck on rendering some cloud, can please help? Thank you

  50. yamel on September 30, 2010 5:44 PM

    Gracias me sirvio de muxa ayuda, esta genial el tuts.

  51. jee on October 3, 2010 11:44 PM

    very cool tutorial..i simply love typography..cheers man..

  52. Düzce Haber on October 10, 2010 5:04 PM

    Nice 3d effect!

  53. Troll on November 6, 2010 4:04 AM

    Ok.
    1) For a beginner, this is like looking for aliens.
    2) For a Semi-Pro, some of your steps need alot more explanation.
    For example: “create a new layer called “cloud” and render some cloud in it: (Black and White colour)”.
    I know what this means but, someothers might not. You maybe good at photoshop (hense you made this good picture), but some others will close this tutorial raging of stress that they can’t do a step.

  54. choo on November 18, 2010 1:11 AM

    Good your effect & cool blog thank

  55. HigherVisibility on November 28, 2010 4:11 AM

    These are some cool effects!

  56. david on January 11, 2011 5:13 PM

    Im having a hard time in step 2! I keep hitting those arrow keys but nothing happens i cant get it to duplicate? / stack up like that please help! :)

  57. dARYL on February 28, 2011 9:13 PM

    I CANT UNDERSTAND THE STEP 3

  58. jimmy on March 28, 2011 5:52 PM

    nice work man…i like it…i tried it…..it rocks

  59. ersin emlak on May 11, 2011 4:14 AM

    These are some cool effects!

  60. Kriti on May 31, 2011 6:57 PM

    I’m not getting the cloudy effect on the text.

  61. guest on July 4, 2011 2:37 PM

    Yeah, step 3 is hard to understand. Help !!!

  62. PSD Vault on July 4, 2011 7:42 PM

    with step 3, you need to load the selection of the original text layer first and refine its edge with the settings shown, then render some cloud in it.
    If you’re having difficulty with the selection, perhaps this link will help: http://learn–photoshop.blogspot.com/2009/11/quick-tip-2-load-selection-in-photoshop.html

  63. Free Vector Art Graphic on July 9, 2011 3:38 PM

    This is really great

  64. REFormas on August 5, 2011 12:38 AM

    WOW, great tricks to achieve amazing effects.

  65. Miscojones on November 19, 2011 3:30 AM

    so cool

  66. Elena Gilbert on January 11, 2012 7:52 PM

    So much of designs

  67. Tan Jakkrapan Itharat on February 2, 2012 2:34 AM

    cool guy

  68. Web Development on February 20, 2012 8:55 PM

    thats awesome 

  69. Matt Robson on April 17, 2012 4:27 AM

    I think tuts need to be made for the noobs of photoshop Because i dont understand at all what to do in this step (that i have pasted below). Ive looked at some guides on making a mask but i dont get anything that looks like this =/

    Now we want to make a space for our text and create some depth for the
    image. To do so, on the texture layer, add the following layer mask to
    it:

  70. Matt Robson on April 17, 2012 4:57 AM

    Hmm nvm the whole of step one is confusing to me, and i do not get what is shown in the pictures

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