How to Create a Realistic Burnt Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

This tutorial will show you how to use two layer styles to create a super easy but very realistic burnt-in-leather text effect.

This text effect was inspired by the many layer styles available on Envato Elements. You can download premium Photoshop text effects from the platform if you don’t have time to run through tutorials.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll pick up some useful skills in this Photoshop text effect tutorial, like:

• How to add a background texture with a vignette effect
• How to create a text layer with an added Layer Style
• How to use the Blend If option

What You’ll Need

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:

• Big Top font
• Leather Texture by The-Auteur-Stock
• Subtle Textures Backgrounds Patterns

Ready to learn how to add burnt texture effects to text in Photoshop? Let’s get started!

1. How to Add a Background Texture in Photoshop

Step 1

Create a new 1024 x 683px document, and then go to File > Place Linked to add the Leather Texture image in Photoshop.

Resize the image to fit within the document, and try to keep the very dark bottom right corner outside.

Step 2

Go to Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights.

Check the Show More Options box, and use these values for the rest of the Photoshop texture’s settings:

Shadows:

• Amount: 1
• Tone: 50
• Radius: 30

Highlights:

• Amount: 20
• Tone: 50
• Radius: 30

Adjustments:

• Color: 0
• Midtone: 0

2. How to Create a Simple Vignette Effect

Step 1

Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Gradient.

Step 2

Create a Transparent to Fill Color gradient fill using the colors #eaeaea to the left and #816f69 to the right.

Change the Style to Radial and the Scale to 350, and check the Dither box.

Step 3

Change the Gradient layer’s Blend Mode to Linear Burn.

3. How to Create Text

Step 1

Create the text using the font Big Top. Change the Size to 200 pt and the Tracking to -50.

Step 2

Change the text layer’s Fill value to 0.

Step 3

Duplicate the text layer.

4. How to Apply a Layer Style to a Text Layer

Double-click the original text layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 30
• Gloss Contour: Ring – Double
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Overlay
• Shadow Mode:
  • Color: #675b47

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Rolling Slope – Descending
• Check the Anti-aliased box.
• Range: 100%

Step 3

Add a Texture with these settings:

• Pattern: Subtle Textures Backgrounds

Step 4

Add a Color Overlay with these settings:

• Color: #3f3d43
• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 90%

Step 5

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Burn
• Color: #74838e
• Opacity: 65%
• Distance: 5
• Spread: 10
• Size: 20

5. How to Use the Blend If Option

Step 1

Click the Blending Options tab at the top of the Layer Style box.

In the Blend If section near the bottom, click-drag the Underlying Layer‘s white slider to the left.

Notice how that affects the text’s fill in the document, as you’ll start seeing the bright areas showing through.

Step 2

Now hold the Option key and click-drag the slider to split it. Move each end separately to create a smooth transition.

Adjust the sliders until you get an effect you like.

This basically helps protect the burnt texture’s highlights from being affected by the text effects you applied.

6. How to Apply a Layer Style to a Copy Text Layer

Double-click the copy text layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Style: Pillow Emboss
• Size: 15
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Overlay

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Cover – Deep
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

Step 3

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Burn
• Color: #85552f
• Opacity: 35%
• Distance: 5
• Size: 10

Step 4

Click the + sign at the right of the Inner Shadow tab to add another Inner Shadow effect with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Burn
• Color: #85552f
• Opacity: 35%
• Distance: 0
• Size: 25

Step 5

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Burn
• Opacity: 70%
• Color: #b2b0af
• Size: 10

Step 6

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Dodge (Add)
• Color: #ccdfe0
• Opacity: 45%
• Distance: 0
• Size: 5

Step 7

Add another Drop Shadow effect with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Vivid Light
• Color: #c9c7ad
• Opacity: 35%
• Distance: 5
• Size: 15

This will finish off the burn text effect in Photoshop.

Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!

In this burn effect Photoshop tutorial, we created a simple background using a texture and a gradient fill layer.

Then, we created two text layers and styled them with a couple of effects and blending options to create the burnt texture effect.

Cool Text Effects for Photoshop From Envato Elements

Low on time but have projects to work on? You can use your Envato Elements subscription to download Photoshop text effects. They’re a no-brainer if you want something that looks great without taking hours to get right. Here are a few of the cool text effects for Photoshop you can get started with right now:

1. PSD Fantasy: Editable Text Effect, Font Style (PSD)

Fantasy is a 3D text effect for Photoshop that has a strong pixel art influence. It’s fun, colorful, and easy to use. Customize the font or text and try this Photoshop text effect on any gaming-related projects you have in the works.

2. Long Shadow Photoshop Effects (PSD)

There’s beauty in the simplicity of Long Shadow. The Photoshop text effect’s results are modern and eye-catching. You’ll get multiple styles and angles in this download, so it feels like having a ton of cool text effects in Photoshop that you can customize with your text and colors.

3. Candy Delight 3D Text Effect for Photoshop (PSD)

Add a sweet touch to any project with Candy Delight. It’s a playful alternative to the burnt wood texture effect we made in the above Photoshop tutorial. Since the text effect works with Smart Object layers, you’ll be able to make some unique text with a sugary feel.

4. Phantasm Photoshop Text Effect (PSD)

The quality of the vintage aesthetic of Phantasm speaks for itself. The premium design is easy on the eye, and the cool text effect for Photoshop has great textures thanks to the grainy look. If you want to work with Phantasm, try some different colors with your text.

5. Black Android Blue Glow Future Text Effect (PSD)

Go futuristic with this 3D text effect for Photoshop. It offers a colorful glow that you can customize. Experiment with different fonts and words and see how this Black Android text effect will fit into your upcoming Photoshop projects.

Explore More Photoshop Text Effects Tutorials and Resources

Did you like working on this Photoshop text effect tutorial? Then your learning journey doesn’t have to stop here! Try making some more Photoshop text effects with tutorials made by our creative Envato Tuts+ instructors:

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