1. Start with a blank layer and some text, this will work for shapes too.
2. Right click/Cmd click on the layer name in the layers palette. Select rasterize layer. Ctrl/Cmd click on the layer thumbnail to select the type.
3. Create a new blank layer.
Edit>stroke. I added a 6 pixel stroke here. Make the location center.
Click ok.
Ctrl/Cmd click on the layer thumbnail to select the new stroke.
4. In the layer palette, turn off the bottom layer, you should see the outline now.
Using the gradient tool: foreground to background linear - Black to white. apply a gradient to the selection.
5. Now apply the stroke again, this time 1 Pixel and set to outside.
6. To make the gradient look like metal, use our favorite curves trick.
Image>adjust>curves, use a similar curve to what is shown here.
7. Now display the bottom layer again and fill with a color or a gradient to get this result.
8. For a little extra depth apply a layer style to the outline, use a dropshadow.
9. Here is the result.
10. Another variation is to hide the fill and just use the outline with a dropshadow.
11. Here is yet another variation. This is just the previous image inverted. Ctrl/Cmd+I Note for this to work, you must flatten the image first.
12. Here is another variation. Play around with this effect and have fun.
See you in a week with another new tutorial. Don't forget to drop by the forum and say hi!
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