A metal effect lets you create cool looks for digital images. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a steel effect in Photoshop – step by step. We’re going to use a metallic background texture and then apply the metal effect on a text layer, using Photoshop’s layer styles. And what’s even better – with just one click, you can easily transform the steel effect into a gold metallic effect!
How to create a steel effect in Photoshop in 3 Steps
In order to create a steel effect in Photoshop, these are the three basic steps you'll need to follow:
How do I create a metal effect in Photoshop?
As a digital artist, you sooner or later wonder about how you can create a metal effect in Photoshop, right? A metal effect is a cool thing that you can use for texts, headings, logos, etc.
Metal effects, such as a steel, gold or chrome effect, can give a shiny touch to your artist website. They also help catch the viewer’s eye on social media networks, as you upload your digital art to Instagram or create stunning pins for Pinterest.
In this Photoshop tutorial, I’ll be showing you step-by-step how to create a steel effect in Photoshop using layer styles. There’s a combination of 8 layer styles involved that will finally give us the desired steel effect.
Related: → Using Layer Styles In Photoshop – Photoshop Layer Styles Tutorial
Grab your FREE Steel Effect Download
If you don’t want to do all the configurations by your own, you can download the complete Steel Effect Layer Style in the Freebie Library – FOR FREE!
Subscribe to get access to our Freebie Library and download the FEE Metallic Steel Effect as Layer Styles .ASL file & multi-layered Photoshop .PSD file!
So without further ado, let’s get down to creating the steel effect in Photoshop!
How to create a steel effect in Photoshop
STEP 1: Open a new document in Photoshop & choose a metallic background texture
First of all, we’re going to create a new Photoshop document by going to File > New. Enter the desired dimensions for width and height and click OK.
For the example, I’ve set the background color to black and added a Gradient Fill layer that will help me later on achieve a subtle metallic gradient in Photoshop.
If you’d like to do the same, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient. Alternatively, you can click on the little ‘Create new fill or adjustment layer‘ icon at the bottom of your Layers Panel and select Gradient from the popup.
This will bring up the Gradient Fill dialog box. I’ve chosen a white gradient, set the Style to Reflected and the Angle to -62 degrees. Leave Scale at 100% and keep Align with layer checked. Reduce the Opacity of the adjustment layer until you like the effect (here at 26%).
Of course, that’s not yet enough to achieve a metallic background in Photoshop. That’s why I’ve looked around for a metal texture that I can add on top of both layers.
I’ve found a free metallic texture from ArtOfDecay-Stock on DeviantArt. The texture has a nice scratched metal look that will do a great job in helping us create a realistic steel effect in Photoshop!
For the example, I’ve decreased the Opacity of the metallic background to 29%. And voilà, this is our base that we’re going to work on in this Photoshop tutorial!
STEP 2: Add a new layer & type in the text you want to apply the metal effect to
This brings us to Step 2 in how to create a steel effect in Photoshop.
In this step, we’re going to add a new layer for the text that we’ll be applying the effect to. You can apply the steel effect to almost anything. However, for this tutorial, I’ll be sticking with text.
To add a new layer, go to Layer > New > Layer, or click on the ‘Create a new layer‘ icon at the bottom of your Layers Panel. Then grab the Type Tool from your Tool Bar, choose a font of your liking, and type in the words that you want to use to create a metal text effect in Photoshop!
STEP 3: Apply the following set of 8 Photoshop layer styles to the text layer
Step 3 actually includes the magic ingredients for how to create a steel effect in Photoshop!
To create the steel effect, we’ll be exclusively using Photoshop layer styles – altogether 8 out of Photoshop’s full palette of 10 available styles.
To access the Layer Style options, you can go to Layer > Layer Style and either select Blending Options or any other style you want to start with (e.g. Bevel & Emboss). Any selection will take you to Photoshop’s Layer Style dialog box.
Related: → Layer Style Dialog Box In Photoshop – Understanding The Basics
To go about that faster, you can also double-click in the blank area of the text layer, which will immediately bring up the Layer Style dialog box. Another way is to click on the ‘Add layer style‘ fx icon at the bottom of your Layers Panel and again select either Blending Options or the effect you want to start with.
With your Layer Style dialog window open, let’s go from top to bottom and start with Bevel & Emboss to create the steel effect.
1. Bevel & Emboss
First of all, we’re going to click on the Bevel & Emboss tab to enable the layer effect. Then we’re going to start configuring the effect.
Select Chisel Hard from the Technique dropdown, set Depth to 18%, Direction to Down, and Size to 155 px.
Then, in the Shading section below, set the Angle to -103 degrees, the Altitude to 42 degrees, and uncheck Use Global Light.
Make sure to select the Ring – Double (the little icon with the two mountains) under Gloss Contour. You can leave Highlight Mode at Screen and Shadow Mode at Multiply. Increase the Opacity of both Highlight and Shadow Mode to a full 100%.
I’ve set the Highlight Mode color to a very light yellow (#fefdfa) and the Shadow Mode color to a dark gray (#242424). You can later on experiment with the colors when the layer style is complete, so you can see what looks best for your image.
Just make sure to enable Contour right below the Bevel & Emboss tab and then we’re good to move on to the next layer effect!
2. Inner Shadow
Now, we’re going to enable the Inner Shadow effect and configure the settings.
First, we’re going to set the Blend Mode to Overlay and select a dark blue color (#223f4b). Play around a bit with color and opacity to see what you like best.
Related: → TOP 6 Photoshop Blending Modes Explained (+ FREE Blend Modes Cheat Sheet)
Next, set the Angle to -40 degrees and uncheck Use Global Light. Distance is 0px, Choke 100%, and Size 27px.
In the Quality section, it’s very important that you change the Contour to form a narrow steep slope that goes up to the right. If you don’t find this particular contour in the Preset Manager, you can create it.
A click on the Contour icon will bring up the Contour Editor.
A click on the Contour icon will bring up the Contour Editor.
Edit the graph to make it look like in the example. Set the upper point to 100% for both Input and Output, and the lower point to Input 82% and Output 32%.
The last thing we need to do in the Inner Shadow tab is up the Noise slider to 100%, and then we can move over to the next effect!
3. Inner Glow
Number 3 on our list of how to create a steel effect in Photoshop is the Inner Glow layer effect. As usual, we’re going to enable the effect by ticking the box and then configure the settings.
First of all, we’re going to switch the Blend Mode to Lighten and reduce the Opacity to 40%. Then we’re going to select a white color (#ffffff).
After that, we’re going to set Choke to 56% and Size to 4px in the Elements section.
All that remains to do in the Quality section is up the Range slider to 100%.
4. Color Overlay
Let’s move on to the Color Overlay effect. All we need to do here is switch the Blend Mode to Color and select a muted pink color (#b49f95). Again, you can play around with the color to see what suits your image best!
Btw, you can turn this steel effect super-fast into a gold metallic effect in Photoshop!
All you need to do is pick a yellow color in the Color Overlay options – and there you go!
On the right, you can see the final result of the gold metallic effect.
5. Gradient Overlay
Let’s move on to effect number 5, the Gradient Overlay.
First off, we need the Blend Mode to be on Multiply and the Opacity at 60%. Make sure to tick Reverse and then create a three-color gradient, with gray being the first color (#71767b), a dark blue being the middle color (#0a202f), and a dark blue-gray being the last color (#3e4a54).
Finally, we need to set the Angle to -60 degrees and Scale to 150%.
6. Pattern Overlay
The next layer style we’re going to apply is a Pattern Overlay. Set the Blend Mode to Linear Light and Scale to 50%.
It’s very important to change the Pattern and select a rough, scratchy pattern that will help create the metallic texture in Photoshop. If you don’t have the right pattern on your list of presets, you can download it here along with the layer style for free.
7. Outer Glow
We’re almost done creating a steel effect in Photoshop! The second last layer style we’re going to apply on our metal text effect is the Outer Glow.
Let’s start by setting the Blend Mode to Overlay and the Opacity to 30%. Then we’re selecting a white color.
Moving down to the Elements section, we’re going to increase Spread to 13% and Size to 35px.
All you need to do in the Quality section is set the Range to 40%.
8. Drop Shadow
As for the last effect, the Drop Shadow, we start by setting the Blend Mode to Normal, Opacity to 100%, and Angle to 90 degrees. The color can remain black.
Uncheck Use Global Light and then set the Distance to 0px, Spread to 8%, and Size to 38px.
In the Quality section, you need to change the Contour to a gaussian-like curve as you can see it beside.
And voilà, this was the last step in our tutorial on how to create a steel effect in Photoshop!
Photoshop steel effect – The final result!
This is our final Photoshop steel effect! Looks pretty cool, doesn’t it?
As you can see, I’ve added a random brush stroke at the bottom and applied the steel effect to it, too. Cuz, like I said, you can apply the metal effect to almost anything!
Grab your FREE Steel Effect Download
Subscribe to get access to our Freebie Library and download the FEE Metallic Steel Effect as Layer Styles .ASL file & multi-layered Photoshop .PSD file!
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I hope that this tutorial on how to create a steel effect in Photoshop was helpful. If you found any value in it, please feel free to share it with other artists so they can also learn from it!
If you are using anything of what I’ve showed you in this post, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @ginangiela, or post a link here in the comments. I’d love to see your creations! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new Photoshop tutorials, perks for subscribers and other cool stuff. ♥
- Layer Style Dialog Box In Photoshop – Understanding The Basics
- How To Apply A Layer Style To Multiple Layers In Photoshop
- How To Copy Effects From One Layer To Another In Photoshop
- Using Layer Styles In Photoshop – Photoshop Layer Styles Tutorial
- How To Make A Realistic Water Drop In Photoshop (+ FREE Water Drop Effect Download)
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Thanks for sharing this technique! I’m fairly new to Photoshop, I’m curious if this steel effect works well with various color schemes, or is it more suitable for specific palettes?
Hi Alex! You’re most welcome, glad it was helpful.
I think the steel effect works best with dark color palettes. But I could imagine that it can also look good on pastel colors! I guess, in the end, it always depends on what you create and, of course, on your personal taste as well. (:
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