61 Comments
Spray Paint Text
September 6, 2008It was time I wrote more of a beginner aimed tutorial so here you go, this tutorial will teach you how to make this spray paint style text effect which really stands out and would make a great wallpaper. The inspiration for this one comes from an image by Aleks Maksimow which you can check out here. The techniques here are pretty simple so give it a go.
Tutorial Files
If you are a PSD PRO member then download the PSD file and much more by going here.
Introduction
Below is the image we will learn how to create.

Step 1
Create a new document with dimensions; 10240×768px then fill the background layer Black. Now using some splatter brushes make a few splats in the middle of the page like so. From now on the images will all be zoomed in on this area of the document.

Step 2
Right click on this layer then select blending options and add an outer glow using the settings shown below. We want to now flatten this layer so right click on the layer then go convert to smart object, if this option doesn’t exist for you then just create a new layer, move it below the splatter layer, select the splatter layer then hit Ctrl+E.

Step 3
Now you need an image of either a wall, concrete, a rock or sand. I felt that the best result came from using a weathered concrete texture, the one that I used can be found here. Paste the image in and make sure its in the layer above the splatters then add a clipping mask by holding Alt and clicking between the two layers.

Step 4
Next we have to add the text, you need a grungy kind of font for this; I used a typewriter font, if you haven’t got any fonts like this then download some free from DaFont. Type out a word in large letters, if you want to mess around with character spacing etc. then go Window>Character. Get it looking something like the image shown below.

Step 5
First duplicate this layer (Ctrl+J) then hide it. From here on you want to make sure you always have an untouched copy of this text layer available as we will be using it a few times, always have it hidden when you’re not using it though, in fact you can just move the duplicated layer to the bottom of the layer stack then whenever I say to get the text layer you just duplicate it, move it to the top of the layer stack then unhide it. Now go into the blending options for the text layer and add a color overlay with the settings shown below.

Step 6
Go Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and use a value of 13px. Now duplicate this layer as we want it a bit brighter.

Step 8
Select the brush tool and a soft round brush of about 30px then just add some random black strokes like in the image below. Then in the same way as in the last step add a Gaussian blur of 13px.

Step 9
Now get a copy of the text layer in the way I mentioned in step 5. Then add a Gaussian blur of 5px to this text layer.

Step 10
Now get another copy of the text layer then go into the blending options and add an outer glow, inner glow and color overlay using the settings shown below.




Step 11
Remember that concrete texture we used a few steps back, go and duplicate it then move it to the top of the layer stack then set it to 30% opacity and a blend mode of multiply, this means it won’t affect the black background as the background can’t get darker.

Step 12
Select the brush tool and grab a big soft brush then in a new layer add some strokes in different bright colors until you have something similar to the image below.

Step 13
Now add a Gaussian blur to this layer with a value of 50px then set the blend mode of this layer to overlay. I also added a bit more text below but this is optional.

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September 7th, 2008
Enigma:
Very nice
September 7th, 2008
Mr Kuzio:
Cool!
September 7th, 2008
nursetsase:
thank you..
September 7th, 2008
NaldzGraphics:
nice effect. this is very helpful for some beginners who really want to learn more on photoshop.keep it up ross:)
September 7th, 2008
nitos:
that was great! thanks, I really wanted to know some techniques you put up there! :P
September 8th, 2008
Ross:
Thanks all for the comments, glad you like it and make sure you social bookmark it:)
September 8th, 2008
Estea:
Wow . . .
Another awesome Tutorial!
Thanks!
September 9th, 2008
Rana:
AWESOOOOOOOME!!
i really really loved it .. can you please put the psd file so that we can
download it :) that would be great!!
thanx again dude .. Keep it up! :P
September 9th, 2008
Aleks Maksimow:
Thanks for being inspired by my work! :)
Good Tutorial!
September 9th, 2008
burity:
Good Tutorial! 10
September 9th, 2008
30 Beautiful Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials - Six Revisions:
[...] 22. Spray Paint Text [...]
September 10th, 2008
Muliati:
Ooooh I like! Thanks for this!
September 10th, 2008
30 Beautiful Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials | POLPDESIGN:
[...] 22. Spray Paint Text [...]
September 11th, 2008
Its not the Text matters.. Your design too « Its Venkys:
[...] 22. Spray Paint Text [...]
September 11th, 2008
Tim:
I did this tutorial last night… Loads of fun - but I think I can improve my first attempt greatly..
September 11th, 2008
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[...] Spray Paint Text 09-06-2008 [...]
September 12th, 2008
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September 12th, 2008
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September 13th, 2008
herrry:
Good work, to learn
September 13th, 2008
Craig:
In step 1, before you do the paint splatters…create a new layer:
“Create a new layer” Now using some splatter brushes make a few splats in the middle of the page like so. From now on the images will all be zoomed in on this area of the document.
September 15th, 2008
KoRniquet:
I thought typing the letters first works better than to start off with the spray paint effects. Very well done, Ross.
A great addition to your tutorial once again.
Thanks man.
September 16th, 2008
jmg:
“Now using some splatter brushes” are these in the regular brush set? or only in CS3? I have CS2 and don’t seem to be able to find them.
September 19th, 2008
ejenks909:
great outcome, thanks!
September 20th, 2008
50+ Great Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials, Part II | Photoshop Tutorial:
[...] Spray Paint Text [...]
September 24th, 2008
jojo:
sorry for asking but where can you find the splatter brush tool?
September 25th, 2008
AllTuts:
Spray Paint Text Effect…
This Photoshop tutorial will teach you how to make this spray paint style text effect which really stands out and would make a great wallpaper.
……
September 25th, 2008
Ross:
Jojo,
In step 1 I included a link to where you can download some splatter brushes.
September 27th, 2008
diandian:
??????????????
September 28th, 2008
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[...] Spray Paint Text [...]
October 2nd, 2008
pecinka:
WOW, it’s look realy cool and easy ! 10x allot ;)
October 4th, 2008
Ian:
Amazing little text affect thanks so much. Keep up the good work. :0)
October 5th, 2008
tom:
How do you add the black strokes please? They just go pink for me because of the color overlay!
October 7th, 2008
Emily:
this tutorial is amazing! The outcome is extravagant!
October 10th, 2008
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October 11th, 2008
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October 11th, 2008
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October 13th, 2008
branna:
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD IT???
October 18th, 2008
50+ Great Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials, Part II | Web Burning Blog:
[...] Spray Paint Text [...]
October 18th, 2008
50+ Great Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials, Part II | Web Burning Blog:
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October 22nd, 2008
??????????? | HiZhen.cn:
[...] ???PSDleaning ?? Ross ?? ??? [...]
October 25th, 2008
AVADDOHN:
thanks a lot roos, I just learnig photoshop I new in this and I really wanted to know how can I learn more, how did you do it? how did you lear so much? did you go to a special place or your a self-taught?
please anwser me my mail
monkeyd.robert@hotmail.com
October 30th, 2008
cookie:
can someone help me? i cant get step 3 right. When i put the image in the layer above the splatters then add a clipping mask, i cant see the splatters. what am i doing wrong?
October 30th, 2008
Lubbykko:
Good site! Interesting information.. )
November 2nd, 2008
chuxDLX:
After pasting in the stock photo of the concrete, I did the clipping mask, but it didnt work I guess. It just sits there on top of the background layer. Can i get some help?
November 5th, 2008
51 Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials | Tips For Web Users:
[...] Spray Paint Text [...]
November 6th, 2008
Brendan:
@ tom:
You need to add a new layer on top before you add the black strokes
Great Tut!
November 9th, 2008
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November 15th, 2008
chicas latinas:
stavo cercando per informazione stato necessario per cose molto tempo. Grazie!!))
November 17th, 2008
kennilee:
AMAZING :0
November 24th, 2008
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November 25th, 2008
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November 26th, 2008
Jenny Stewart:
Wow this tutorial was very fun!! Well written, great job. :)
November 27th, 2008
Rydgel:
Wow very impressing. ** bookmarked **
November 29th, 2008
Benny:
So simple yet effective i love it!
November 30th, 2008
Hannah:
Very nice, however I couldnt get the clipping mask to work. Any advice?
December 1st, 2008
saloni:
hey….this is too gooddd…!!!
December 1st, 2008
Zoinkki:
Cool! Gave good ideas, even i had few problems x)
December 6th, 2008
gg:
Geezuz man! that is fantastic and i am only a kiddy.
I am totally into photoshop and i love creative digital arts like this
you have inspired me much to try more techniques and types of elements in future works. I will send you a picture of my finished work with it maybe! I love this vector stuff! heheh
gg
December 10th, 2008
LOLO:
OSUM DUDE!!!!!!!! I MADE MY NAME IN THIS EFFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 18th, 2008
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December 20th, 2008
Thomas:
Great tutorial, I love the spray effect