Photoshop: How to Create a Realistic Chrome Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

This super easy and quick tutorial will show you how to use a couple of textures and layer styles to create a shiny, reflective chrome text effect. Let's get started!

Tutorial Assets

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

• Bebas Neue Bold font
• AsphaltDamaged0043 Image 1 - Small (1024x768)
• Bus Seats
• Free Pack 6000 photoshop gradients by Supertuts007 (Load the CHROMES.grd file)

1. Define the Pattern

Step 1

Open the Bus Seats image, and then go to Filter > Distort > ZigZag. Change the Amount to 20, the Ridges to 5, and the Style to Pond Ripple.

Step 2

Go to Edit > Define Pattern, and type Reflection Pattern in the Name field.

2. Create the Background

Step 1

Create a new 950 x 650 px document, place the AsphaltDamaged0043 texture on top of the Background layer, and resize it as needed.

Step 2

Double-click the texture's layer to apply a Gradient Overlay effect with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Style: Radial
• Scale: 150%
• Click the Gradient box to create the gradient fill using the colors #757575 to the right and #0f0f0f to the left.

This will create a simple radial gradient.

3. Create the Text Layers

Step 1

Create the text using the font Bebas Neue Bold and set the Size to 220 pt and the Kerning to Optical.

Step 2

Duplicate the text layer, and change the copy's Fill value to 0.

4. Style the Original 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: 1
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 30
• Altitude: 16
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode - Opacity: 100%
• Shadow Mode - Opacity: 100%

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Cove - Shallow
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Range: 100%

Step 3

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 1
• Position: Inside
• Fill Type: Gradient
• Use the stainless steel xx gradient fill

Step 4

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

• Opacity: 35%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: -115
• Distance: 3
• Size: 7

Step 5

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Vivid Light
• Opacity: 100%
• Color: #f4f2e7
• Choke: 0
• Size: 3

Step 6

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Check the Dither box
• Blend Mode: Color
• Opacity: 90%
• Check the Reverse box
• Use the stove pipe 70 gradient fill

Step 7

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Pattern: Reflection Pattern
• Scale: 50%

Step 8

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 35%
• Color: #404040
• Size: 21

Step 9

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Opacity: 100%
• Distance: 5
• Spread: 10
• Size: 10

Step 10

Add another Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Opacity: 80%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 132
• Distance: 17
• Size: 38

Step 11

You can go back to the Pattern Overlay effect, and then click-drag the pattern inside the text to move it around until you get a result you like.

This will style the first layer of text.

5. Style the Copy Text Layer

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

Step 1

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Light
• Opacity: 20%
• Color: #e1e1e1
• Technique: Precise
• Size: 5
• Contour: Cove - Deep

Step 2

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Soft Light
• Angle: 80
• Use the steel pipe 10 gradient fill

Step 3

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Color Dodge
• Opacity: 50%
• Color: #ececec
• Size: 21

Congratulations, You're Done!

In this tutorial, we applied a filter to an image and defined it as a pattern. Then, we created a simple background using a texture and a gradient overlay effect.

Please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions, and outcomes below.