251 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; 10240x768px 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.
Similar Tutorials:
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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!
July 21st, 2010
dj herre:
no way I made my background and in the last step. no shit is was super cool nice one the tuto…. super super cool…… super pro. rite PRO
July 26th, 2010
Dan:
It made my time useful, thank you so much !!!
August 11th, 2010
Kels:
I have noticed the mass amounts of people complaining about step three and not being answered. That is a shame because i am having troubles as well and i am reallyloving the effect. It would be great if step three could be explained a bit more indepth. thanks.
August 15th, 2010
renz:
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
very cool!!!!!!!!!!
August 18th, 2010
roneybalack:
Photoshop tutorial, from beginner to advanced. Including Photoshop text effect tutorials, photo manipulation tutorials, give you joomla templates,joomla extensions,wordPress theme,web templates,
if you think i make a spam please remove this comment.
You have good tutorials and i had post it on my website. http://download60s.com
August 25th, 2010
German:
Way to go. The finish product is wonderful. Thank you very much for the tuto, I’m definitely going to give it a try.
August 27th, 2010
venustraphobia:
nice tutorial.. :)
August 30th, 2010
flyer templates:
Very simple technique. But so effective. The result can be used in many different kind of projects.
September 9th, 2010
wholesale designer clothes:
This article is informative and interesting, I enjoy reading it.
October 3rd, 2010
Will:
I followed this tut, got a great result, thanks ;D
October 3rd, 2010
Josh Barry:
A very nice tut! It would look awsome on my website, thanks!
October 5th, 2010
arsenavin:
10 thumbs up..looking forward to try it..
October 24th, 2010
CarterAteABaby:
I might also add, that this effect can be used too, not on just text, but on any one-color design, like let’s say the Adidas or Deviantart logo. just throwing that out there, for anyone who hadn’t considered it(:
October 27th, 2010
mHm:
AMAZING Tut! Thx loads for the lesson!
October 29th, 2010
Willem:
Excellent tutorial. Thanks very much!
December 5th, 2010
Very cool:
great tutorial, thanks for this :)
December 5th, 2010
Elizabeth Herkstroeter:
Found your blog in the Digg baseball t-shirts directory, very nice job, thanks.
December 14th, 2010
Morgan:
Does anyone know what the font used is called or have a link to a download of it?
December 15th, 2010
Kike:
Fantastic!, very good! thx!
December 16th, 2010
Aaron:
Amazing and for everyone having problems at step 2-3, make sure that the splatter brushes are used on a new layer not the background layer ;)
thanks for the tutorial
January 3rd, 2011
Danny:
I have a qeustion about that clipping mask with that grunge background i don’t get it like that How can i do that?
January 10th, 2011
jimij:
gotta love photo shop tricks and tips!!!
January 20th, 2011
forex:
Nice article; really I enjoyed reading. Thanks you for sharing such a wonderful information. very useful, indeed! :) keep up the good work!
January 25th, 2011
sexyzoo:
Cool pics! Some pics seem to be illusion.
January 28th, 2011
Ma?aza Dekorasyon:
thank cool with for you is the momento
January 28th, 2011
Magaza Dekorasyon:
yes it is for you the like nice meet
January 30th, 2011
gawjus:
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW OMG that was sooo good! I could do it and it looked like a pro did it
January 31st, 2011
VY:
awesome! =D thanks a lot. it worked perfectly :D
February 1st, 2011
Paul Santosh:
very nice thank you!!!!! for this!!!!!!!
February 12th, 2011
TTAR:
limited usage, but a great effect none the less… easy to follow too.. thank you for sharing.
February 21st, 2011
Louis:
Great tutorial! I’m actually getting more into photoshop and love to see these kind of effects
February 26th, 2011
Ryan:
Hey guyz, can yuh do me a favor ? i need this effect in psd file so if anyone can plz just email me @ nydhillon@hotmail.com
March 23rd, 2011
Ram:
nice
March 26th, 2011
hyunjungsoh:
Sooo…. That’s the secret.. =_=
Just a simple gaussian blur..
meeehhh… I thought it would be
much harder than that.
March 30th, 2011
G:
Que photoshop es ?
April 14th, 2011
Oliver:
Thanks!! great job!
May 7th, 2011
zefy:
great ^0^
May 16th, 2011
POKER:
very very nice
May 24th, 2011
iLIKEtHIS:
AWESOME :D TNX
June 16th, 2011
kalabilla:
very well done keep sharing dude
June 19th, 2011
monel:
i agree witj U kalabilla…
June 23rd, 2011
zossip:
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?
June 23rd, 2011
amateur porn:
Hey guyz, can yuh do me a favor ? i need this effect in psd file so if anyone can plz just email me @ nydhillon@hotmail.com
June 24th, 2011
Shekinah:
Wow! I wanna try this.
July 19th, 2011
Hernan:
I did this with an android logo check it out!
http://ihernan.deviantart.com/#/d40wk2x
July 23rd, 2011
font-man:
hi, does anybody know the name of that font he was using?? i have some trouble finding it…. so if could anybody answer me… here or you can mail me: tinchobooking@gmail.com
Thank you very much!!
August 9th, 2011
best ever:
I always come back here to remind myself of these tips! Great site photo shop is the best!!!
August 17th, 2011
Amber:
For Everyone Having issue with step 3
after you fill your base layer black
make a new layer for the paint splatters
then when you apply the clipping mask with the concrete image it wont just sit on top of everything.
August 25th, 2011
Bako Productions:
I think that this is the font that suits on this: http://www.dafont.com/traveling-typewriter.font?fpp=50
I hope it helped you….;)
August 30th, 2011
Dejan Web Dizajner:
Excellent!!!! :)
September 17th, 2011
Alicia:
Es genial!!!! lástima que no me haya salido, he ido creando capas cuando me ha parecido porque si no había cosas que no me salían!!! al final no me ha quedado muy bien… =(
October 4th, 2011
seo optimizacija:
i just love your blog and your photoshop tutorials. Very clearly and precisely explained, especially for us who are not so good with photoshop. I have bookmarked this site for comming back again when needed. Best regards to everyone
October 7th, 2011
named adun:
fantstic tut
but i don’t know how to be member to download the fill ^__^”?
October 12th, 2011
osman:
fake & gay
October 12th, 2011
kat:
this made me mad its really kool and all but my computer was being really stupid
October 14th, 2011
tommy:
i am stuck at step 3 help?!
October 18th, 2011
xoeve:
For Everyone Having issue with step 3
after you fill your base layer black
make a new layer for the paint splatters
then when you apply the clipping mask with the concrete image it wont just sit on top of everything.
November 10th, 2011
john:
could someone tell me what programme is that and how can i download it?…it looks really good….
January 2nd, 2012
Allport:
Thanks you this’ll do nicely for added effect on the new version on my YouTube channel background :)
January 3rd, 2012
Scott.h:
Hey, good tutorial but I can’t get the clipping mask to work. Can someone PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE answer because a bunch of people have asked below and no one has replied. Please, I need it for my coursework at school.
January 5th, 2012
your free file:
John G. Vance~ Remember that it is far better to follow well than to lead indifferently.
February 16th, 2012
Sherilyn Clattenburg:
Your content is highly cherished. Thank the author very much for maintaining a much of Excellent content.
February 20th, 2012
conor:
Thank you very much, this guide was excellent, had a wee bit of trouble with the new brushes, (just needed to restart photoshop) other than that it came out great, little fuzzier than yours but I think thats to do with the font I used. :) Thats my first ever real photoshop and im so proud. <3
February 26th, 2012
göz rengi:
tutorial is very cool thank you
April 6th, 2012
Chaelimitate:
This is my Work, inspired by GOD!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2031525124236&set=o.152790241453665&type=1
May 8th, 2012
fofobody:
For those that need help with clipping masks, since people can’t seem to explain how to do this correctly. You need to hover between the two layers while holding alt or option (mac) you’ll see your icon change. Here is an example: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=693644