Wave’s text effect

September 28th, 2009 by ART-D Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Text Effects

In this tutorial we’ll turn standard text into a stunning, eye-catching text effect. We’ll be using Layer Styles, Photoshop Filters, and combining different techniques to mock-up the text into a related background. Let’s learn how to create this text effect.

Final Image Preview

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Firstly create a new file (File>New) of 1920×1200px/72ppi.

Take the Gradient Tool (G) and open the Gradient Editor from Options Bar:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Choose the Foreground to Transparent gradient.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Apply the gradient from the top to down.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Select Filter>Distort>Wave and choose the next demonstrated parameters:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
It’s the result you should get:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Next select the Layer Style. Make a double left click on this layer on the Layers’ panel and set the Inner Shadow:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Gradient Overlay:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Gradient Editor:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
We’ve got the next effect.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Create a new layer, fill it with black color applying the Paint Bucket Tool (G) and drag it under layer with gradient in Layer panel.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Back to layer with gradient and make a copy of this layer (Ctrl+J) and apply Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical. Set after that the opacity the same way demonstrated below:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Select the Brush Tool (B) set the Opacity to 50% in Options Bar and use black color for Foreground color.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Create a new layer and dark out the background the same way demonstrated next picture.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
On the next layer we’ll represent another gradient. Change Foreground color to white, take Gradient Tool (G) and open the Gradient Editor from Options Bar to select the Foreground to Transparent gradient.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Apply the gradient on top.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Go to Filter>Distort>Wave.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
The new result should be moved on the central part of the canvas, using in this case the Move Tool (V).

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Make a copy of the last made layer, turn it over vertically, mark out both layers, pressing Shift+left mouse click on the layers on the layers’ panel. Then Merge Down the marked layers, pressing Ctrl+E

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Press Ctrl+T and scale down as shown.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Add Layer Style and set the Outer Glow:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Inner Glow:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Gradient Overlay:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Gradient Editor:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
It’s the result you should get:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Raise the contrast of our work, using the Create new fill or adjustment layer > Curves:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Set the next parameters:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
The work became more contrastive.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Create a new layer, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and represent a line, coloring it with white color.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Set the next parameters for Filter>Distort>Wave filter.

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3
It’s the result you should get:

Create Wave's text effect in Adobe Photoshop CS3

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  • Mira

    09.28.09

    Really liked this tutorial. Although I didn’t quite get it right, it did give me some ideas for future projects. Thanks!

    My result: http://www.flickr.com/photos/miranl/3983886565/

  • Nokadota

    09.28.09

    This is the text effect I was looking for, thanks alot.

  • Kasaule David

    09.28.09

    Man this thing is great and cool it is one of the things i have been looking for
    Thank more tutorial pliz
    God bless you

  • Kasaule David

    09.28.09

    Man do not forget more tuts

  • Renson

    09.28.09

    Thanks a lot for this tutorials! I have been looking for this kind of tutorials for long time. Thanks again.

  • Alan

    09.28.09

    Can’t get it, even after following to the word several times, do i start with a white or transparent background (tried both), when i apply 1st inner shadow, the whole thing just goes black, when should i be creating a new layer i.e. should i duplicate background before i start?