This tutorial will show you a really quick and easy way to create a chalk effect in Photoshop. Achieve a chalk text effect using some filters and drop shadows. Let's get started!
This Photoshop chalk text effect was inspired by the many Layer Styles available on Envato Elements.
Looking for a chalk effect text in Photoshop? Head to Envato Elements and download this amazing chalk effect Photoshop Layer Styles set with 15 charcoal and 15 chalk effect Photoshop styles. It lets you write in chalk!
What You'll Learn
- How to make text look like chalk in Photoshop
- How to create the background for the Photoshop chalk text
- How to make a chalk text font of your own
- How to apply filters to make text look like chalk
- How to imitate chalk texture
- How to style your Photoshop chalk text
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Follow this tutorial to create a chalk effect in Photoshop along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:
- Magnolia Script font
- Gray rustic blank chalkboard background by Rawpixel
1. How to Create the Background for the Chalk Effect in Photoshop
Step 1
Open the Gray rustic blank chalkboard background image, and then go to Image > Image Size, and set the Width to 1000 px.
Step 2
Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Levels.
Step 3
Set the Gamma value to 0.95. This will darken the texture a little bit.
2. How to Create the Chalk Text Font and Chalk Layers
Step 1
Create the text using the font Magnolia Script. Set the Size to 200 pt, and if you're using multiple lines of chalk text, set the Leading to a value around 185 pt.
Step 2
Set the Foreground and Background colors to Black and White. Create a new layer below the text layer, call it Chalk, and fill it with Black.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Convert for Smart Filters, to convert the layer into a smart object.
3. How to Apply Filters to the Chalk Effect Text in Photoshop
Step 1
Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise.
Change the Amount to 150 and the Distribution to Gaussian, and check the Monochromatic box.
Step 2
Go to Filter > Stylize > Diffuse, and choose the Lighten Only Mode.
4. How to Mask the Chalk Texture
Step 1
Command-click the text layer's thumbnail to create a selection.
Step 2
Click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
Step 3
Select the text layer, and change its Fill value to 0.
5. How to Style the Chalk Text Font Layer
Double-click the text layer to apply the following layer style to the chalk texture:
Step 1
Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:
-
Color:
#1e1c1e - Opacity: 100%
- Distance: 6
- Spread: 35
- Size: 1
- Noise: 100%
Step 2
Click the + icon to the right of the Drop Shadow tab to add another instance with these settings:
-
Color:
#b57b88 - Opacity: 100%
- Distance: 7
- Spread: 60
- Size: 5
- Noise: 50%
Step 3
Add another Drop Shadow instance with these settings:
-
Color:
#000000 - Opacity: 25%
- Distance: 15
- Spread: 0
- Size: 15
- Noise: 30%
This will create the colored chalk outline and finish off the "write in chalk" effect.
Congratulations, You're Done!
In this tutorial, we learned how to make text look like chalk in Photoshop. We created a simple background with a chalk texture, and then created text and a smart object layer to work on the effect.
After that, we applied some filters to create the main chalk effect in Photoshop and masked it to the chalk text font we created.
Finally, we styled the chalk effect text in Photoshop by using a couple of drop shadow effects with different settings to create the colored outline.
5 Amazing Text Effect Actions From Envato Elements
Now, let's move on from the chalk effect text in Photoshop. If you need Photoshop actions that will do most of the work for you, check out our offer from Envato Elements:
1. Chalk Generator (PAT, ATN, PSD, SKETCH, PNG, PDF)
This item comes with 14 extra actions to make your main shape/text/raster have a chalk texture writing look. You can play with many ready-made icons to give your chalkboard a unique look.
2. Flour & Powder Photoshop Actions (ABR, ASL, ATN, PAT, PDF)
Maybe you want to do more than just write in chalk. Ever tried to write text or make a logo or graphic using flour or powder? It's really hard.
With this set of Photoshop actions, you can achieve amazing results with a few clicks. Simply install the action, create your text or logo, and click play. Job done!
3. Sand Photoshop Action (PSD, ATN, ABR, PAT, PDF)
Make your text or logo look as if it's written in sand. You can achieve a realistic effect of writing on the sand in just a couple of seconds. Use this summer style for your projects.
4. Leather Badge Generator Photoshop Actions (ABR, ATN, PAT, ASL, PDF, TXT)
Generate realistic leather elements from your text, logo, shape, or design in a few clicks. This is a clean, photo-realistic effect, with high detail.
5. Salt and Sugar Generator Photoshop Actions (ABR, ASL, ATN, PAT, PDF, PSD)
Transform your text or logo into a realistic Salt and Sugar effect in a few clicks. All the layers are well organized and packed in a Smart Object, so the starting layer is untouched.
More Text Effect Tutorials
If you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make text look like chalk in Photoshop, you can explore Envato Elements to find more assets and give these tutorials a try:
Create a Chalkboard Effect with the New Pen Tool in Illustrator
How to Create a Chalkboard Sign With Chalk Text in Adobe Photoshop
How to Create a Blueprint Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator
How to Create a Sketch Text Effect Action in Adobe Photoshop
How to Create a Grunge Text Effect Using a Displacement Map in Adobe Photoshop
27 Best Chalkboard Fonts
How to Make a Typewriter Font in Photoshop
How to Create a Newspaper Ransom Note Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
