189 Comments
Scanline Text
August 12, 2008I thought I’d write a tutorial aimed more at beginners, teaching you how to achieve the all important glowing effect which people can’t seem to get enough of. Here we will create a style I’ve named ‘Scanline Text’ which is basically text which glows like bright scanlines, with a smart reflection as well. So learn out how to create this amazing yet simple effect with this easy to follow tutorial.
Tutorial Files
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Introduction
Glowing effects are everywhere, I even wrote another tutorial on getting the effect which you could combine with this one. I wanted to write this as most of my tutorials are aimed towards intermediate or advanced Photoshop users whereas this is purely beginner but I’m sure You’ll all learn something from it. This is my first tutorial to adopt User Images so make sure you upload the result you get once you’ve finished.
Step 1
Create a new document with dimensions; 1x20px, this will the document we create our scanline pattern in. Go Edit>Preferences>Grid then set the grid to every 1px with 1 subdivision. Create a new layer then hide the background layer. Select the rectangle tool and change the foreground color to white. Now draw a 1x2px rectangle in the middle of the document like in the image below. Go Edit>Define Pattern and save this as a pattern. You can now close this document.
Step 2
Create a new document with dimensions; 1000x1000px then select the gradient tool and open the gradient editor. Use a gradient going from a dark color to black, I used a dark purple. With the gradient set at radial, drag from the middle of the document outwards.
Step 3
Use the text tool to type something in the middle of the document in white. Now go Window>Character then change the settings to suit, for example I used Times New Roman, 300pt and tracking of 100. It should now look similar to the image shown below. Now create a new layer then hit Alt+Backspace to fill it with the foreground color; it doesn’t matter what this is. Ctrl+click on the text layer to make a selection around the text, with the new layer we just created still active click the layer mask button in the layers panel. Now hide the text layer then select the layer mask you just added and go Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and use a value of 10px. Set the fill opacity of this layer to 0%.
Step 4
Right click on this layer and select blending options, us the settings shown below to add a pattern overlay using the pattern you created earlier.
Step 5
You can now alter the opacity of this layer to suit you but I always end up going back and changing settings like this later on so don’t worry if it doesn’t match mine exactly.
Step 6
Create some more text like shown in the image below, here I used an even larger value for the tracking because I find that serif fonts in uppercase look better when the characters are spaced out. Again make them white.
Step 7
Right click on this text layer and select blending options then add an inner shadow and outer glow with the settings shown below. If you used a color other than purple for the background you may want to use colors with a different hue for both of these for example; cyan for a blue background. Things like this can easily be changed later on anyway.
Step 8
Put both of the these visible layers within a new layer group then duplicate this group.
Step 9
With the new layer group selected, go Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical then hit V to select the move tool then move it down so it starts to look like a reflection.
Step 10
With the reflection layer group still selected click the layer mask button then with the mask selected use the gradient tool to draw a gradient going from black to white, from the bottom of the reflection to the top of it. If you did this correctly, your image should resemble the one shown below.
Step 11
Create a new layer then hit D to reset the colors then go Filter>Render>Clouds.
Step 12
Hit Ctrl+T to enter free transform mode then squash the image down vertically then goe Edit>Transform>Perspective and move the handle at one of the bottom corners outwards. Next go Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and use a value of 10px.
Step 13
Change the opacity of this layer to 10%.
Step 14
Create a new layer, select the brush tool and using a soft brush, make some brightly colored strokes like shown in the image below.
Step 15
Add a Gaussian blur to this layer with a value of 100px then change the opacity of this layer to 50%.
Step 16
Now just change the blend mode to color. I went back and tweaked a few settings to do with color and opacity mainly and below is my final result.
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August 13th, 2008
Lori:
This is a great tutorial for any skill level in Photoshop. Simple and concise instructions, with a beautiful result. Thanks!
August 13th, 2008
Ross:
Thanks Lori glad you like it:)
August 14th, 2008
Jay:
Great instructions for a beginner’s use!
August 14th, 2008
nitos:
that was amazing!, hope you continue with tutorials like this! :P
August 15th, 2008
Tom Ross:
Nice tutorial Ross. Personally I’d make the clouds in the final result a little less obvious, but apart from that good job :).
August 16th, 2008
shinebabu.r:
nice ya …i got some more idea
August 17th, 2008
Alen:
Nice tutorial. It is featured on my site:
http://psdnewsbox.com/2008/08/17/tutorial-of-the-week-2/
August 21st, 2008
Ryan G:
Thank you so much for this.
August 22nd, 2008
Ross:
Thanks for the comments guys, I’ll try and make a few more tutorials like this soon.
August 27th, 2008
John:
Hey I only have one problem. The first step says “Go Edit>Preferences>Grid” but there is no “Preferences” option in my edit menu…. Using Photoshop CS3. Screenshot of my Edit menu. Either I’m Dyslexic or it isn’t there.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2330/picture1ww5.png
August 27th, 2008
Ross:
John,
This is one of the few differences between the Mac version and the PC version; on a Mac you will find the preferences under the Photoshop menu instead of the Edit menu. I’ll remember to mention that in the future.
August 31st, 2008
Kalapi:
Amazing Tutorial!!! Thanks a ton!!
September 6th, 2008
Cloud No9:
Simple yet so impressive!
One question though: At Step 3 “Ctrl+click on the text layer to make a selection around the text, with the new layer we just created still active click the layer mask button in the layers panel. Now hide the text layer then select the layer mask you just added and go Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and use a value of 10px. Set the fill opacity of this layer to 0%.” When adding the layer mask I get my layer linked with a mask layer. Then when I hide the text layer all options in the Filter menu become inactive and thus cannot add blur effects. What am I doing wrong? I use CS3.
Given this opportunity I want to share with you the fact that I had to set my grids at 2 so that Photoshop wouldn’t show a grid with 2/3 of pixel. It sounds weird but this is what I experienced when set it as described.
Thnx in advance! I’d really appreciated your reply.
Cloud No9
September 6th, 2008
Ross:
Cloud No9,
If I’m picking you up right then I think what you’ve done is tried to add the filter to the text layer, in step three I said to create a new layer then Ctrl+click the text layer then go back and select the new layer as this is the layer you want to add a mask to. So you don’t want to hide this layer even though it has text on it you want to hide the original text layer. Hope that helps and let me know it works:)
September 8th, 2008
Aric:
I’m also having some problems with step 3. can you maybe be a bit clearer on the instructions?
“Ctrl+click on the text layer to make a selection around the text, with the new layer we just created still active click the layer mask button in the layers panel.” when I try and follow the instructions past this point it gets confusing because when I ctrl click (as with most things) it selects both layers and then doesn’t allow a mask to be created. when I try and mask either layer, and set the pattern, instead of applying the pattern to the text, it applies it to the entire image, and the result is white horizontal stripes abrasively covering the document. For some reason i just can’t seem to realize what I’m doing wrong. (quite a bit of photoshop xp, but I have been without it for about 2 years.)
September 10th, 2008
jorisx:
a faster way to create a scan line text (which is also editable)
- create your text
- set the fill to 0
- create a smart object from the text layer
- apply the smart filter gaussian blur (10px)
- apply the pattern overlay layer effect (your scan line pattern)
voila :-)
and you are still able to edit everything from text to blur
;-)
September 10th, 2008
jorisx:
just one more thing.
wait with setting the fill of the text layer to zerro after you aply the blur, other wise the blur can’t be set …
- create your text
- create a smart object from the text layer
- apply the smart filter “gaussian blur” (10px)
- open your smart object (double click on the layer)
- set the fill of the text to 0
- close the smart layer (you will be asked to save the changes)
- apply the “pattern overlay” layer effect (your scan line pattern)
September 11th, 2008
Gustavo:
I’m quite amazed by your skills, talent and your ability to teach with simple and easy to follow instructions.
Thank you for taking the time to post this tutorial.
Good job!
P.S. How do you come up with these ideas? That’s the part I’m having a hard time figuring out!
September 11th, 2008
Ross:
Gustavo,
Thanks for the comment, glad you like these tutorials. For me the hardest part is coming up with the idea, once I’ve got the idea I find it easy to transfer it to Photoshop (something that comes with practice). With a lot of my tutorials I use other peoples work as inspiration or sometimes even try to mimic an effect that someone else has created. The reason for this is because it’s often too time consuming to think up an original idea and make a tutorial on it; especially when I’m writing a tutorial every couple of days, it means I can get more tutorials out if I’m not spending ages thinking up my own ideas.
September 12th, 2008
MaNshY:
Awesome man, I love this tutorial easy steps and good one .
Keep it up man, see ya
September 12th, 2008
Craig:
Can’t get it to work…the scan line pattern does nothing. The Pshop built-in patterns work…dunno what I did wrong, I followed the instructions exactly. : – (
September 18th, 2008
Andie:
This is a great tutorial! I found it very easy to follow, and I am a beginner. I am happy with the result I got. Thanks!
September 19th, 2008
Martin Poku Otabil:
I wish to no more about PHOTOSHOP and EFFECTS.
Can you send me some tutorials book on Photoshop and all about the programmer.
October 11th, 2008
SITA SHARMA:
Dear Sir I really appreciate with your creativity, i have done all things but i m just getting confuse that step four like masking the layer & using the purple gradient with radial can u please explain me briefly thanks & rgds
November 15th, 2008
solo sexo:
Here is much work done, obviously. Good site
November 17th, 2008
Daniel Leon:
Hey, good tutorial, realy cool effect.
But i cant get it right. I’ve made the pattern, and I have done everything exactly as you describe. but the pattern wont work. the text is all white.
can you please help me with this?
December 3rd, 2008
Lee:
Great tutorial. Thanks.
December 4th, 2008
godfather74:
thanks for this great tutorial!
December 11th, 2008
trolley:
Hi, I love this tutorial but I’m afraid I’m stuck right at the beginning – making the pattern. I’ve made the 1×2 rectangle but when I go to the edit menu the “Define Pattern” option is greyed out. I’m using CS4 on a mac. Any help would be appreciated.
December 12th, 2008
Josh:
nice tutorial… one problem that im having is that everything is good until i go to add the pattern to the text, it doesn’t make any difference. (unless i choose a different pattern)
December 28th, 2008
sdsd:
thanx man
can u giv me Pattern for tut?
January 28th, 2009
Ales:
You’re great … i’m a perfect newbie, but with your tutorial, i’m starting to create something nice ! :)
February 9th, 2009
amber:
Found ross’s lingo somewhat pompus, could have been explained much easier without trying to sound clever
March 4th, 2009
realturk:
supper supper supper i love psd learning
March 6th, 2009
ranganath:
This is Great stuff thanks a lot for this tutorial
April 23rd, 2009
stevey V:
When I try and set up my grid lines nothing shows. and I was also have trouble making a selection to save the pattern (step 1) I tried selecting the squares with the rectangular marquee and it said “no pixels selected” This was also without the grid lines, They wouldn’t appear? Any advice
May 12th, 2009
mohana:
hi
i not get the strip in psd pl help me thx
May 14th, 2009
Annu rekha:
Very User Freindly Tutorials thanks so much – Annu
May 18th, 2009
syahbar:
it;s very good tutorials,
but can you give more some explaination (step by step) about the first one (make a grid pattern). i really preciatte that. (sorry if my english bad).
Thansk
June 19th, 2009
Brian:
Can’t get my pattern to change that I made.
July 10th, 2009
cwill:
awesome tutorial ^_^
July 27th, 2009
Kat:
Hello I cant get the pattern portion to work correctly… can you possibly explane for a larger scale my glow anf type page is 8X10 350px…. please help….
August 21st, 2009
nofoot:
thanks for great tutorial~
December 16th, 2009
username.txt:
nice tutorial. what theme and operating system are you using? i love the look of your windows and checkboxes.
December 19th, 2009
Metalcation26:
Great tutorial except I can’t get the scanned line pattern to work. I did exactly as it said in the tutorial and when I try to do my pattern overlay, it shows nothing at all. Any advice?
January 14th, 2010
Prince:
Great Work Man I’m in year 2010 and I’m leaving comment on this tutorial is that u really Rocks!
This Tutorial is Awesome but only time conzuming.
I really wanna see your other works plz give me ur site url or blog link so i can learn more.
Thank you Very Much!
July 29th, 2010
shakib wardak:
fuck you all 4lds
July 30th, 2010
drew:
i am just a beginner and really not familiar with ps. i am having a problem with the 2nd step. using the gradient. by the time i finished doing it, the background still has a gradient purple-black. instead of having it on the letters. help.
August 18th, 2010
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August 30th, 2010
flyer templates:
I did not know of this technique. Gonna try this for sure.
Thanks for sharing.
September 9th, 2010
wholesale designer clothes:
Good post. You did a good work,and offer more effective imformation for us! Thank you..
October 7th, 2010
me:
Hello
first thank u very much for this tut , just i don’t understand the 3thd step plz tell me how do it … thx
October 15th, 2010
Waslim Setiawan:
Thank u very much, it’s very simple way tolearn about photoshop…a like it’s
October 15th, 2010
BlogTipp:
Love this Photoshop tutorials. Thank you very much. Need to try
November 4th, 2010
itsme:
i can’t understand how to make a grid? please specify..your instructions are not that clear.
November 5th, 2010
Jose:
Great Tut, but im stuck on step 8 how do i group the layers?
November 17th, 2010
jeritho:
Xvre el tuto man… me dices como puedo hacer para velo en español..????
November 25th, 2010
Adrian:
This is a very helpful tutorial
December 26th, 2010
S3bY:
A very good tutorial..I’ll try this right away!
January 4th, 2011
PHatDriver:
I used this tut about a year or so ago for my website banner, because I thought it looked that good, and it’s still on my site to this day :o)
Have a look here: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/phatdriver/
Now I now a wittle bit more about photoshop and how to use it I could improve on this but it took you to show me first. Credit where credits due.
Thanx again for this tut – it’s great!
Much Love…
January 20th, 2011
forex:
Hello! I am very pleased with the effort and don’t feel like adding anything in it. It a perfect thing which is being done. Keep the good work!
February 3rd, 2011
sd1:
Ross your tutorial sucked. Better luck next time
March 7th, 2011
jonedhas:
very nice many thanks 4 u
March 12th, 2011
Lovelives4ever:
Love your tutorial :))
here is what I made with it :) :
http://lovelives4ever.deviantart.com/#/d3bh8jy
March 13th, 2011
Bleto:
This is an amazing tutorial. I love the effect!
It’s simple but amazing!
Thanks for sharing this :D
March 24th, 2011
bAKKA:
Uh,sorry to bother but I have a problem with applying that gradient…I can’t get it to be like yours,I mean it’s blurry and I don’t see any letter no matter what I do!How did you get those lines to form a letters shape?If you know what I mean…=_= Please help,I can’t do anything without it….
May 4th, 2011
Mike:
Very nice design, but always the same tutorial shit. Doing it word by word you can’t do it.. i like it, but realy hate this tutos
May 13th, 2011
matias:
hola amigo..llego hasta la parte de aplicar el patrón no se me aplica y no tengo idea ..sigo todos los pasos…creo q salte uno cuando escribo el texto ir a ventana personaje..no encuentro esa opción ni se para q puede llegar a servir..
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October 5th, 2011
Bianca:
How can I create thicker or more lines for the text, because the one I did it’s almost unrecognizable, you can’t undersatnd the text :D because they are few lines or not thick at all. I’m waiting for you reply please! :)
Thank you in advance ;)
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January 4th, 2012
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I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post,Thanks for sharing.
January 26th, 2012
may:
Wow! This is amazing! Thanks!
February 1st, 2012
Steven:
Dear All,
i’m a beginner in photoshop (know almost to nothing)
i’m using Adob Photoshop 7.0.
i love this Scanline effect.
i want to create it for my company namecard.
Is there a more detail step by step tutorial this do this again?
i’m not able to follow the above steps, i cannot even get through the first step.
Do advise.
thanks!
February 2nd, 2012
ken:
you can give me file original of tut this ^^ thank you very much
March 12th, 2012
Divy:
Hey i want to use this tutorial but for some reason i am not getting the grid lines in the starting part. How do i get it to do that? can someone help me please