In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a realistic glass text effect using very simple tools and techniques such as layer styles and blending modes. This lesson will teach you to apply a transparent glossy texture to the shape of the letter, as well as fill the laboratory glassware with liquid, bubbles of water and steam. You will also learn how to add a metric scale to the surface of the glass, how to make shadows and reflections.
Download the archive with the materials for the lesson
Final image
Set the size of the letter “B” about 500x500px with a resolution of 300px / inch. This can be important, because the size of the settings affect the effects of layer styles for glass texture and the correction of liquid effects.
To create a more realistic glass effect, use a round and bold font. From the letter of the Val font, create a work path and convert the curves, with this we correct the silhouette of the letter, giving it a more spherical shape and three-dimensional look. I did not use typographic fonts in this lesson, only vector shapes. You can create your own form with Pen
(Feather) and Convert point (Convert point).
To create a realistic glass effect, you need only two layers. Apply Fill (Fill) 0% for the created letter shape and add layer style effects from the screenshots below.
You can find color codes, outlines and gradient parameters inside the file.glass_letter_tutorial.psd
Apply a radial gradient at the bottom of the form to create the effect of a glass tube.
Use the default Photoshop pattern Nebula (Nebula) to create a hint of reflection on the glass surface. The scale of the texture is 1000%.
Duplicate the shape of the letter. Apply new layer styles to it.
Summarize. Glass effect made. Now we can add more details to create a style of chemical laboratory glassware. Let’s add a metric scale to the glass surface. Choose a tool LineTool
(Line). Create several 2px lines as shown below. Apply the following layer style effects.
Enter the number next to the big line. Here was used the font “Arial”.
Add a few style effects to the number layer.
Group created lines and duplicate the created group several times. Arrange the groups one above the other. Change the value within each group to the number ‘50’, ‘100’, etc.
We now turn to the creation of a liquid inside a glass form. Create a new layer below the layers with glass forms and place it in the “Liquid” group. Using tool Ellipse tool
(Ellipse) create an oval shape.
To oval shape, apply Fill (Fill) 0%. Add layer styles.
Take Rectangle tool
(Rectangle) and create a rectangle below the oval layer. The top edge of the rectangle should be in the center of the oval shape.
Go back to the oval-shaped layer, make the oval outline active. Go to menu Edit> Copy (Edit> Copy).
Go back to the rectangular shape and paste the copied oval contour. Click Subtract from shape area (Subtract from the figure area). The oval area of the rectangle must be empty.
Add a gradient to the created shape.
Duplicate the rectangular layer.
Make active the oval contour of the copied layer and click on the icon Add to the shape area (Add to the area of the figure). In this case, you need to add an oval area to the rectangular shape.
Apply to this layer Fill (Fill) 0% and layer style OverlayGradient (gradient overlay).
When creating a gradient, use blending mode. Color (Chroma) to preserve transparency.
You can use different gradients to create a liquid of a different color. Here is an example of using purple.
Let’s go back to our original green / clear liquid and add a bubble texture. Paste the “Bubbles” texture. Place it under the rectangular layers, but place this layer inside the “Liquid” group.
Paste the “Steam” texture. Place a layer with steam above all layers of liquid and leave in the same group “Liquid”
Select the rectangle shape with the subtracted area.
(Ctrl + click on the form icon). Go to menu Select>Inverse (Selection> Invert).
Then click on the icon LayerMask (Layer mask) to add a layer mask to the steam texture. You must make the vapor inside the liquid area invisible.
Download the selection for the glass form “B” (Ctrl + click on the shape miniature). Make the group “Liquid” active.
Go to menu Select>Modify>Contract (Select> Modify> Compress). Specify 8px.
Then click on the icon LayerMask (Layer mask) to remove the texture outside the selected letter shape.
If you want to create a shadow or reflection on the letter in the form of dishes, follow the instructions below. Load the selection of the form “B” again. Go to menu Edit> Copy Merged (Editing> Copy Combined Data)
Paste the created object below all layers of the letter, but above the background. Convert the combined letter into a smart object (right click on the layer, select Convert to Smart Object (Convert to smart object)), duplicate it. We need these layers to create the shadow and reflection of our letter.
Now let’s create a shadow effect. Apply style OverlayColor (Color overlay) blending mode Color (Chroma) to one of the smart objects to make it black and white. Move it a bit.
Go to menu Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur), select a radius value from 3 to 10px.
Apply blending mode to this layer. Linear burn (Line dimmer) with Opacity (Opacity) 10-15%.
Make active the second smart object. Go to menu Edit>Transform>FlipVertical (Edit> Transform> Flip Vertically). Move this layer down.
Play around with the opacity settings of the layer.
Add a layer mask to the “Reflection” layer. Fill it with a black and white linear gradient at the bottom.
Activate quick mask mode (icon at the bottom of the screenshot). Select a black and white gradient. Fill the area with a gradient as shown in the screenshot below.
Turn off the quick mask mode and apply a Gaussian blur to the selected area.
Then go to menu Filter> Blur> Motion Blur (Filter> Blur> Motion Blur)
Add style Gradient overlay (Gradient overlay)
Below is the order of the created layers and groups.
And here is the result!
You can use this lesson to create glassware as shown below.
Download the archive with the materials for the lesson
Author: Alexandra Fomicheva
