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14 May

Create a 3D Text Scene Using Photoshop

3D, Photoshop, Tutorials
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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 Sxh.hu website. All
images are free to download and here are the links: 1, 2, 3, 4
Lets get started and create a truly awesome 3D effect in just a few short steps. Try it out
and feel free to post links to your own variations, wed love to see what you come up
with.

Heres a quick preview of the image that we will be creating:

Step 1
On a blank document type the text in Illustrator. Im using the Impact typeface and this
foreground color: #CCCCCC. Then go to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel, and set the
values as shown below. Then copy (Ctrl or Command + C) the 3D text.

Step 2
Lets open Photoshop, create a new document (1280 x 1024 px) and put this image as a
background. Then paste the 3D text (created on Step 1) as a Smart Object.

Step 3
Next, go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects and set the values as shown below. This
way the text will match the scene lightening.

Step 4
Select the Smart object layer, right click on the layer and select Duplicate Layer >
Destination: New, and Name: Map. Then go to Layer > Rasterize > Smart object. Save
the document as Map.psd somewhere in your Desktop.

Step 5

Now, lets save the previous document as Displace texture, delete the raster 3D text
and paste this image on a new layer. This will be our first texture.
Go To Filter > Distort > Displace, search for map.psd and set both the Horizontal and
Vertical values to 50. Then, Select all (Ctrl + A or Command + A) and copy the
selection.

Step 6
Paste the Rock Texture into a new layer above the 3D smart object. Change the
Blending mode to Overlay.
Ctrl (Command) + Click on Smart Object miniature to select the text shape, then Ctrl
(Command) + Shift + I to invert the selection, then hit DEL to delete the extra texture (on
the Rock Texture layer).
Then use the Magic Wand tool to select the front face of the 3D text on the Smart Object
layer and delete the selection on the Rock Texture layer.

Step 7
Using the Burn Tool, burn some shadows on the Rock Texture layer.

Step 8
Select the Sand dunes layer, select the Clone Stamp tool and holding the Option (Alt)
key, click somewhere on the sand. Then create a new layer above Rock texture, name it
More Sand and clone the sand on that layer.

Step 9
To improve the texture effect, delete some areas of the Rock Texture layer.

Step 10
Now were going to add some dirt. Open the Displace texture file one more time.
Paste this image into a new layer. Go To Filter > Distort > Displace, search for
map.psd and set both the horizontal and vertical values to 50. Then, select all (Ctrl + A
or Command + A) and copy the selection.

Step 11
Paste the Dirt texture into a new layer. Ctrl (Command) + Click on the 3D text layer
miniature to select the text shape, then Ctrl (Command) + Shift + I to invert the selection,
then hit DEL to delete the extra texture (on the Dirt texture layer).
Using a soft eraser, delete the bottom of the Dirt texture layer, then improve the result
by using an irregular eraser.

Step 12
Change the Dirt texture blending mode to Multiply and add a small Drop Shadow.

Step 13
To add the grass, go to the Displace texture file and paste this image. Apply a
Displacement map, just like the other textures and finally copy the grass.

Step 14
Paste the grass on the main document, delete the bottom part and using an irregular
Eraser delete some areas on the borders.

Step 15
Burn some shadows on the Grass texture layer.

Step 16
Add a small drop shadow to the Grass texture layer. Using the Sponge tool, desaturate
some of the areas of the grass.

Step 17
Paste the grass texture into a new layer on a plane on Vanishing Point filter window (go
to Filter > Vanishing Point) to match the perspective of the landscape.

Step 18
Erase some random areas of the Grass layer, and using an irregular brush delete some
random areas here and there.

Step 19
Select a part of the grass, feather the selection and adjust the hue value to -30.

Step 20
Finally add a soft drop shadow to the Grass layer.

Step 21
Lets add more details. Paste this image into a new layer and adjust the Hue/Saturation
values to match the existing colors. You can call the new layer Hanging plant or
something like that.

Step 22
Using an irregular eraser, delete everything with the exception of the hanging plant, and
place them next to 3D texts corners.

Step 23
Duplicate the Hanging plant layer and go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Then
distort the copy a little bit. Follow this with the use of the burn tool to make the copy
darker according to the the scene lighting.

Step 24

Add as many details as you want. I added a few more hanging plants and a bush.

Step 25
Just to create a more dramatic effect apply these two adjustment layers to the entire
design: a Photo Filter and a Gradient Map (Opacity 35%).

Final result
Now youve got a nice 3D text inside a photograph. Click on the image for a larger
preview. Try it on your own and come up with your 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