Bamboo Text Effect

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a very cool and unique Bamboo Text Effect that looks amazing when used on many different types of projects. Here is what you will be creating with this tutorial:

This effect works great on a travel agency brochure, or even a vacation website as shown in this example:

Note: This tutorial is intended for use with Adobe Photoshop CS and CS2 software.

Step 1.

Create a new document in photoshop of any size. I'll be working with a standard 400x400 document. Fill the background with black (#000000).

Step 2.

Create a new layer by pressing Ctrl + Shift + ALT + N on your keyboard.

Get out the rectangular marquee tool ( ) and make a selection like I have done here:

Fill this selection with black (#000000).

Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard to de-select the area.

Double click this layer, and apply the following blending options:

Bevel & Emboss:

Pattern Overlay:

Result:

Step 3.

Duplicate this layer by pressing Ctrl + J on your keyboard.

Press the 'V' key on your keyboard to get out the move tool ( ) and position this duplicate layer as I have done here:

Step 4.

Create a new layer, by pressing Ctrl + Shift + ALT + N on your keyboard. Get out the Lasso Tool ( ), and make a selection similar to what I have done here.

Fill this selection with black (#000000).

Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard to de-select the selection.

Step 5.

Double click this layer, and apply the following blending options:

Gradient Overlay:

Result:

Step 6.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Press 'V' on your keyboard to get out the Move Tool ( ) again, and position this duplicate as I've done here.

Repeat this process twice more and position two more pieces near the bottom as I've done here:

Select and merge all layers except the background layer.

CS Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click each layer once to select it. Once all layers are highlighted except the background layer, press go to Layer->Merge.

Step 7.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard a couple times to duplicate our bundle of bamboo three or four times, and place them as I have done here using the Move Tool ( ) to create a look of 'random' bamboo sticks.

Step 8.

Once again, merge all of these layers together as we have done in step #6. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click each layer once to select it. Once all layers are highlighted except the background layer, press go to Layer->Merge.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Press Ctrl + T on your keyboard to open up the Freeform Transform Tool.

Right click the layer and select 'Warp':

PS 7 Users: You may be able to create this effect by going to Filter->Distort->Shear and adjusting the settings until you have something similar to what we have come up with.

Adjust the nodes (small boxes) to bend you bamboo stalk as I've done here:

Once you have a similar shape, press Enter on your keyboard to finalize the transformation.

Using the Move Tool ( ) position the bent bamboo stalks as I have done here:

Step 9.

Press Ctrl+ J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Go to Edit->Transform->Flip Horizontal.

Change the blending mode of this layer to "Overlay":

Get out Move Tool ( ) and position this duplicate layer as I have done here.

Step 10.

Duplicate the layer we named "Straight Bamboo" by clicking it once to select it, and pressing Ctrl+ J on your keyboard.

Go to Edit->Transform->Rotate 90°

Change the layer mode of this layer to "Linear Dodge":

Using the Move Tool ( ) position it on the top of the pieces as I have done here, to create a "T" shape.

Step 11.

Similarly create the other characters that you need for your text using the same techniques. Simply duplicate the straight, and curved pieces that we have already created and use them to build the other letters you need for your logo, or signature text. By looking at this image, you should be able to tell where I have used the curved pieces, and where I have used the straight ones:

Step 12.

Select and merge all layers.

CS Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click each layer once to select it. Once all layers are highlighted except the background layer, press go to Layer->Merge.

Press Ctrl + U on your keyboard to open up the Hue/Saturation window, and apply the following settings:

Make sure Colorize is checked

Result:

Step 13.

Double click this layer, and apply the following layer styles:

Outer Glow:

Bevel & Emboss:

Result:

Step 14.

Duplicate this layer and change the layer mode to "Color Dodge", to give the text effect a little more depth:

This completes our tutorial on how to create "Bamboo Text". It takes a little time to get used to it, but once you have the pieces made, the rest of the work falls into place very easily. Here is how my final result ended up:

Here is how something like this might look on a travel brochure, or vacation website header: