How to Create an Easy Neon Text Effect With Layer Styles in Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a nice acid text effect, using layer styles.

This effect is a part of my text style pack on GraphicRiver.

Introduction

The following assets will be used during this tutorial:

• Intro font

Before you start creating own text mock-up, download and install the font. It will help you to get the same result.

1. How to Create the Pattern

Step 1

Open Photoshop (I use Photoshop CS6), go to File > New, and create a new 6 x 6 px document (the Background Contents should be Transparent).

Step 2

Switch to the Pencil Tool, set the size to 1 px, and draw diagonal lines.

Step 3

Press Control-A to select the image and go to Edit > Define Pattern. Type DL Pattern in the Name field.

The pattern has been added to the library and will be used in the next step.

2. How to Create the Background

Step 1

Create a new 4000 x 1420 px document with resolution of 300 pixels/inch. Set Background Content as Transparent.

Step 2

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient, and type Background in the Name field.

Step 3

Photoshop will open a new dialog. Click on the Gradient box to create the gradient fill using the colors #535353 to the left and #373737 to the right. After that, click on the OK button.

Step 4

Select Background and go to Layer > Group Layers (or press Control-G). Rename its group to Background and close it.

3. How to Create the Text Smart Object

This will help you to change the text in a few clicks.

Step 1

Pick the Type Tool(T) and select the Intro font. Set the Font Size around 230 pt. Write "ACID" in capital letters. The color of the text is not important.

Step 2

Select the ACID layer, press Control-A, pick the Move Tool, and press Align vertical center and Align horizontal center. It will move the text layer to the center of our document.

Step 3

Make sure that the ACID layer is selected. Double-click with your mouse on the layer name and change it to Text Layer. Press Enter to apply the change.

Step 4

Go to Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object (or right-click on the Text Layer and choose Convert to Smart Object).

Step 5

Pick this Smart Object and duplicate it four times. As a result, there will be five copies of the Smart Object. Rename each layer from the top to the bottom using the template: Text_[number]. Select all smart objects and group them. Change the name of the group to Text.

4. How to Create the Text_1 Layer Styles

Let's start from the top to the bottom.

Step 1

First of all, change the Fill Opacity to 0.

Step 2

Double-click the Text_1 layer to apply the following layer style. Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Overlay
• Opacity: 100%
• Click on Pattern and select the pattern that we created earlier
• Scale: 100% 

As a result, you should have the next image:

5. How to Create the Text_2 Layer Styles

Right-click the text layer and choose Blending Options to create the Layer Style.

Step 1

Change the Fill Opacity to 0.

Step 2

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 20 px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Gradient
• Gradient: from #001100 to #00450b
• Style: Linear
  
• Angle: 90°
• Scale: 100%
• Uncheck the Reverse and the Dither

Step 3

Now add an Inner Glow:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Noise: 0%
• Color: #ffa81f
• Technique: Softer
• Source: Edge
• Choke: 100%
• Size: 10 px
• Uncheck the Anti-aliased
• Range: 100 %
• Jitter: 0%

Step 4

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Uncheck the Reverse and the Dither
• Opacity: 100%
• Click on the Gradient and set: #aede00 at 0%, #759b00 at 50%, #cdfc00 at 51% and #cdfc00 at 100%
• Style: Linear
• Angle: 90°
• Scale: 100 px

The text should look close to this one:

6. How to Create the Text_3 Layer Styles

Double-click the Text_3 layer to apply the layer style. Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 30 px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #00450b 

The result of this step:

7. How to Create the Text_4 Layer Styles

Right-click the text layer and choose Blending Options to create the Layer Style.

Step 1

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 50 px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Gradient
• Gradient: from #ad036d to #e4024d
• Style: Linear
  
• Angle: 90°
• Scale: 100%
• Uncheck the Reverse and the Dither

Step 2

Now add a Drop Shadow:

• Blending Mode: Normal
• Pick the color #000000
• Opacity:  13%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 135°
• Distance: 20 px
• Spread: 100%
• Size: 60

Result:

8. How to Create the Text_5 Layer Styles

Before you add the text styles, pick this layer and move it down by 20 px.

Step 1

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 70 px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Gradient
• Gradient: from #75064b to #991641
• Style: Linear
  
• Angle: 90°
• Scale: 100%
• Uncheck the Reverse and the Dither

Step 2

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Blending Mode: Normal
• Pick the color #000000
• Opacity: 40%
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 135°
• Distance: 60 px
• Spread: 100%
• Size: 45 

Congratulations, You're Done!

The acid text effect is ready. Here is the final image. I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. 

Don't forget to share your result with us.

By the way, if you want to change the text, double-click on the Smart Object icon, and Photoshop will open a new PSB file. Change the text, go to File > Save to save changes and File > Close to close this file. After that, you will get an updated file with a new word.

You can purchase this effect as a part of my text style pack on GraphicRiver.