How to Create Glass Effect Text in Photoshop
27. JUL, 2010 
23 COMMENTSIn this tutorial we will create a glass effect on editable text using only blending modes. We will also work with gray tones, so the text will grab its colors from the background and adjustment layers.
Difficulty: Intermediate – Advanced
Completion time: 2 hours
Tools: Photoshop CS3
Completion time: 2 hours
Tools: Photoshop CS3
Resources: Minion Pro font – generic, any font will do.
What you will be creating
STEP 1
Create a new document of 600×600 px in RGB color mode at 72 dpi (File > New…).
STEP 2
Grab the Type Tool (T), draw a rectangle large enough to fit a letter. Then type a letter of your choice. If you want a longer text, just create a larger document in STEP 1 (e.g. 1608×1050 px).
Set it to Minion Pro, 370 px and Sharp. For color, set it to #e5e5e5 – a light gray tone.
Set it to Minion Pro, 370 px and Sharp. For color, set it to #e5e5e5 – a light gray tone.
STEP 3
Open the Layers palette (F7) and set Fill to 0%. Select the Type layer (the thumb with a “T†in the center) and click the “fx†button. Select Blending Options.
STEP 4
In this window, check the boxes shown below. It will look nasty at the moment, but don’t worry. We’ll fix it.
STEP 5
Click on each line and use the settings below. To see better what your results look like, select the “Background†layer, grab the Paint Bucket Tool (G) and fill it with a dark gray.
STEP 6
Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer (CTRL+J). Select the original layer and right-click on the effects list in the Layers palette. Select “Create layersâ€. Hit OK on the popup window.
STEP 7
In the Layers palette, select all the layers resulting from STEP 6 (SHIFT+click), except “D’s Outer Strokeâ€, then click on the “Delete Layer†button – the one looking like a trash can.
STEP 8
In the Layers palette, CTRL+click the “D copy†layer to load a selection (it will appear like a marching ants contour), select the “D’s Outer Stroke†layer and hit Delete.
STEP 9
Go to Layers palette, set Fill to 0% and open the Blending Options like in STEP 3. Use the settings below.
Done!
How to use it:
Simply place it over an image and if you like, add some adjustment layers to give it a nice tint.
Here are a few examples.
Simply place it over an image and if you like, add some adjustment layers to give it a nice tint.
Here are a few examples.
