Quick Tip: Create a Metallic Copper Text Effect Using Layer Styles in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I'll explain how to create a metallic copper text effect using layer styles in Adobe Photoshop. Let's get started!

Tutorial Assets

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

• Main files [ZIP]
  
• Argel Font
• Palace balls image (registration required)

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Step 1 

Extract the main zip file and open the file "Background.psd".

Step 2

Type the word "Angel" using the Argel font.

• Font size: 310 pt
• Tracking: 0 pt

Select the letter "A" and set:

• Tracking: 40

Using the "Move Tool", select the text and background layer, and then click the align commands on the top menu to center it.

• Align Horizontal Center
• Align Vertical Center

Step 3

Apply a Layer Style on the text layer (right click on the layer > Blending Options). Set Blending Options step by step as shown in the image below.

Step 4

Add Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal
  
• Color: #000000
• Opacity: 70%
• Angle: 90º
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Distance: 30 px
• Spread: 30 px
• Size: 20 px
• Contour: Default
• Noise: 0%
• Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow: Checked

Step 5

Add Outer Glow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Noise: 0%
• Color Solid: #000000
• Technique: Softer
• Spread: 70%
• Size: 6 px
• Contour: Default
• Range: 30 px
• Jitter: 0%

Step 6

Add Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Style: Outer Bevel
• Technique: Smooth
• Depth: 1000%
• Direction: Up
• Size: 6 px
• Soften: 0 px
• Angle 90º
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Altitude: 0º

• Gloss Contour: Click on the Contour box and load the file CustomContours.shc (zip file)
• Select the new added contour "CustomContour01"
• Highlight Mode: Normal
• Highlight Color: #fce7c6
• Highlight Opacity: 100%
  
• Shadow Mode: Normal
• Shadow Color: #FFFFFF
• Shadow Opacity: 100%

Step 7

Add Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Default
• Anti-aliased: Checked
• Range: 100%

Step 8

Add Color Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Linear Burn
• Blend Color: #fee2be
• Opacity: 10%

Step 9

Add Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Overlay
• Opacity: 80%
• Gradient: Click on the Gradient box and load the file CustomGradients.grd (zip file)
• Select the new added gradient "CustomGradient01"
• Reverse: Unchecked
• Style: Linear
• Align with Layer: Checked
• Angle: 90º
• Scale: 100%

Step 10

Add Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 2 px
• Position: Center
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Gradient
• Select the new added gradient "CustomGradient02"
  
• Reverse: Checked
• Style: Reflected
• Align with Layer: Checked
• Angle 90º
• Scale: 109%

Now you have the main frame of the text effect.

Step 11

Open the image palace-balls, copy and paste it over the text layer "Angel", and rename the image layer to "Reflection01". Using the "Move Tool", select the "Reflection01" image layer and the background layer, and then click the align commands "Align Bottom Edges" and "Align Left Edges" on the top menu, as shown in the image below.

Step 12

Select the "Reflection01" image layer and, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, right click on the picture and choose Free Transform. Then lock the proportions with the loop icon Maintain Aspect Ratio on the top menu, as shown in the image below. Reduce the Width and Height to 70%, set the Horizontal Position to 1174.00 px and the Vertical Position to -8.00 px, and press Enter.

Step 13

Apply a Layer Style on the "Reflection01" image layer (right click on the layer > Blending Options), apply Gradient Overlay values as shown below, and click OK, to get a metal copper tone.

• Blend Mode: Color
• Opacity: 100%

Click on the Gradient Bar and make a gradient with these settings:

• First Stop Color: #f3c69e
• First Stop Position: 0%
• Second Stop Color: #f8d5b9
• Second Stop Position: 100%

Step 14

Apply Sharpen three times: go to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen (remember, repeat this step three times).

Step 15

Reduce the noise by going to Filter > Noise > Reduce Noise. Use the values shown below.

• Basic: Checked
• Settings: Default
• Strength: 10
• Preserve Details: 7%
• Reduce Color Noise 43%
• Sharpen Details: 0%
• Remove JPEG Artifact: Unchecked

Step 16

Duplicate the "Reflection01" layer and rename it "Reflection02". After renaming it, change the Blend mode to Lighten and Opacity to 50% as shown below.

To achieve a stunning reflection effect, select the "Reflection02" image layer and, using the "Rectangular Marquee Tool", right click on the picture and choose Free Transform > Flip Horizontal. Reduce the Width to -90% and Height to 90%, set the Horizontal Position to 588.50 px and the Vertical Position to 108 px as shown below, and press Enter.

Step 17

Select the two image layers and go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask to put the reflections inside the layer font. Finally, select the two image and text layers to link them by clicking on the "Link Layers" icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to have the final text effect linked.

Final Image