22 min read

Text Effects with Layer Styles

Drop shadow, stroke, outer glow, gradient overlay and bevel — and filling text with a photo using a clipping mask.

Layer Styles

To add a style: select the layer, then click fx (Add a layer style) at the bottom of the Layers panel, or choose Layer \to Layer Style, and pick an effect. Adjust it in the Layer Style dialog and click OK. The effects are listed under the layer; click the eye next to each to switch it on or off, and double-click to edit.

1 Type a word in a very bold font (for example SCIENCE in Montserrat Black). 2 Place the photo on a layer directly above the text layer. 3 Choose Layer \to Create Clipping Mask (or Alt-click the line between the two layers). 4 The photo now appears only inside the letters. Move or scale the photo to show the best part; the text stays editable. 5 Add a Stroke or Drop Shadow to the text layer to define the letters.

Practice

White text is hard to read over a light part of a photo. Which style helps most?

Layer Styles

To add a style: select the layer, then click fx (Add a layer style) at the bottom of the Layers panel, or choose Layer \to Layer Style, and pick an effect. Adjust it in the Layer Style dialog and click OK. The effects are listed under the layer; click the eye next to each to switch it on or off, and double-click to edit.

Text Filled with a Photo (Clipping Mask)

1 Type a word in a very bold font (for example SCIENCE in Montserrat Black). 2 Place the photo on a layer directly above the text layer. 3 Choose Layer \to Create Clipping Mask (or Alt-click the line between the two layers). 4 The photo now appears only inside the letters. Move or scale the photo to show the best part; the text stays editable. 5 Add a Stroke or Drop Shadow to the text layer to define the letters.

Practice

White text is hard to read over a light part of a photo. Which style helps most?