There are many different metal styles of the layer, but this lesson is about the antique metal style. I’ll show you how to use Photoshop’s 3D tools, including a couple of textures and filters, to create your own unique 3D metallic text, as well as add it to a beautiful background.
OK. Let’s get started!
The final result:
1. Create text
Step 1
Create a new document 1000 x 750 px. Fill the layer with Background (Background) gray.
Step 2
Type in capital letters. Insaniburger Font. Colour (Color) text is black, The size (Size) 235 pt font, value Tracking (Tracking) 50.
2. Create shapes
Step 1
Next, go Text – Convert to Curves (Type> Convert to Shape).
Step 2
Choose a tool Arrow 
(Direct Selection Tool), click + holding the mouse button, select the control points inside the letter ‘O’, and then press the ‘Delete’ key to delete them.
We do this in order to add a heart inside the letter ‘O’, so we hide the inside to create a heart shape.
If your text does not have the letter ‘O’, then you can apply this effect to any other letter, or we can skip this step and add a heart in any other place next to the text.
Step 3
Choose a tool Arbitrary shape 
(Custom Shape Tool), and then in the settings of this tool, select the heart shape.
Place the heart where you want, fill the heart shape in red.
Step 4
Duplicate the heart layer, change the fill of the duplicate heart layer to black. Place the duplicate heart layer below the original heart layer.
Turn off the visibility of the original layer with the heart by clicking on the eye next to the layer thumbnail.
Step 5
Select the text layer along with the duplicate heart layer, while making sure that the tool Arbitrary shape (Shape Tool) was active, and then in the top settings panel of this tool, click the icon for switching the modes of interaction between contours. Operations with toontour (Path Operations) and in the drop-down menu select the option Exclude intersecting shapes (Exclude Overlapping Shapes).
Step 6
Next, go Layer – Merge shapes (Layer> Merge Shapes). This will subtract the shape of the heart from the text.
Name the new merged layer Text
(Text), re-enable the visibility of the original heart layer, rename this layer to A heart (Heart).
3. Create 3D layers
Step 1
Select each layer with the shape that we have, and then go 3D> New 3D extrusion from a selected path (3D> New 3D Extrusion from Selected Path).
Step 2
Select both 3D layers and then go 3D> Merge 3D layers (3D> Merge 3D Layers).
Step 3
To access the settings and properties of the 3D grid, we need to open 2 panels: 3D panel and panel Properties (Properties), both panels can be opened via the menu Window (Window).
Panel 3D has all the components of the 3D scene, and when you select any component you can access the panel settings Properties (Properties). Therefore, before you start setting the settings in the panel Properties (Properties), do not forget to first select the desired tab with the scene element in the panel 3D, you want to edit.
Step 4
If you select a tool Move 
(Move Tool), then on the right side of the top panel of this tool, you will find a set 3D modes (3D Modes).
After selecting one of the modes, then you can click on the desired element of the scene (which was selected in the 3D panel), and then drag it to apply the changes. You can also use these modes to work with the 3D grids that you have.
4. Adjust the grid settings.
Step 1
Select both tabs with 3D meshes in 3D panels. Further, in the panel Properties (Properties), change Extrusion depth (Extrusion Depth) at 35.
Step 2
Highlight tab with grid Text (Text) and then tap Capital (Cap) at the top of the panel Properties (Properties).
For the parameter Parties (Sides) change to Front and back (Front and Back), then install Chamfer width (Bevel Width) by 15, Circuit (Contour) on Inverted cone (Cone – Inverted), as well as for the parameter Convex (Inflate) install Intensity (Strength) by 5.
Step 3
Highlight tab with grid A heart (Heart) and then tap Capital (Cap) at the top of the panel Properties (Properties). Change Chamfer width (Bevel Width) by 10, Circuit (Contour) on Deep groove (Cove – Deep), as well as for the parameter Convex (Inflate) install Intensity (Strength) by 5.
5. Create a glass texture for the heart and a metal texture for the text.
Step 1
In the 3D panel, select all tabs with a heart, and then click the icon next to the parameter. Scattering (Diffuse) and in the drop-down menu select the option Remove texture (Remove Texture).
Step 2
Make the following settings, which are listed below:
- Scattering (Diffuse): 154,7,7
- Highlight color (Specular): 170,30,63
- Shine (Shine): 95
- Reflection(Reflection): sixteen
- Roughness(Roughness): 3
- Opacity (Opacity): 50
- Refractive index (Refraction): 1.491
Step 3
Next, select the following tabs: Front Bevel Material (Front Bevel), and Material for the rear bevel (Back Bevel) for text as well as the tab Rear bump material (Back Inflation Material). For these tabs, remove the texture for the parameter Scattering (Diffuse), and also set the following settings for the materials that are shown in the screenshot below:
- Scattering (Diffuse): 173,173,173
- Highlight color (Specular): 134,133,130
- Shine (Shine): 50
- Reflection (Reflection): 10
- Roughness (Roughness): 10
- Refractive index (Refraction): 1.049
6. Move the heart and change the direction of the camera
Step 1
Choose a tool Move (Move Tool) and using 3D axis (3D Axis), you can correct the position of the heart inside the text.
Via 3D axis (3D Axis), you can rotate and move objects. The arrows at the ends of the axis are used to move, the curved rectangle – to rotate, the cubes are used for scaling. The white cube in the center is used to scale the object evenly. All you need is to click and drag the desired item.
Step 2
You can also change Camera view (Camera View) at any time when you decide to arrange or displace elements of the 3D scene.
For this purpose, you can use either the tool Move (Move Tool), either 3D modes (3D Modes) to set the desired camera view, or you can select the desired view in the parameter drop-down menu. View (View) in the panel Properties (Properties).
For example, the view Above (Top) is good to use when you know that the heart is located inside the text.
7. Create material for front text bump and extrusion, and also split text.
Step 1
Highlight tab Material front bump for text (Text Front Inflation Material). For this tab, remove the texture for the parameter Scattering (Diffuse), and also set the following settings for the material, which are shown in the screenshot below:
- Highlight color (Specular): 134,133,130
- Shine (Shine): 50
- Reflection (Reflection): 30
- Relief (Bump): 20
Step 2
Highlight tab Text extrusion material (Text’s Extrusion Material). For this tab, remove the texture for the parameter Scattering (Diffuse), and also set the following settings for the material, which are shown in the screenshot below:
- Highlight color (Specular): 134,133,130
- Shine (Shine): 50
- Reflection (Reflection): 10
- Relief(Bump): 5
- Refractive index (Refraction): 1.049
Step 3
Highlight the main tab with the text, and then go 3D– Split extrusion (3D> Split Extrusion). Thus, we divide the text into separate letters.
Select all tabs with individual letters received to change them. Texture mapping (Texture Mapping) on Mosaic (Tile).
8. Add texture to the face of the text.
Step 1
Open the image 1.jpg from the set of metal textures 1. Next, go Image – Correction – Levels (Image> Adjustments> Levels) and in the appeared window set Sveta (Highlights) at 170.
Then we go File – Save As (File> Save As), give a new name to the corrected texture. Facial texture (Front Texture).
Step 2
Returning to our 3D scene, in the 3D panel, select the tab Material front bump for text (Text Front Inflation Material), and then click on the icon with the parameter folder Scattering (Diffuse).
In the drop-down menu, select the option Load texture (Load texture) to load Facial texture (Front Texture) that you just saved in the previous step.
So we apply the texture to the front material.
Step 3
If the texture looks stretched, you can click on the parameter icon. Scattering (Diffuse) and in the drop-down menu select the option Edit UV properties (Edit UV Properties).
Step 4
Then you can change the parameter settings. Mosaic (Tile) to get the texture that you like.
Step 5
Click on the icon with the folder opposite the parameter. Relief (Bump) and in the drop-down menu select the option Load texture (Load Texture), and then in the resulting texture set window, select the 3.jpg image, and also set the values UV properties (UV Properties) textures to fit the parameter values. Scattering (Diffuse).
Step 6
Select the remaining tabs Front bump materials for text (Text Front Inflation Material) for the remaining letters, and then click on the icon with the parameter folder Scattering (Diffuse) to select Facial texture (Front Texture) from the list.
Do the same with the texture. Relief (Bump), just remember to select the image 3.jpg.
Step 7
Once you have loaded the textures, you can adjust UV properties (UV Properties) separately for each letter.
Do not forget that the value of the parameter Scattering (Diffuse) and Mosaic relief (Bump Tile) must match for each letter.
Step 8
Using the same technique, add Extrusion relief (Extrusion Bump) using image 5.jpg from a set of metal textures 2.
9. Add an image to the background.
Step 1
Open the original image with a greeting card for Valentine’s Day, or any other image you like, to apply it as a background for our text. Next, go Filter – Convert for smart filters (Filter> Convert for Smart Filters) and then rename the card layer to Background image (Background Image).
Step 2
Next, go Filter – Blur Filter Gallery – Field Blur (Filter> Blur Gallery> Field Blur). Add two points of blur, one point almost at the bottom of the image with Blurring (Blur) 0, and the second blur point is almost at the top of the image with Blurring (Blur) 13.
Step 3
Move this layer Background image (Background Image) on our working paper with a 3D scene, placing it below the layer with 3D text.
Step 4
Next, go Image – Correction – Hue / Saturation (Image> Adjustments> Hue / Saturation) and in the appeared window set the value Saturation (Saturation) at -10.
10. Adjust the scene and set the letters
Step 1
Choose a tool Move (Move Tool) and if you do not see Base plane (Ground Plane), then we go View – Show – 3D plane of base (View> Show> 3D Ground Plane).
Via 3D modes (3D Modes), you can shift the camera to align the text in accordance with the perspective of the background image.
Step 2
Via 3D axis (3D Axis), you can rotate and set letters as you like. Do not forget to highlight both tabs with a letter and a heart, if you decide to shift the letter with the heart.
11. Adjust the infinite light.
Step 1
Select item Infinite light 1 (Infinite Light 1), and then shift the light until the direction of the shadow of the object matches the shadows in the background.
Step 2
You can also use the option Coordinates (Coordinates).
Step 3
Change Colour (Color) set infinite light on (246,246,245), and its Intensity (Intensity) at 50%, also set the value Shadow – Smoothing (Shadow Softness) by 50%.
12. Adjust the ambient light.
Step 1
Select item Environment (Environment), and then click on the thumbnail texture Isbi (IBL) and in the drop-down menu select the option Replace texture (Replace Texture), then in the window that appears, select the source image with the room.
Step 2
Click the texture thumbnail again Isbi (IBL) and in the drop-down menu select the option Edit texture (Edit Texture).
Step 3
When the image opens as a texture, go Image – Correction – Hue / Saturation (Image> Adjustments> Hue / Saturation) and in the settings window of this correction that appears, set the value Saturation (Saturation) at -35. Save and then close the file.
Translator’s note: after applying the correction, let’s go File – Save (File – Save), and then File – Close (File – Close) to save changes and return to the original document.
Step 4
Decrease Intensity isbi (IBL Intensity) up to 33%, for Base plane (Ground Plane) install Shadow Opacity (Shadows Opacity) at 100%, for Reflections (Reflection) set Opacity (Opacity) at 2%, and Smoothness (Roughness) by 10%.
13. Add a point light.
Step 1
At the bottom of the 3D panel, click the icon Add a new light to the scene (Add new Light to Scene) and in the drop-down menu select the option New point light (New Spot Light).
Step 2
Reduce value Intensity (Intensity) up to 20% Shadow – Smoothing (Shadow Softness) up to 60%, and Illumination Center (Hotspot) to 0.5, and also set the value Cone (Cone) at 50.
Step 3
Next, shift Spot light (Spot Light) until you are satisfied with the result.
14. Rendering the scene
Step 1
In the window 3D, select all items with text letters, and then click Capital (Cap) to change Bevel angle (Bevel Angle) to -25, or set any other value at your discretion to create the desired edges.
Step 2
As soon as you have completed the work on the whole image, then you need to render.
So let’s go 3D – Rendering (3D> Render). It may take some time to render, but you can stop the process by pressing the “Esc ”.
15. Adjust the lighting
Step 1
Press the button Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create new fill or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the layers panel and in the appeared menu select the option Levels (Levels).
Step 2
Position the adjustment layer Levels (Levels) on top of text layer 3D, and then click Attach to layer (Clip to layer) and in the settings window of this adjustment layer change Shadows (Shadows) at 23, and Sveta (Highlights) at 231.
Step 3
Press the button again. Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create new fill or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the layers panel and in the appeared menu select the option Gradient map (Gradient Map).
Set the gradient as shown in the screenshot below. Change the blending mode for this adjustment layer. Gradient map (Gradient Map) on Darkening basics (Color), and also reduce the value Opacity (Opacity) up to 5%.
16. Apply lighting effects filter.
Step 1
Further, go Selection – All(Select> All), Editing – Copy merged data (Edit> Copy Merged), and then we go Editing – Paste (Edit> Paste).
Name the new merged layer Lighting effects (Lighting effects) and then go Filter – Convert for smart filters (Filter> Convert for Smart Filters).
Step 2
Next, go Filter – Rendering – Lighting Effects (Filter> Render> Lighting Effects) and in the settings window of this filter, set the values that are shown in the screenshot below.
Do not forget to install Height (Height) for each Texture Channel (Texture channel), which must be selected in the drop-down menu, at 1.
Step 3
Warp the ellipse in such a way as to obtain the angle of illumination, as shown in the screenshot below.
Congratulations! We have completed the lesson!
At the beginning of the lesson, we created a simple text, transformed it into a figure, and then added a small heart to it.
Next, we transformed the layers with the figures into 3D layers and started to work with the properties of the grids and materials to create an antique metal effect.
Then we worked on the background image and perspective of the 3D scene, set the letters, and also added a couple of lighting effects to our scene.
Finally, after rendering, we added a couple of adjustment layers, and also applied the Lighting Effects filter to get the final result.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
The final result:
