1. Tutorial Overview

This tutorial focuses on creating gold metallic text effects using Adobe Photoshop (commonly referred to as PS), suitable for PS beginners and design enthusiasts who need to create posters or promotional materials. By combining gold-related layer styles, gradients, and text tools, we'll craft an impressive and practical metallic font effect. This type of text is widely used in poster design and festive promotions (such as New Year celebrations and events). The step-by-step instructions will help learners quickly master the techniques for creating gold metallic text.

Original tip: This impressive font effect is highly practical in poster design. The detailed process makes it suitable for students to learn together.

2. Preparation

• Software: Adobe Photoshop (any version that supports layer styles, such as CS6 or CC series)
• Font: FZDaHei-M08S (specified in this tutorial, but can be replaced with other bold fonts like Microsoft YaHei Bold or Hanyi Bold Round based on your preference)
• Basic skills: Familiarity with PS fundamentals (creating new documents, layer management, tool selection)

3. Detailed Steps

Step 1: Create a New PS Document

1. Open Adobe Photoshop and execute the "File - New" command (or use the shortcut Ctrl+N) to open the "New Document" settings window.
2. In the "Preset Details," set the following parameters to ensure the document meets design requirements:
   • Width: 2000 pixels
   • Height: 1500 pixels
   • Resolution: 72 pixels/inch (suitable for screen display scenarios like web pages and posters; adjust to 300 pixels/inch for print)
   • Color Mode: RGB Color (8-bit) (default mode for screen display; change to CMYK for print)
   • Background Contents: Black (provides contrast for the gold text effect that will be created later, highlighting the font)
3. After confirming the parameters are correct, click the "Create" button to generate the new PS document.

Step 2: Create Gradient Background and Duplicate Background Layer

1. Set foreground and background colors: Click the "Foreground/Background Color" icon in the PS toolbar and set them to:
   • Foreground Color: #343434 (dark gray, for gradient transition)
   • Background Color: #000000 (pure black, creating a harmonious gradient with the foreground color)
2. Select the Gradient Tool: Click the "Gradient Tool" in the toolbar (or use the shortcut G), then select the "Foreground to Background Gradient" preset in the top options bar and click the "Radial Gradient" icon (gradient effect spreads from center outward).
3. Create the background gradient: Move the mouse cursor to the center of the document, hold down the left mouse button and drag toward any corner (adjust dragging distance as needed, recommended to cover the entire document). Release the mouse button to generate the radial gradient background.
4. Duplicate the background layer: In the "Layers" panel, right-click the "Background" layer and select "Duplicate Layer" (or use the shortcut Ctrl+J) to generate a "Background copy" layer for backup in subsequent operations.

Step 3: Add Text and Set Font Properties

1. Select the Text Tool: Click the "Text Tool" in the toolbar (or use the shortcut T), and the mouse cursor will change to text input mode.
2. Enter the target text: Click at an appropriate position on the document canvas (recommended to center it for easier adjustments) and input the text (the example in this tutorial is "Happy New Year," but you can replace it with other text such as "Golden Gala" or "Metallic Texture" based on your needs).
3. Adjust font properties: Set the font parameters in the top options bar or the "Characters" panel:
   • Font: FZDaHei-M08S (bold fonts better present the three-dimensional feel of metallic texture)
   • Font Size: 368 pt (adjust based on document size to ensure the text proportion is coordinated on the canvas without exceeding edges)
   • Text Color: Default color is fine (will be covered by layer styles later, no need to set specifically)
4. Adjust text position: Select the "Move Tool" (shortcut V), hold down the text layer and drag it to the center or ideal position on the canvas to complete text addition.

Step 4: Add "Bevel and Emboss" Layer Style to Text Layer

1. Open the Layer Style window: In the "Layers" panel, double-click the blank area of the text layer (be careful not to click the text layer name or thumbnail to avoid entering text editing mode) to open the "Layer Style" dialog box.
2. Select the "Bevel and Emboss" style: Check the "Bevel and Emboss" option in the left style list to expand the detailed settings panel for this style.
3. Set "Bevel and Emboss" parameters (key step that directly affects the metallic texture effect):
   • Style: Outer Bevel (creates a three-dimensional protruding effect on text edges outward, enhancing the metallic texture's three-dimensionality)
   • Method: Chisel Hard (makes bevel edges sharper, matching the hard texture of metal)
   • Depth: 1000% (higher values create more obvious three-dimensional effects; recommended to keep this value to highlight the gold metallic feel)
   • Size: 10 pixels (controls the bevel range; adjust based on text size; 10 pixels suits 368 pt font)
   • Soften: 0 pixels (keeps bevel edges sharp, avoiding blur that affects metallic texture)
   • Angle: 120 degrees (controls light and shadow direction; recommended to check "Use Global Light" to ensure consistent lighting with other styles)
   • Altitude: 30 degrees (controls the tilt degree of the bevel, affecting the visual angle of the three-dimensional effect)
   • Gloss Contour: Use default custom contour (or adjust based on needs; default settings are sufficient for basic gold texture)
   • Highlight Mode: Normal, color #fbc942 (gold highlight, simulating metal reflection effect, enhancing gold texture), opacity 100%
   • Shadow Mode: Normal, color #241201 (dark brown shadow, contrasting with highlights to emphasize three-dimensional layers), opacity 100%
4. Confirm style settings: Click the "OK" button to apply the "Bevel and Emboss" layer style. The text will now initially present a metallic three-dimensional effect.

Step 5: Set Text Layer Fill to 0%

1. Find the "Fill" parameter: In the "Layers" panel, on the right side of the text layer, there are two parameters: "Opacity" and "Fill" ("Fill" only affects layer content, not layer styles).
2. Adjust fill value: Change the "Fill" parameter from 100% to 0%. The text's original color will disappear, but the previously added "Bevel and Emboss" layer style will remain. The text will now be completely presented with the metallic texture's light and shadow effects, making the gold texture more pure.

4. Tutorial Extensions and Optimization Suggestions

1. Additional layer styles: To enhance the gold texture, you can additionally check "Gradient Overlay" (using gold gradient series like #f9d423 to #e67e22) or "Satin" (setting gold sheen to enhance metal reflection) in "Layer Styles."
2. Adjust text details: If text edges are not smooth enough, check "Anti-aliasing" in the "Characters" panel (choose "Sharp" or "Smooth" to suit screen display).
3. Application scenario extension: The completed gold metallic text can be saved in PSD format (for easy subsequent modifications) or exported as PNG (transparent background, can be overlaid on other posters or images) or JPG format (for direct use).

5. FAQ

1. Q: Why set the text layer "Fill" to 0%? A: Setting "Fill" to 0% hides the text's original color, retaining only the layer styles (such as the light and shadow of bevel and emboss), making the metallic texture's light and shadow effects more prominent and avoiding interference from the text's base color with the gold texture presentation.
2. Q: After replacing fonts, do "Bevel and Emboss" parameters need adjustment? A: If replacing with non-bold fonts (such as regular fonts), it's recommended to appropriately reduce "Depth" (like 800%) and "Size" (like 8 pixels) to avoid overly exaggerated three-dimensional effects. If the font is larger, correspondingly increase the "Size" parameter to ensure the bevel effect fits the font size.
3. Q: Can gradient background colors be modified? A: Yes. To match different scenarios, you can change the foreground color to dark brown (#2c1b0e), dark blue (#1a237e), etc., while keeping the background color black or dark. This still highlights the gold text texture, as long as there's sufficient contrast between background and text.