How to Create a Sci-Fi Scan-Line Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

This tutorial will show you how to use layer styles to create a super quick and easy sci-fi scan-line inspired text effect. Let's get started!

This text effect was inspired by the many Layer Styles available on GraphicRiver.

Tutorial Assets

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

• Kenney Future font
• Black grunge wall texture by kues1
• Free Pack 6000 photoshop gradients by Supertuts007 (Load the CHROMES.grd file.)
• Paper 2 pattern by Atle Mo

1. How to Create a Simple Gradient Pattern

Step 1

Create a new 500 x 104 px document, and double-click the Background layer to unlock it.

Step 2

Double-click the Layer 1 layer to apply a Gradient Overlay effect with these settings:

• Check the Dither box.
• Use the faucet 150 gradient fill.

Step 3

Pick the Single Column Marquee Tool and click once anywhere to select a single vertical line.

Then, go to Edit > Define Pattern, and set the Name to Lines.

2. How to Create a Background Texture

Step 1

Create a new 850 x 588 px document with the Resolution value set to 300, place the Black grunge wall texture image on top of the Background layer, and resize it as needed.

Step 2

Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels, and change the Gamma value to 1.10.

Step 3

Double-click the texture layer to apply a Color Overlay effect with these settings:

• Color: #3b7aab
• Blend Mode: Overlay

This will add a blue color to the texture.

3. How to Create and Style Text Layers

Step 1

Create the text using the font Kenney Future, and set the Size to 50 pt.

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

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

Step 2

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Style: Stroke Emboss
• Technique: Chisel Hard
• Depth: 550
• Size: 6
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: -169
• Altitude: 37
• Gloss Contour: Ring
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Color Dodge
  • Opacity: 75%
• Shadow Mode: Linear Burn
  • Opacity: 40%

Step 3

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Cone - Inverted
• Check the Anti-aliased box.
• Range: 100%

Step 4

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 3
• Position: Outside
• Fill Type: Gradient
• Angle: 90
• Click the Gradient box to create the gradient

Create the Gradient by adding alternating Color Stops of the Colors #1b5ad3 and #6db7fd.

Step 5

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Color Burn
• Color: #0886f1
• Opacity: 60%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 90
• Distance: 0
• Choke: 25
• Size: 9

Step 6

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Vivid Light
• Opacity: 70%
• Color: #7ffffd
• Choke: 30
• Size: 16
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Range: 100

Step 7

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Check the Dither box
• Blend Mode: Linear Burn
• Opacity: 75%
• Scale: 109%
• Create the Gradient using the Colors #145190 to the left and #9517ff to the right.

Step 8

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Pattern: Lines
• Scale: 7%

Step 9

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Overlay
• Opacity: 75%
• Color: #dd69ff
• Spread: 10
• Size: 30
• Check the Anti-aliased box

Step 10

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Opacity: 100%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 90
• Distance: 10
• Spread: 30
• Size: 15

Step 11

Add another instance of the Drop Shadow effect with these settings:

• Opacity: 70%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 90
• Distance: 20
• Size: 35

This will create the main effect.

4. How to Add More Layer Effects

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

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 49
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 58
• Altitude: 21
• Gloss Contour: Cone - Inverted
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Vivid Light
  • Opacity: 77%
• Shadow Mode:
  • Opacity: 0%

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

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

Step 3

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Soft Light
• Color: #ab2eec
• Opacity: 100%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 90
• Distance: 0
• Size: 21

Step 4

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Vivid Light
• Opacity: 25%
• Gradient: Use the Colors #3b5e7e to the left, #588b8a in the middle, and #c5c396 to the right
• Source: Center
• Size: 51
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Range: 100%

Step 5

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Check the Dither box
• Blend Mode: Linear Light
• Opacity: 50%
• Scale: 109%
• Create the Gradient using the Colors #98addc to the left and #9e727f to the right.

Step 6

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Pattern: Paper 2

Step 7

Add an Outer Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Color Dodge
• Opacity: 75%
• Color: #88621f
• Spread: 10
• Size: 20

This will finish off the text effect.

5. How to Add Finishing Touches

Step 1

If you want to add more than one line of text, just duplicate both styled text layers, and change their contents.

Step 2

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

Choose the Fuji REALA 500D Kodak 2392 (by Adobe).cube table from the 3DLUT File menu, and change the layer's Opacity to 35%.

Congratulations, You're Done!

In this tutorial, we used textures, patterns, and layer styles to create a quick and easy tech-inspired scan-lines text effect.

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