Metal Mayhem

To begin with let's create a new image, 72 dpi with a white background. Create a new layer, enter some large text with the type mask tool, and fill it with black. Duplicate this layer, and with your selection still active we are ready to begin.

I hope that you are starting to grasp using Layer Styles. With the top layer active, open the Blending Options pop up.

Once Blending Options are open, highlight each command setting down the left hand side. You will notice that Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Inner and Outer Glow, Bevel/Emboss, Contour and Satin all allow you to configure curves for each setting. What this allows us to do is, inside one layer, apply curves to each aspect of the image on that layer. Let's say, for example, you want to make a metal type effect that includes a metal edge that appears contoured. To add to the realism you want the edge to stand out from the page but contrast with the rest of the text to appear 'etched'. Photoshop 5 required each portion to be on it's own layer, as altering one aspect of the text would alter the entire thing unless you had them separated with selections.

Not so now Amigo! I'm going to take our black text and, with one layer, show you how these work together.

To begin with, I'm going to apply a gradient overlay style to the text for a little change from the black. In this case I went with a white to black, top to bottom gradient.

Let's add a bevel now. Using the settings below...

...we get this result:

The 2 controls I focused on to create this effect were 'Technique' under Structure (switched from the default 'soft bevel' to 'Chisel Hard' and changed the depth) and the Gloss Contour, which applies our curve. The curve creates a distinct separation of our shading colors. This particular curve is called Ring-Double. We can change the curve by double clicking the curve thumbnail and altering the settings manually.

Ok, now for the next example I changed our image in 2 ways. I applied a gradient stroke, inside, 6 pts set to inside. I used the copper gradient and set it to anti-aliased.

The next setting I applied dealt with the Contour command, which is actually a sub-command of our Bevel/Emboss feature. Double clicking the curve icon, I entered my own settings. Here's a capture:

Basically I kept my eye on the text and played with the Curve until I thought it looked cool. Here's the result:

Remember that Ring-Double Curve? I'm now applying that same curve to Inner Shadow, Inner Glow, and Outer Glow. I've adjusted the color of the outer glow to match the hue of my text, and filled the background with black. Here's or metal now: