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How to Make a Typewriter Font in Photoshop

In this tutorial, you'll learn to create typewriter text effects. We'll also look at the best typewriter fonts available on Envato Elements.
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Ivan Gromov
• 19 min read
English
Typography Fonts Add-Ons Text Effects Adobe Photoshop
Final product imageFinal product imageFinal product image
What You'll Be Creating

Do you love old typewriters and the distinct typewriter texture and style they apply to the letters? Those duplicated letters, and the illegible and sometimes even blurred and almost missing symbols? A premium typewriter font can add a lot of personality to your creative projects.

Postmark Typewriter Text Effect, a premium typewriter font from Envato ElementsPostmark Typewriter Text Effect, a premium typewriter font from Envato ElementsPostmark Typewriter Text Effect, a premium typewriter font from Envato Elements
Postmark Typewriter Text Effect, a premium typewriter font from Envato Elements

In this tutorial, I will show you a quick and easy way to create a vintage typewriter font effect using a displacement map, textures, and smart filters. Follow this easy tutorial to create a typewriter font in Photoshop that you can use each time you need it.

Let's start to create our own vintage typewriter font effect. If you want to learn this typewriter text effect via video, check out our lesson on the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

How to Create a Typewriter Font Text Effect (and the Best Typewriter Fonts)

What You'll Learn

As you're getting ready to start this Photoshop typewriter font tutorial, you should check the study program to prepare for what you'll learn. In this case, we'll go over:

  • How to prepare the document
  • How to create a typewriter font text effect

In a few simple steps, you'll be ready to create your own typewriter text effect.

What You'll Need to Learn How to Make a Typewriter Font in Photoshop

The following assets were used in the production of this Adobe typewriter font tutorial:

1. How to Prepare the Document

Step 1

Let's get started with this typewriter texture tutorial. Set up a New Document by pressing Control-N. Set the document size to 1500 by 1000 px.

Creating a new documentCreating a new documentCreating a new document

Step 2

Drag and Drop the textures from the tutorial assets to the document, and then make these layers Invisible.

dragging the textures inside the documentdragging the textures inside the documentdragging the textures inside the document

Step 3

We're halfway through the first process to create a typewriter font in Photoshop. Now, hit T and create two text layers with any words you want to use.

creating text layerscreating text layerscreating text layers

Step 4

After that, add a Mask to each layer.

adding the masks to the text layersadding the masks to the text layersadding the masks to the text layers

Step 5

Select the text layers while holding Shift, and hit Control-G to create a group of the layers. Then add a mask to this group as we did before.

Creating first group of layersCreating first group of layersCreating first group of layers

Step 6

Now we need to create four duplicates of the group using Right Click > Duplicate Layer.

creating duplicates of the group of layerscreating duplicates of the group of layerscreating duplicates of the group of layers

2. How to Create a Typewriter Font Text Effect

It's time to begin the second process to create a Photoshop typewriter font.

Step 1

Select the mask of the first text layer and then Control-click on the icon of the text layer.

creating a selection on the mask of the text layercreating a selection on the mask of the text layercreating a selection on the mask of the text layer

Step 2

Go to Select > Modify > Contract  and set Contract By to 4 px.

creating a contract selectioncreating a contract selectioncreating a contract selection

Step 3

Press Shift-Control-I to invert the selection, and then hit Shift-F5 to fill the selection with black.

inverting the selectioninverting the selectioninverting the selection

Step 4

Add the same mask effect to the second text layer and hit Control-D to deselect.

inverting the second layer selectioninverting the second layer selectioninverting the second layer selection

Step 5

Select the mask of the first layer and then go to Filter Gallery > Brush Strokes > Splatter and use the following settings: Set Radius: 10; Smoothness: 15. After that, add the same filter to the mask of the second layer using Alt-Control-F.

adding splatter effect to the mask of the layeradding splatter effect to the mask of the layeradding splatter effect to the mask of the layer

Step 6

Put the ink texture inside the first group of layers.

adding the effect and moving the layeradding the effect and moving the layeradding the effect and moving the layer

Step 7

Double-Click on the ink texture in the Layers panel, and then go to Color Overlay and use white.

adding color overlay to the textureadding color overlay to the textureadding color overlay to the texture

Step 8

Now we need to add the selection to the masks of the second group of layers, as we did before. But this time we'll use the following settings: Contract By: 2 px.

adding selections to the masks of the second groupadding selections to the masks of the second groupadding selections to the masks of the second group

Step 9

After that, select the mask of the text layer and go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Brush Strokes > Sprayed Strokes and set the Stroke Length to 20, Spray Radius to 0, and the Direction to Horizontal. Then add the same effect to the second layer mask using Alt-Control-F.

creating effects for the second group of text layerscreating effects for the second group of text layerscreating effects for the second group of text layers

Step 10

Now let's go to the next group of layers and add the masking effect to both text layers as we did before, but this time we don't need to use the contract function.

adding the mask effects to text layersadding the mask effects to text layersadding the mask effects to text layers

Step 11

Select the Mask of the layer and then go to Filter > Distort > Displace and use the following settings: 

  • Horizontal Scale: 4
  • Vertical Scale: 4
  • Displacement map: Tile
  • Undefined Areas: Repeat Edge Pixels

Hit the OK button, and now you need to select the PSD file from the tutorial assets as a displacement map. Add the same effect to the second layer using Alt-Control-F.

adding a displacement map to the mask of the text layersadding a displacement map to the mask of the text layersadding a displacement map to the mask of the text layers

Step 12

Add the masking effect to the text layers in the fourth group with the Contract by 4 px setting. 

creating a contract selectioncreating a contract selectioncreating a contract selection

Step 13

Don't despair! We're halfway through this second part of the tutorial about Adobe typewriter fonts.

To continue, select the mask of the text layer and go to Filter > Distortion > Ripple, using the following settings: Amount: 69%; Size: Medium. After that, select the mask of the second text layer and hit Alt-Control-F to add the same filter.

adding the ripple effect to the mask of the layeradding the ripple effect to the mask of the layeradding the ripple effect to the mask of the layer

Step 14

Select the mask of the first layer and then go to Filter Gallery > Sketch > Torn Edges and use the following settings:

  • Image Balance: 40 
  • Smoothness: 15
  • Contrast: 15

After that, add the same filter to the mask of the second layer using Alt-Control-F.

Step 15

Now let's go to the last group of layers and create a mask effect as we did before using Contract by 4 px.

creating a contract selectioncreating a contract selectioncreating a contract selection

Step 16

Go to Filter Gallery > Brush Strokes > Splatter and use the following settings: Spray Radius: 10; Smoothness: 15. After that, add the same filter to the mask of the second layer using Alt-Control-F.

adding the splatter effect to the mask of the layeradding the splatter effect to the mask of the layeradding the splatter effect to the mask of the layer

Step 17

And finally, let's add the last filter to the mask. Go to Filter Gallery again, and then select Texture > Craquelure and set the Crack Spacing to 35, Depth to 10, and Brightness to 0. Use the same effect for the mask of the second layer.

adding craquelure effect to the maskadding craquelure effect to the maskadding craquelure effect to the mask

Step 18

Now we need to make some of the elements invisible. Select the mask of the first group of layers, and then hit M and select some words you would like to make visible. Hold Shift to make multiple selections.

selecting the words on the mask of first group of layersselecting the words on the mask of first group of layersselecting the words on the mask of first group of layers

Step 19

Hit Shift-Control-I to invert the selection and then Control-I to invert the mask.

inverting the mask of the groupinverting the mask of the groupinverting the mask of the group

Step 20

Delete some parts of different group masks as we did before.

making the the part of the masks invisiblemaking the the part of the masks invisiblemaking the the part of the masks invisible

Step 21

Move the first group of layers about 10 px to the left while holding Shift.

moving the group of layersmoving the group of layersmoving the group of layers

Step 22

Change the Opacity of the group to 90%.

changing the opacity of the groupchanging the opacity of the groupchanging the opacity of the group

Step 23

You're almost done! Just a couple of steps to create your own Photoshop typewriter font.

Create a duplicate of the overlay texture and move both layers above all the groups. Then change the Blending Mode of the first texture to Hard Light and the Opacity to 52%. After that, change the Blending Mode of the second texture to Multiply.

changing the blending modes and opacity of the layerschanging the blending modes and opacity of the layerschanging the blending modes and opacity of the layers

Step 24

Select the first overlay texture and hit Alt-Shift-Control-B. Then hit OK.

adding black and white filteradding black and white filteradding black and white filter

Step 25

Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and set the Brightness to -80 and Contrast to 100.

Changing the brightness and contrast of the textureChanging the brightness and contrast of the textureChanging the brightness and contrast of the texture

Step 26

And for the last step, we need to put all the previous groups in a new group and then Right-Click on the first texture and select Create a Clipping Mask.

creating a clipping maskcreating a clipping maskcreating a clipping mask

Awesome Work, You're Now Done Creating a Photoshop Typewriter Font!

Congratulations! You have created an old Adobe typewriter font effect using a displacement map, textures, and smart filters. Here is our final result. Isn't it an awesome typewriter texture?

Final result imageFinal result imageFinal result image

Premium Typewriter Font Examples From Envato Elements (2023)

As you can see, learning how to make a typewriter font in Adobe Photoshop is fairly easy. However, if you want to know what a premium typewriter font looks like, check out the best typewriter font collection available on Envato Elements. With them, you will get a top typewriter text effect in a few seconds.

1. Enigma Typewriter Sans Font (TTF)

Enigma Typewriter Sans FontEnigma Typewriter Sans FontEnigma Typewriter Sans Font

This classic typewriter font will help you to recreate the style of old documents and papers. It was inspired by the "Enigma machine" and has a great vintage and grungy look. This typewriter font supports multilingual glyphs and comes in one TTF file.

Download this incredible typewriter texture to give a cool look and feel to your projects.

2. Silk Remington Typewriter Texture (TTF)

Silk Remington - Typewriter TextureSilk Remington - Typewriter TextureSilk Remington - Typewriter Texture

Inspired by the name of the old brand, this product is an authentic old typewriter font, created by Jadugar Design Studio. This vintage typewriter font comes in five variations, from Thin to Rough, so it could be really useful for different types of projects.

You can get this typewriter text effect without having to go through the process of learning how to make a typewriter font in Adobe Photoshop.

3. Not My Type Typewriter Font (OTF)

Not My Type Typewriter FontNot My Type Typewriter FontNot My Type Typewriter Font

If you ask what font looks like a typewriter, the answer is the one that is created with a real typewriter. This typewriter font was made with an Oliver Courier Typewriter from an antique market. If you need a simple old typewriter font with a great number of alternates, this one is the best choice for you.

4. AMTW Premium Typewriter Texture (TTF)

AMTW - Premium Typewriter TextureAMTW - Premium Typewriter TextureAMTW - Premium Typewriter Texture

If you are looking for an American typewriter font, take a look at AMTW. This classic typewriter font could be used in many ways because it comes in three styles: regular, rough, and rough-rough.

Use this as a Photoshop typewriter font or in any other design editing platform.

5. Catalina Typewriter Text Effect (TTF)

Catalina Typewriter Text EffectCatalina Typewriter Text EffectCatalina Typewriter Text Effect

If you are looking for a font that looks like a typewriter but was made by hand, Catalina Typewriter is the best typewriter font for you. This neatly handwritten font would be perfect for creating typewriter font tattoo sketches, table cards, menus, and much more.

You can download it with a couple of clicks and include it in your arsenal as an Adobe typewriter font.

Explore More Photoshop Tutorials and Resources

Now, you know how easy it is to learn how to make a typewriter font in Adobe Photoshop. You've also seen top examples of typewriter textures. However, if you would like to learn more about different Photoshop text effects, check out these tutorials:

Typography Fonts Add-Ons Text Effects Adobe Photoshop
Ivan Gromov By