In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create your own denim texture using filters in Adobe Photoshop and then how to create an action for the stitched jeans text effect.
Now, if you want to speed up the process and achieve the stitch effect in a few clicks, you can try the cool Photoshop stitch effect actions from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver as well. We'll review some of them after this stitched denim tutorial.
And if you prefer to learn by watching videos, you'll enjoy this new video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. Learn how to make a stitched denim effect in Photoshop by watching this video:
What You'll Learn in This Stitching Effect Photoshop Tutorial
- How to create a denim texture
- How to set the background and add text
- How to start recording a Photoshop action
- How to create and style the jeans rim
- How to create and style the jeans main layer
- How to add and style the jeans stitch
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used during this Photoshop stitch effect tutorial:
1. How to Create a Denim Texture
First of all, I'll show you how you can create your own denim texture using Photoshop filters. If you prefer, you can skip these steps and download the denim texture from the tutorial assets.
Step 1
Start Adobe Photoshop and open a new document (Control-N) with 1024 x 1024 px and a resolution of 72 DPI. Then go to Filter > Filter Gallery... and select Halftone Pattern from the Sketch folder and use these settings:
- Size: 2
- Contrast: 20
- Pattern Type: Dot
Hit OK.
Step 2
Go to Filter > Pixelate > Mezzotint..., set Type to Fine Dots, and hit OK. Then go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur..., and set the Angle to -45° and the Distance to 20 px. Hit OK.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise, and set the Amount to 10% and Distribution to Gaussian. Check the Monochromatic box and hit OK. Then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, set the Radius to 0.5 px, and hit OK.
Step 4
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels and set Inputs to 21 - 0.52 - 199 and Outputs to 53 - 163. Then select the Background layer and go to Edit > Define Pattern, change the name to denim-texture, and hit OK.
Done. You have just created your own denim texture which we will use in our Photoshop action. We could finish it with a blue color overlay, but I like to leave it in shades of gray, which lets you change the texture to any color later.
2. How to Set the Background and Add Text
For this Photoshop action, I chose the wood planks background, which you can get from the tutorial assets, but it is not mandatory for the action to work.
Step 1
Open the wood planks image (Control-O). Then hit Control-Alt-I, change the Resolution to 72 Pixels/Inch and the Width to 850 px, and hit OK.
Step 2
Take your Type tool (T), change the font to Varsity Team Bold, and set the Size to 450 pt. Then write "JB" on your artboard.
3. How to Start Recording a Photoshop Action
Now we are going to start recording a Photoshop action. It's important to follow the steps in order and to avoid unnecessary mouse clicks and keystrokes.
Step 1
Hit Alt-F9 to open your Actions panel. At the bottom of this panel, hit the Create new set icon, name it Jeans Action, and hit OK. Then hit the Create new action icon next to it and name it Start. Now hit the Record button and start recording the Photoshop action.
Step 2
To start off our Photoshop action, right-click on the JB layer in your Layers panel and select Duplicate Layer, name it jeans-base, and hit OK. Then right-click on the jeans-base layer and select Duplicate Layer again, name it jeans-rim, and hit OK.
4. How to Create and Style the Jeans Rim
Step 1
Right-click on the jeans-rim layer and select Blending Options. Then set the Fill Opacity to 0%.
Step 2
Add a Stroke with Size of 16 px, set the Position to Outside, and hit OK. Then right-click the jeans-rim layer and select Convert to Smart Object.
Step 3
Right-click on the jeans-rim layer and select Blending Options again. Now add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Style: Inner Bevel
- Technique: Smooth
- Depth: 888%
- Direction: Down
- Size: 2 px
- Soften: 0 px
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 135°
- Altitude: 30°
-
Highlight Mode: Linear Burn with color
#000000 - Highlight Mode - Opacity: 27%
-
Highlight Mode: Color Dodge with color
#ffffff - Shadow Mode - Opacity: 44%
Step 4
Add a Texture for the Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Pattern: denim-texture (the one you have created before)
- Scale: 50%
- Depth: 95%
Step 5
Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:
-
Color:
#6b6b6b - Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: -45°
- Distance: 6 px
- Choke: 45%
- Size: 5 px
- Check the Anti-aliased box
Step 6
Add a Color Overlay with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Overlay
-
Color:
#224d66 - Opacity: 80%
Step 7
Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Normal
- Opacity: 100%
- Pattern: denim-texture
- Scale: 50%
Step 8
Finally, add a Drop Shadow to our Photoshop text effect with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Multiply
-
Color:
#000000 - Opacity: 80%
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 90°
- Distance: 2 px
- Spread: 0%
- Size: 3 px
- Check the Anti-aliased box
Hit OK to apply the text effect.
This is the result of the text effect applied to our Photoshop action.
5. How to Create and Style the Jeans Main Layer
Step 1
Select the jeans-base layer in your Layers panel. Right-click on it and select Blending Options. Now add a Stroke with Size of 15 px, change Position to Outside, and hit OK. Then right-click this layer again and select Convert to Smart Object.
Step 2
Right-click on the jeans-base layer and select Blending Options again. Now add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Style: Inner Bevel
- Technique: Smooth
- Depth: 100%
- Direction: Up
- Size: 49 px
- Soften: 0 px
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 180°
- Altitude: 30°
- Check the Anti-aliased box
-
Highlight Mode: Color Dodge with color
#ffffff - Highlight Mode - Opacity: 30%
-
Highlight Mode: Linear Burn with color
#000000 - Shadow Mode - Opacity: 13%
Step 3
Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Multiply
-
Color:
#7a7a7a - Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 132°
- Distance: 0 px
- Choke: 18%
- Size: 35 px
- Check the Anti-aliased box
Step 4
Add an Inner Glow with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Linear Burn
- Opacity: 24%
-
Color:
#6a6a6a - Technique: Softer
- Source: Edge
- Choke: 60%
- Size: 38 px
- Check the Anti-aliased box
Step 5
Add a Satin style with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Linear Burn
-
Color:
#000000 - Opacity: 13%
- Angle: 0°
- Distance: 45 px
- Size: 46 px
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Check the Invert box
Step 6
Add a Color Overlay with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Overlay
-
Color:
#224d66 - Opacity: 80%
Step 7
Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Normal
- Opacity: 100%
- Pattern: denim-texture
- Scale: 50%
Step 8
Finally, add a Drop Shadow to our Photoshop text effect with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Multiply
-
Color:
#000000 - Opacity: 36%
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 105°
- Distance: 9 px
- Spread: 11%
- Size: 8 px
- Check the Anti-aliased box
Hit OK to apply the text effect.
And this is the result of the text effect applied to our Photoshop action.
6. How to Add and Style the Jeans Stitch
We are almost done with our Photoshop action. The last thing we need to add is a cool stitch to this text effect. So let's do it.
Step 1
Create a new layer by going to Layer > New > Layer, and name it stitch. Then Control-click the jeans-base layer to make a selection. Go to Select > Modify > Contract, set the value to 24 px, and hit OK. Finally, go to your Paths panel and click the Make work path from selection icon at the bottom.
Step 2
Select your Brush Tool (B) and select jeans-stitch from the tutorial assets as your brush. Then right-click on the Work Path layer in Paths panel and select Stroke Path..., choose Brush as your tool, and hit OK. Lastly, hit Delete to delete the work path layer.
Step 3
Right-click on the stitch layer and select Blending Options. Then add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Style: Pillow Emboss
- Technique: Smooth
- Depth: 200%
- Direction: Up
- Size: 9 px
- Soften: 5 px
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 90°
- Altitude: 30°
- Check the Anti-aliased box
-
Highlight Mode: Linear Dodge (Add) with color
#ffffff - Highlight Mode - Opacity: 24%
-
Highlight Mode: Linear Burn with color
#000000 - Shadow Mode - Opacity: 18%
Step 4
Add a Color Overlay and choose the color #d19f5f. Then hit OK to apply the text effect. Now go back to your Actions panel and hit the Stop button at the bottom to stop recording this Photoshop action.
Congratulations! You're Done!
In this tutorial, you learned how to create a Photoshop action for a jeans text effect and also how to create your own denim texture using Photoshop filters.
We started by creating the main denim texture, and then we recorded an action for the jeans text effect using layer styles and a stitch brush.
5 Top Photoshop Stitch Affect Add-Ons to Try Today
I hope you have enjoyed this stitched denim Photoshop tutorial. Now, if you don't have the time to create a stitch effect action from scratch, you can always visit Envato Elements and GraphicRiver. You'll find lots of different Photoshop stitch effect actions, add-ons, brushes, and more! Here are a few of our favorites:
1. Torn Jeans Denim: Photoshop Stitch Effect Action (ATN, ABR, PAT, PDF, PSD)
Dreaming about quickly giving any text or logo a stitched denim look? This stitched jeans action is for you. The stitching effect Photoshop kit includes three separate actions, five denim colors, and three torn edge sizes!
2. Sewing & Embroidery Photoshop Kit (ABR, ASL, PAT)
This complete stitch effect kit will give you lots of creative options. If you wish to create stitched jeans with unique patterns, you need these stitch effect brushes.
The download includes 40 stitched denim brushes, 10 Photoshop layer styles, pattern sets, PNGs, and more!
3. Stitched Fabric Photoshop Action (ATN, ABR, PAT)
Get this Photoshop stitch effect action to "sew" any fabric you wish into your designs! The stitch effect set includes:
- 18 Stitch Effects
- 3 Stitch Sizes: Large, Medium, Small
- different stitch types: cross, zigzag, overlock, and simple stitches
- works with any layers: texts, logos, pixel layers, smart objects, groups, etc.
4. Embroidery Sticker Photoshop Action (ATN, ABR, PAT, PSD, PDF)
Looking for fun Photoshop stitch effect kits? This complete set is waiting for you! You can turn any image, logo, or text into a cool embroidery sticker. The stitch effect Photoshop set features:
- seven stitch layers
- actions
- patterns
- brushes
- works with anything: text layer, vector shape, pixel layer, PNG image, smart object, folder group, etc.
5. Stitched Leather and Jeans Photoshop Actions (ATN, ABR, PAT)
This is a cool and realistic stitched denim Photoshop kit from GraphicRiver. If you're aiming for a realistic look on your designs, check out this stitched jeans PSD set that features:
- eight different text effect actions to choose from
- one-click actions, super easy to use
- four styles with two different stitch spaces
- works with many fonts in different font sizes
- one ATN file with all eight actions
- PAT and ABR files included
Looking for more? I recommend the following tutorials:
How to Create a 3D Golden Cinematic Text Action in Adobe Photoshop
How to Create a 3D Black and Gold Text and Logo Mockup
How to Create a Beer Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
How to Create a Cheese Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
40 Cool Space and Star Photoshop Resources (Brushes, Actions, Overlays, and More!)
25+ Best New Photoshop Actions & Photo Effects for 2024
32 Best Gold Text Photoshop Effects (And Other Metallic Effects)
60+ Awesome Graphic Styles and Appearance Panel Tutorials on Tuts+
How to Create a Fun Felt Photoshop Text Effect
Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Maria Villanueva. Maria is the Associate Editor of the Tuts+ Design channel.
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