Wave’s text effect in Photoshop

In this tutorial we’ll turn standard text into a stunning, eye-catching text effect. We’ll be using Layer Styles, Photoshop Filters, and combining different techniques to mock-up the text into a related background. Let’s learn how to create this text effect.

Final Image Preview

Firstly create a new file (File>New) of 1920×1200px/72ppi.

Take the Gradient Tool (G) and open the Gradient Editor from Options Bar:

Choose the Foreground to Transparent gradient.

Apply the gradient from the top to down.

Select Filter>Distort>Wave and choose the next demonstrated parameters:

It’s the result you should get:

Next select the Layer Style. Make a double left click on this layer on the Layers’ panel and set the Inner Shadow:

Gradient Overlay:

Gradient Editor:

We’ve got the next effect.

Create a new layer, fill it with black color applying the Paint Bucket Tool (G) and drag it under layer with gradient in Layer panel.

Back to layer with gradient and make a copy of this layer (Ctrl+J) and apply Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical. Set after that the opacity the same way demonstrated below:

Select the Brush Tool (B) set the Opacity to 50% in Options Bar and use black color for Foreground color.

Create a new layer and dark out the background the same way demonstrated next picture.

On the next layer we’ll represent another gradient. Change Foreground color to white, take Gradient Tool (G)and open the Gradient Editor from Options Bar to select the Foreground to Transparent gradient.

Apply the gradient on top.

Go to Filter>Distort>Wave.

The new result should be moved on the central part of the canvas, using in this case the Move Tool (V).

Make a copy of the last made layer, turn it over vertically, mark out both layers, pressing Shift+left mouse clickon the layers on the layers’ panel. Then Merge Down the marked layers, pressing Ctrl+E

Press Ctrl+T and scale down as shown.

Add Layer Style and set the Outer Glow:

Inner Glow:

Gradient Overlay:

Gradient Editor:

It’s the result you should get:

Raise the contrast of our work, using the Create new fill or adjustment layer > Curves:

Set the next parameters:

The work became more contrastive.

Create a new layer, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and represent a line, coloring it with white color.

Set the next parameters for Filter>Distort>Wave filter.

It’s the result you should get:

Then compress it and make the got line smaller (Ctrl+T)

Add the Later Style for the layer and set Outer Glow:

Then make copies of the layer and move the lines, making a wave.

Choose a brush of white color with the next parameters as below: Opacity 10%.

Paint around the wave.

Write ‘waves’ word, using the Horizontal Type Tool (T).

Place the word, like below:

Add Layer Style and set the Drop Shadow:

Inner Glow:

Gradient Overlay:

Gradient Editor:

Stroke:

Gradient Editor:

It’s the result you should get:

Make a copy of this layer and move it down (all Layer Style should be removed in the copy)

Add new Layer Style for this layer, set the Drop Shadow:

Inner Glow:

Color Overlay:

We’ve got a voluminous text:

Create new layer and Fill it with grey color - #8F8F8F

Then select Filter>Noise>Add Noise

We’ve got the next texture.

Enter now Filter>Blur>Motion Blur.

It’s the result you should get:

Set for this layer Blend Mode to Vivid Light:

We’ll get a kind of effect like the next one:

Using the Eraser Tool (E), erase everything unnecessary and minimize the layer’s Opacity.

We’ve got the texture on the text:

Do the same operation one more time for representing another texture, but this time in Filter>Blur>Motion Blur, changing the Angle on 45.

The final result!