127 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 10th, 2008
Muliati:
Ooooh I like! Thanks for this!
September 11th, 2008
Tim:
I did this tutorial last night… Loads of fun – but I think I can improve my first attempt greatly..
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 24th, 2008
jojo:
sorry for asking but where can you find the splatter brush tool?
September 25th, 2008
Ross:
Jojo,
In step 1 I included a link to where you can download some splatter brushes.
September 27th, 2008
diandian:
??????????????
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 13th, 2008
branna:
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD IT???
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 6th, 2008
Brendan:
@ tom:
You need to add a new layer on top before you add the black strokes
Great Tut!
November 15th, 2008
chicas latinas:
stavo cercando per informazione stato necessario per cose molto tempo. Grazie!!))
November 17th, 2008
kennilee:
AMAZING :0
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 20th, 2008
Thomas:
Great tutorial, I love the spray effect
December 24th, 2008
get:
hello,
when i downloa the brushes they come as .zip files…ps cannoot open these.. please help me
December 24th, 2008
george:
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?
December 24th, 2008
george:
can someone help me? i cant get past 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?
January 3rd, 2009
jokole:
wooi, anjing loe smua..
pantek loe…
January 3rd, 2009
Krystian:
Added to PSD Showcase
just to let you know…
January 28th, 2009
Nikola:
Holy C. that’s sick, thanks alot, I’ve always wondered how to do such an effect!!
February 3rd, 2009
Shone:
Shone
February 3rd, 2009
Maram:
Absolutely brilliant! my finished project looks superb thanks to this amazing tutorial. Thanks a million! =D
February 11th, 2009
Dealis:
Very Good Tutorial! You are the best!
Bardzo dobry tutorial! Jeste? dobry!
February 18th, 2009
Velin:
great tutorial mate
got mistake at step 1 … must be 1024×768 not 10240 :)
March 1st, 2009
James:
Step 3: When I put the image in , then add a clipping mask I cant see the splatters. Its over them. Any help? http://i44.tinypic.com/28t5xh.jpg
March 4th, 2009
Mina:
This is really neat..Thanks Lots….
I’m a beginner…honestly I got a little confused but finally got it!
Again Thanks!
March 29th, 2009
DH2:
GEORGE: Refer back to CRAIG’S post about adding a new layer for the brush splatters above the black background. I had the problem too until I tried that.
April 2nd, 2009
JW:
Thanks for this, I used it to great effect on a recent flyer here:
April 8th, 2009
MUJI:
hiii i did everythin but in step three i add the cliping mask between the two layers nothing happend wht should i do?
April 21st, 2009
@RN@B $@RK@R:
thanks so much for the tutorial…its a real good job
April 25th, 2009
CHARMAINE~!:
What font did you use for “PSD” ?
May 1st, 2009
Jonny:
cool!!!
May 12th, 2009
pumpx:
that was really cool But what was the font?
May 12th, 2009
pumpx:
that was really cool But what was the font? ANother think, can it be done with Photoshop 7 ???
May 26th, 2009
Farman:
very cool tutorial man
Farman
http://www.stuffloaded.org
June 16th, 2009
Ejaz Ahmad:
really very nice tutorial
June 20th, 2009
yuanjy1984:
Thanks for sharing!Good work!
June 25th, 2009
LX:
Cool!!nice !!i love it..it verry nice..tx 4 d’ tutoriall!!
June 30th, 2009
Alvian:
nice
July 7th, 2009
Jenna:
In step three i added the clipping mask but nothing happened how to you make the splatter paint look like concrete?!?!??!?!?!
Greatttt tutorial by the way! :DD
July 11th, 2009
sunypham:
This tut is amazing!!I love it
July 26th, 2009
goodjob:
that was really cool But what was the font?
July 28th, 2009
celebs gosip:
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.
July 29th, 2009
Damien:
Sigh…When I paste the wall photo it covers everything. And yes I did what Craig did putting a new layer before painting splatters. HELP!
July 30th, 2009
Damien:
Alright, I figured it out…and finished! Although I want to change my text to something better…I wonder if there is a quick way without starting over?
August 8th, 2009
Onbaires diseño web:
Thanks for this!
Good Tutorial!
August 12th, 2009
Zhiar:
that was very nice and easy =D keep the good work
August 17th, 2009
Sarah:
in step 3 i did the brushes and went to go paste the thing down that it says to do but it hides the brushes and i can’t see them.
what do i do?!
August 17th, 2009
Sarah:
where or how can you get the neon colors from to do the brushes at?
i have all reg. colors and i wanted the ones like you used.
August 20th, 2009
yulio:
very nice :)
August 24th, 2009
superman:
I DONT GET STEP THREE! I ADD THE PICTURE THING AND IT GOES ONTOP. WHATEVER SHALL I DO. I NEED HELP! ANYONE?
January 6th, 2010
Tutorial Lounge:
excellent tutorial with tips and tricks.
January 8th, 2010
kumpulan informasi:
hiii i did everythin but in step three i add the cliping mask between the two layers nothing happend wht should i do?
January 15th, 2010
cabalforlife:
aaaawsome!!!!!!! ^^
January 16th, 2010
daxxOr:
Fantastic tutorial – the results turned out great! two thumbs up!