Chrome Text Effect - TUTORIAL

Objective:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9465/resultnf0.jpg

This will show how to make a "edge" chrome effect. This is basic and the techniques can be adapted to "full face" chrome. But I'll let you play about to achieve that

Please follow the steps below.

Firstly, create a layer of the text you use and add a grey to white gradient to the font. This will be the base layer that for this tutorial i have called XRAY:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/645/ss1sn1.jpg

*you may choose to add a bright background layer to help you see the light layers.

Secondly, press Ctrl + Click on the XRAY layer to select the font only, then add a new "white" fill layer. Call this layer Chrome Effect

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7149/ss2ox1.jpg

This layer will be used to adding defintion to the edge chrome we will be creating in a moment. Then you have a White Fill layer, you need apply a Darken filter to it. This will made it invisible.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7273/ss3sa5.jpg

Then to add defination for the edge chrome, we need to apply a Bevel to the Chrome Effect layer. These are the settings i have used for this text, your settings will differ depends on what font you are using. The idea is to go for a pronounced and sharp edge to the font.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7291/ss4da4.jpg

The next trick is to create the edge chrome effect.

We do this by Ctrl + Click on the XRAY again to select the font only, but before we add the fill layer, we need to reduce the size of the selection so it fits nicely to the edge of the bevel. So by using Select > Modify > Contract, we can shrink the selection. Now because we made the Bevel size to 6px on the previous step, we need to contract the selection by 6px also. This will show the selection fitting nicely on the peak of the font.

Then, hold down Ctrl + Shift and press I, to invert the selection so the outside of the canvas is now selected.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4191/ss5hv4.jpg

Now create a new "white" fill layer ( Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color... ) so it covers the rest of the canvas, hiding the bevel edge of the text:

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4308/ss6pu4.jpg

If you are wondering what this has to do with making the Chrome, its because we need a perfect edge that overlaps the bevel definition. So Ctrl + Click on the XRAY again to select the font, then press and Ctrl + Shift and press I to invert the selection. Press delete and this will remove the selection of the white layer, leaving a white border on the text that perfectly covers the bevel definition underneath. Call this layer Chrome Effect 2:

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2592/ss7cl5.jpg

Now we will apply the Chrome effect.

We need to apply 2 filters to the edge layer, a bevel for the chrome and a colour layer for the chrome color.

Chrome:

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9710/ss11jp5.jpg

Colour:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4296/ss12zo4.jpg

This gives us a perfect gold chrome effect to the edge. The simple apply a Darken filter the the Chrome Effect 2 layer so it overlays onto the bevel definition underneath.

Now we need to add the inner effect of "diamonds".

Ctrl + Click on XRAY layer to selection the font selection only again and contract it to 4px in this case so its in the middle of the chrome border.

Now we need to create some clouds using the Render function.

Add a Layer > New Layer, then select Filter > Render > Clouds...:

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4626/ss8gj5.jpg

Then to create the diamond effect, with the Clouds layer still selected, select Filter > Distort > Glass. I used the following settings, but you can play to see what whats best for you:

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3659/ss9it1.jpg

Ctrl + Click the XRAY layer to select the font and add a gradient layer. i choose a multiple grey/ white scheme, with a scale of 150 and a radius of 45. Then apply a Colour filter to blend the gradient over the diamonds.

Then move the Gradient layer and the Clouds layer down underneath Chrome Effect 2.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/241/ss10co9.jpg

Then you can add Inner shadow filters if you choose to and add any other effects, like stars to highlight the bling effect.

Finished.