In this tutorial we will create a metal panel from scratch (with no imported graphics) and create the effect of etched metal text like this:
1. Create a new canvas 250 x 100 with background colour #353535.
2. We'll start by making the base of the metal plate; select the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the radius to 10px. Draw the base of the metal like this:
3. Apply a Stroke layer style like this:
4. We need the metal plate to look like it has rounded edges - apply a Bevel and Emboss layer style like this:
5. Apply an Outer Glow layer style like this:
6.Right-click the Layer 1 layer and choose Rasterize Layer.
7.Double click the Layer 1 label and rename the layer to Base. Your Base layer should like like this:
8. Ctrl + click the Base layer to select the layer transparency. Choose Filter > Noise > Add Noise and Amount to 10% and Distribution to Uniform; ensure Monochromatic is checked.
9. Choose Filter > Blur > Motion Blur; set Angle to 0 degrees and Distance to 10 pixels. It will look like this:
10. Choose Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. Click Ctrl + F – this will apply the effect again.
11. Duplicate layer Base and rename it Worn. Right-click the Worn layer and choose Clear Layer Style. Ctrl-click layer Base to select the layer transparency. Choose #353535 for the foreground layer and white (#FFFFFF) as the background layer. Then choose Filter > Render > Clouds. It will look like this:
12. Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and set the Contrast to 50. Leave the Brightness as it is; your image should like this:
13. Choose Filter > Mosaic > Pixelate and set the Square size to 3 and you'll end up with this:
14. Change the Blending Mode of the Worn layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 60%:
15. Choose Filter > Add Noise > Noise and set Amount to 10%, Distribution to Uniform and ensure Monochromatic is checked:
16. Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and set the Contrast to 35. It should look like this:
17 .Now it's time to write the etch the text! Choose the Horizontal Text Tool, set the font to Arial Black and size to 18 pt and the text colour to #353535. Select Center Align and type DR QUINCY so your canvas looks like this:
18. Now apply these Stroke settings to the text layer:
19. Your etched metal text is finished and should look like this:
This tutorial works well with any "bold" font. If you don't have Arial Black or you feel like experimenting try some other "bold" fonts.
