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01. Create your text layer
In a fresh Photoshop document, create a new layer. You can do this by pressing cmd, shift and N, and then pressing ‘enter’. Then click on the text tool – the ‘T’ icon in the left-hand side toolbar, drag the mouse across the screen to create a text box and type in your text.
02. Choose your font
A geometric, sans serif font such as Avenir, Bebas or Helvetica is best when first trying this method. If you’re more experienced with using Photoshop, a cursive font will also work. In this example, we’ve gone with Avenir in ‘black oblique’. You can select your font in the box at the top of the screen in the right-hand corner.
03. Create the text’s initial background
To start adding some depth, you’ll need to duplicate your text. You can do this by selecting your text layer, pressing cmd and C, and then pressing cmd and V. This will come up as an identical layer. You’ll then need to change the colour of the duplicate text to a much darker shade. This shouldn’t be quite black, but it should be close. Then, in the ‘layers’ panel, you’ll need to drag your duplicate text layer underneath the original layer.
04. Copy the background text’s hex code
Double click on the second text layer, and then click on the colour ‘fill’ button to bring up the ‘colour picker’ window. This will tell you the exact hex code of the darker colour you have chosen. Select this hex code and press cmd and C to copy it. We will be needing this same colour in a moment.
05. Prep your pen tool
Select the Satin effect. Keep the blend mode as Normal and keep the colour as it already is. Set the rest of the specifications to those below.
Opacity: 84%
Angle: 90%
Distance: 1 px
Size: 202 px
Anti-aliased: Ticked
Invert: Ticked
06. Add a gradient overlay
Now you will need to add a gradient overlay, but it is important to choose the right gradient. It usually works best to pick a colour within the colour family of your text, but on the opposite tonal side. As the text in our example is dark pink, we have chosen a light pink gradient to complement it. The gradient overlay will be subtle but will help create variation that makes your 3D effect convincing. Set the rest of the specifications to those below.
Blend mode: Normal
Opacity: 77%
Reverse: Ticked
Align with layer: Ticked
Style: Linear
Angle: 90°
Scale: 71%
Method: Classic
07. Add an outer glow
For your penultimate effect, you can add an outer glow. This is optional depending on the tone of the typography you are creating, but it can help to make it stand out if the text is against a darker background. You’ll need to make the outer glow a darker tone of your text colour, which you can do in the colour fill box in the Outer Glow adjustments panel. Set the rest of the specifications to those below.
Blend mode: Normal
Opacity: 53%
Noise: 0%
Technique: Softer
Spread: 0%
Size: 25 px
Anti-aliased: Unticked
Range: 50%
Jitter: 0%
08. Finally, add a drop shadow
For the final touch, add a drop shadow. Keep the colour of the drop shadow black, and set the opacity to 50%. Play around with the Distance and Range to find out what works best for the tone of your typography. Once you’re done, click Ok or press Enter.
09. Explore and adjust
You’ve now created your 3D text! Now that you’ve got to grips with some of the effect options available to you in Photoshop, have a play around in the Effect Controls panel and explore more options for your typography. As artists, all our best creations are made from exploring unfamiliar territories, so explore the effects we’ve touched on in this article that you might not be as familiar with and adjust some of the specifications until you create something unique.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve shown you how to create 3D text in Photoshop using the Effect Controls panel. We’ve covered the basics of creating a text layer, choosing a font, creating a background, and adding various effects to create depth and dimension. With these steps, you should be able to create your own unique 3D typography that adds a new dimension to your designs.
FAQs
Q: Why did Adobe remove the 3D panel from Photoshop?
A: Adobe removed the 3D panel from Photoshop to encourage users to use Adobe Substance 3D for 3D file editing.
Q: Can I use other fonts for 3D text?
A: Yes, you can use any font you like for 3D text, but geometric and sans serif fonts tend to work best.
Q: How do I adjust the effects to get the desired look?
A: Experiment with different effect settings and specifications to get the desired look. You can also try different fonts and colours to see what works best for your design.
