How to Make Shiny Text in Photoshop (The Easy Way)

Update: I first wrote this how-to about 3-4 years ago. And although the techniques are still valid my eye for design has evolved. So, you can still use all these techniques, just be careful not to overdo it, what looked good to me four years ago looks blurry now, so subtle effects is the key. ThanksREAD FIRST: This is an old school, quick and dirty technique. I've long since not used this technique and also use Illustrator a lot more. However, I still consider this to be the absolute easiest way to quickly make shiny text. If you're making quick one-off web graphics, go for it.This may be the most simplistic way to make shiny text, shape or anything in Photoshop.Difficulty: Moderately EasyStep 1 Open up Photoshop and create a New Document (Ctrl+N), doesn't matter what size. In general it's always good to use a transparent background when working on a graphic, so you have options later. Also, if you're designing for the web the standard is to use a resolution of 72-96 and 300 for print. But, we're just practicing right, moving on...Step 2 Select the Text Tool and add some text.Step 3 Right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and select Rasterize Type.Step 4 Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and run it across the top half of the text. Now go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and for Brightness add about +20 to +30 and click OK.Step 5 Now, there are other little things like adding an Outer Glow and Inner Glow and Stroking the text to enhance the shininess a little more. You could also try Gradients and other little Shadowing and Texture tricks.Tips & Warnings - Keep going, keep playing around with different settings, you'll get it - If at all you have any trouble or questions about this how-to or find any errors, please comment and I'll work to update and resolve the article so it's more thorough and understandableThanks for reading, Bryan

Update: I first wrote this how-to about 3-4 years ago. And although the techniques are still valid my eye for design has evolved. So, you can still use all these techniques, just be careful not to overdo it, what looked good to me four years ago looks blurry now, so subtle effects is the key. Thanks

READ FIRST: This is an old school, quick and dirty technique. I’ve long since not used this technique and also use Illustrator a lot more. However, I still consider this to be the absolute easiest way to quickly make shiny text. If you’re making quick one-off web graphics, go for it.

This may be the most simplistic way to make shiny text, shape or anything in Photoshop.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Open up Photoshop and create a New Document (Ctrl+N), doesn’t matter what size. In general it’s always good to use a transparent background when working on a graphic, so you have options later. Also, if you’re designing for the web the standard is to use a resolution of 72-96 and 300 for print. But, we’re just practicing right, moving on…

Step 2

Select the Text Tool and add some text.

Step 3

Right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and select Rasterize Type.

Step 4

Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and run it across the top half of the text. Now go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and for Brightness add about +20 to +30 and click OK.

Step 5

Now, there are other little things like adding an Outer Glow and Inner Glow and Stroking the text to enhance the shininess a little more. You could also try Gradients and other little Shadowing and Texture tricks.

Tips & Warnings

- Keep going, keep playing around with different settings, you’ll get it
- If at all you have any trouble or questions about this how-to or find any errors, please comment and I’ll work to update and resolve the article so it’s more thorough and understandable

Thanks for reading, Bryan

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