Create a 3D Text Scene Using Photoshop

In this tutorial well create a realistic 3D text scene using Photoshop with a little help from Illustrator for the 3D text. You need to have medium to advanced knowledge of Photoshop in order to complete this tutorial. To get started, go ahead and download all the images used from the xh.hu we!site. "ll images are free to download and here are the links# $, %, 3, & 'ets get started and create a trul( awesome 3D effect in )ust a few short steps. Tr( it out and feel free to post links to (our own variations, wed love to see what (ou come up with.

*eres a +uick preview of the image that we will !e creating#

Step 1
,n a !lank document t(pe the text in Illustrator. Im using the Impact t(peface and this foreground color# -....... Then go to /ffect 0 3D 0 /xtrude 1 2evel, and set the values as shown !elow. Then cop( 3.trl or .ommand 4 .5 the 3D text.

Step 2
'ets open Photoshop, create a new document 3$%67 x $7%& px5 and put this image as a !ackground. Then paste the 3D text 3created on tep $5 as a mart ,!)ect.

Step 3
8ext, go to 9ilter 0 :ender 0 'ighting /ffects and set the values as shown !elow. This wa( the text will match the scene lightening.

Step 4

elect the mart o!)ect la(er, right click on the la(er and select Duplicate 'a(er 0 Destination# 8ew, and 8ame# ;ap. Then go to 'a(er 0 :asteri<e 0 mart o!)ect. ave the document as Map.psd somewhere in (our Desktop.

Step 5
8ow, lets save the previous document as =Displace texture>, delete the raster 3D text and paste this image on a new la(er. This will !e our first texture. ?o To 9ilter 0 Distort 0 Displace, search for =map.psd> and set !oth the *ori<ontal and @ertical values to A7. Then, elect all 3.trl 4 " or .ommand 4 "5 and cop( the selection.

Step 6
Paste the =:ock Texture> into a new la(er a!ove the 3D smart o!)ect. .hange the 2lending mode to ,verla(. .trl 3.ommand5 4 .lick on mart ,!)ect miniature to select the text shape, then .trl 3.ommand5 4 hift 4 I to invert the selection, then hit D/' to delete the extra texture 3on the =:ock Texture> la(er5. Then use the ;agic Band tool to select the front face of the 3D text on the mart ,!)ect la(er and delete the selection on the =:ock Texture> la(er.

Step 7
Csing the 2urn Tool, !urn some shadows on the =:ock Texture> la(er.

Step 8
elect the = and dunes> la(er, select the .lone tamp tool and holding the ,ption 3"lt5 ke(, click somewhere on the sand. Then create a new la(er a!ove =:ock texture>, name it =;ore and> and clone the sand on that la(er.

Step 9
To improve the texture effect, delete some areas of the =:ock Texture> la(er.

Step 10
8ow were going to add some Ddirt. ,pen the =Displace texture> file one more time. Paste this image into a new la(er. ?o To 9ilter 0 Distort 0 Displace, search for =map.psd> and set !oth the hori<ontal and vertical values to A7. Then, select all 3.trl 4 " or .ommand 4 "5 and cop( the selection.

Step 11
Paste the =Dirt texture> into a new la(er. .trl 3.ommand5 4 .lick on the =3D text> la(er miniature to select the text shape, then .trl 3.ommand5 4 hift 4 I to invert the selection, then hit D/' to delete the extra texture 3on the =Dirt texture> la(er5. Csing a soft eraser, delete the !ottom of the =Dirt texture> la(er, then improve the result !( using an irregular eraser.

Step 12
.hange the =Dirt texture> !lending mode to ;ultipl( and add a small Drop hadow.

Step 13
To add the grass, go to the =Displace texture> file and paste this image. "ppl( a Displacement map, )ust like the other textures and finall( cop( the grass.

Step 14
Paste the grass on the main document, delete the !ottom part and using an irregular /raser delete some areas on the !orders.

Step 15
2urn some shadows on the =?rass texture> la(er.

Step 16
"dd a small drop shadow to the =?rass texture> la(er. Csing the ponge tool, desaturate some of the areas of the grass.

Step 17
Paste the grass texture into a new la(er on a plane on @anishing Point filter window 3go to 9ilter 0 @anishing Point5 to match the perspective of the landscape.

Step 18
/rase some random areas of the =?rass> la(er, and using an irregular !rush delete some random areas here and there.

Step 19
elect a part of the grass, feather the selection and ad)ust the hue value to E37.

Step 20
9inall( add a soft drop shadow to the =?rass> la(er.

Step 21
'ets add more details. Paste this image into a new la(er and ad)ust the *ueF aturation values to match the existing colors. You can call the new la(er =*anging plant> or something like that.

Step 22
Csing an irregular eraser, delete ever(thing with the exception of the hanging plant, and place them next to 3D texts corners.

Step 23

Duplicate the =*anging plant> la(er and go to /dit 0 Transform 0 9lip *ori<ontal. Then distort the cop( a little !it. 9ollow this with the use of the !urn tool to make the cop( darker according to the the scene lighting.

Step 24
"dd as man( details as (ou want. I added a few more hanging plants and a !ush.

Step 25
Gust to create a more dramatic effect appl( these two ad)ustment la(ers to the entire design# a Photo 9ilter and a ?radient ;ap 3,pacit( 3AH5.

Fina res! t

8ow (ouve got a nice 3D text inside a photograph. .lick on the image for a larger preview. Tr( it on (our own and come up with (our own variations.

Written exclusively for WDD by Alvaro Guzman. Have you tried the tutorial? Feel free to post links to examples created using this tutorial