Photoshop Tutorial: Create rusted metal text

Another of those text effects everyone loves, this time from Auke at Tut Base! In this tutorial you will get detailed, step by step training on how to create Rusted Tex — It’s very easy to follow and you’ll have amazing results as seen here! Auke even includes some downloadable textures you’ll really enjoy.

Create rusted metal textfinal_rustedtext

Thanks to Auke at ‘TutBasedotcom’ for contributing this new tutorial gives you some cool techniques along with some rather nice textures created by Auke. He writes . . .

In this tutorial you will get a detailed, step by step, tutorial of how to create Rusted Text.
It’s very easy to follow and you’ll have amazing results as seen here!

Step 1.

Create a new document. I’ve used 800×600 px.
Fill the background with black using the paint bucket tool (G)

Now search for an steel/metal background or use one from below:


Steel Background 1 Thumb

Steel Background 2 Thumb

Steel Background 3 Thumb

Drag it in and fill your document with the steel’ish background.

I’ve used background3 and set the opacity to 30% for a darker look.

Rusty Text 1

Step 2.

Now select your Type Tool (T) and write the text were you want to apply the rust effect on.
I’ve used simple Arial for this tutorial, but you can choose whatever font you want.

Rusty Text 2

NOW : Add Metal Textures

Adding textures to text

Once done you’ll have to find a steel/metal texture to make your letters in.
Or choose one from below:

Rusty Text 2
Steel Texture
Steel Texture 3

Place it on top of your text layer.

Make sure you have your move tool (V) selected. Now [Cmd+click] on your text layer to create an selection of your text

Rusty Text 3

When you’ve created the selection of your text, select your steel or metal texture layer and Duplicate the layer [Cmd+J].
Now you have your text shape cut out of the steel or metal texture.

Rusty Text 4

Step 4.

Duplicate the steel or metal shape of your text [Cmd+J] and make it black using Hue and Saturation [Cmd+U] and set the lightness to -80.
This makes the Shape go almost black.
Place this ‘black text layer’ underneat your ‘steel or metal shape layer’.

When this is done, make sure u have your move tool (V) selected.

Use your arrow keys to move your ‘black text layer’. Move 1px down (1x arrow down) and 1px left (1x arrow left)

It’ll give a tiny shadow to your ‘steel or metal shape layer’.

Repeat this step a few times:
Duplicate the black layer, arrow down, arrow left.

Once satisfied with the ‘3D’ result select all layers and Merge them into one (Cmd+E)

Rusty Text 2

NOW : Add Metal Textures

Blending, Gradient, styling

Now right click your, now 3D text, layer and choose ‘Blending Options’
In the blending options apply ‘Gradient Overlay’
I’ve used these settings for gradient overlay.

Rusty Text 6

Rusty Text 7

Step 6.

Looks pretty neat already right? Now let’s get to the good part. Let’s apply some rust!
Take a look at my previous post which included rust freebies., or download this file

I personally would start off with the cracked rust textures (first 4 images) and afterwards go for the ‘heavy’ rust so you can actually see what you’re doing.

Copy a cracked texture into the Rusty Text project and resize [Cmd+T] it to satisfied size of how you want to apply it on your text.
Cut out the part that you want to use using any method you prefer (Lasso, Quickmask Mode or even use the Eraser)

After cutting it out set blending mode to either Darken or Multiply (wichever suits the best)

Rusty Text 8

NOW : Add awesome RUST Textures

Add some HEAVY RUST

We’re getting there. Now let’s apply some heavy rust!
We’ll use the same technique as in Step 3. Place a rusty texture on top of your ‘3D text layer’ and hit [Cmd+J] to cut it out of the texture.

 

Rusty Text 9

Rusty Text 10

Afterwards set the blending mode of the ‘heavy rust layer’ to Multiply for an awesome effect.

Rusty Text 11

Step 8.

Wow! That looks amazing!
Select the Eraser tool (E) and select a brush that fits you with a hardness of 0% and set the Flow to 5-20%.

Now erase the parts you don’t want to have in your rusty text. Especially the parts were we put the cracks on.

Rusty Text 12

Step 9.

Finishing touches is what’s it’s all about!
In the finishing touches you can just play around and let your fantasy do the work.
I’ve applied some rusty pins in my text for the extra feeling and set made everything a bit more gray.

Final Version Rusty Text
Click for enlargement

I hope this Tutorial was usefull for you.
Comments with feedback or results are always welcome!

Thank you Auke.
GO See more at www.tutbase.com

And, thanks for reading

Fred Showker

Don’t forget … we encourage you to share your discoveries with other readers. Just send and email, contribute your own article, join the Design Cafe forums, or follow DTG on Facebook!