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What We’re Making

Before we get started, let’s take a look at the 3D effect we’ll be creating.

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Step 1 – The Background

Create a new document, 2560px width and 1440px height. Use a resolution of 72, you could use a higher resolution but in this project we are just gonna learn some simple 3D effects so you do not really need to have it much higher.

Name the only layer existing “Ground Layer”. Select the Paint Bucket Tool (G) and fill it with whatever color you want. Right-Click on the layer and make a gradient from #BFFAFF to #2989CC.

We do not want the background to look same all over, so let´s add add an image we created a week ago. How to Create a Surreal Landscape using Photoshop. Bring it in your project, Name it “Blue Soft Light”, size it as the document is Command + T. Right-Click on the layer and select Convert to Smart Object. This will make the layer´s added filter ‘Edit-Able’. Go Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Use a radius of about 50px.

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Step 2 – 3D Letters

Now we will create the 3D typography. Select the Type Tool (T), type in anything you want.

• Font Family: Impact
• Font size: 150pt
• Font weight: Regular
• Anti-aliasing setting: Smooth
• Color: #4BB2EB

Next go 3D > Repoussé > Text Layer, this will create a smart object of the text layer. Add the setting below.

Let´s fix the light. If you don´t have the 3D tool box in your right panel, press Window > 3D. Choose the 3D layer you just created and add these light options below. This will make the lights more smoother. Now it fit more in a blue-heaven-clouds project like this.

Now select the 3D Object Tool (K), this is a 3D tool that you can use to rotate, roll, pan, slide and scale your 3D layers. If you press Shift + K the tool will change from the different options that exists. You could place it like we have done below or some place else if you want to, where it fits.

Do everything again with some more letters. Place them out in different sizes and rotate them in different ways. Then put all the 3D letters in a group, Command + G. Name the new group “3D Letters”.

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Step 3 – The Clouds

Creation of the clouds. Create a new group and name it “Back Clouds”, drag it below the 3D group. In this group create a Layer, Layer > New > Layer, name it “Clouds 50%”. Downland these cloud brushes from deviant art. Use the Brush Tool (B) with white as foreground to paint some clouds. Set the layers opacity to 50%.

Create another layer and name it “Clouds”. Paint some more clouds but this time do not change opacity from 100%.

Let´s create another layer right above the 3D Letters group, name it “Front Clouds”. Select the Brush Tool (B) again and paint some more clouds in front of the letter.

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Step 4 – Final Touches

Create a new layer and name it “Lens Flare”. Select the Paint Bucket Tool (G) and fill the layer with #00000 as well known as black. Then press Filter > Render > Lens Flare, use a flare of 50-300mm Zoom.

Set layer “Lens Flare”´s opacity to 50% and chose screen as blend mode. This will make a more brighter and realistic effect to your project.

Create a new layer, call it “Vignette”. Select the Gradient Tool (G), use a Radial gradient from black to white. Drag from the middle and out. Set the layers blend mode to soft light and the opacity to 80%. This makes everything to focus more on the center of the image.

Add a adjustment layer, Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves. Try to set the point similar what we have done. Set the opacity to 30%. This makes a more sharper style in the project.

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Conclusion

We are done! In this tutorial we have taking use of some good tools that is great to learn the basics of. And if you make a similar image like in this tutorial we would love to see it! Share it with a link in a comment or in our Flickr Group. Thanks for reading!

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