An amethyst is a stunning violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. This tutorial will show you how to use Photoshop's filters, brush settings, and a bunch of different layer styles to create a dazzling amethyst geode inspired text effect. Let's get started!
This text effect was inspired by the many Layer Styles available on GraphicRiver.
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:
- Aller Display font
- Stone Texture - Seamless by AGF81
- Light Texture 1 by chevelledesu
1. How to Create a Smart Object Layer
Step 1
Create a new 1050 x 700 px document with a White background, duplicate the Background layer, and rename the copy to Pattern Texture.
Step 2
Right-click the Pattern Texture layer and choose Convert to Smart Object, and set the Foreground and Background Colors to Black and White.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Render > Fiber, and set the Variance to 16 and the Strength to 4.
2. How to Create a Pattern Texture Using Filters
Step 1
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery to apply these filters:
Sketch > Bas Relief
- Detail: 13
- Smoothness: 3
- Light: Bottom
Step 2
Click the New effect layer icon in the bottom right corner to add another filter.
Texture > Stained Glass
- Cell Size: 6
- Border Thickness: 3
- Light Intensity: 3
Step 3
Add another new effect layer.
Artistic > Plastic Wrap
- Highlight Strength: 15
- Detail: 9
- Smoothness: 7
Step 4
Go to Edit > Define Pattern, and type Pattern Texture in the Name field.
Step 5
Open the Stone Texture - Seamless image, go to Edit > Define Pattern, and type Stone Pattern in the Name field.
3. How to Create a Background Layer
Step 1
Create a new 1050 x 700 px document, click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Gradient.
Create the fill using the Colors#474747 to the left, #313131 in the middle, and #272727 to the right.
Change the Style to Radial and the Scale to 250, and check the Dither box.
Step 2
Place the Light Texture 1 image on top of the Gradient layer. You can resize it as you need, but here it is kept quite large so that it extends outside the canvas, and only a part of it is used over the background.
Change the layer's name to BG Texture and its Blend Mode to Soft Light.
Step 3
Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, and change the Hue to 75, the Saturation to -80, and the Lightness to -10.
4. How to Create Text Layers
Step 1
Create the text in All Caps using the font Aller Display. Change the Size to 250 pt, the Tracking to 75, and the Color to #5c3667.
Step 2
Duplicate the text layer, and change the copy's Fill value to 0.
Step 3
Duplicate the copy text layer.
5. How to Style the First Text Layer
Double-click the original text layer to apply the following layer style:
Step 1
Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Size: 27
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 146
- Altitude: 53
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode: Linear Light
- Opacity: 75%
- Shadow Mode: Color Burn
- Color:
#010101 - Opacity: 50%
- Color:
Step 2
Add a Contour with these settings:
- Contour: Cone - Inverted
- Check the Anti-aliased box.
- Range: 100%
Step 3
Add a Texture with these settings:
- Pattern: Pattern Texture
- Check the Invert box
Step 4
Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:
- Opacity: 50%
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 128
- Distance: 6
- Size: 15
This will style the first text layer.
6. How to Style the Second Text Layer
Double-click the first copy text layer to apply the following layer style:
Step 1
Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Size: 27
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 7
- Altitude: 48
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode:
- Color:
#dbdfe3 - Opacity: 75%
- Color:
- Shadow Mode: Color Burn
- Color:
#010101 - Opacity: 50%
- Color:
Step 2
Add a Texture with these settings:
- Pattern: Pattern Texture
- Check the Invert box
This will style the second text layer.
7. How to Style the Third Text Layer
Double-click the second copy text layer to apply a Bevel and Emboss effect with these settings:
- Size: 49
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: -158
- Altitude: 0
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode: Vivid Light
- Color:
#ece7f0 - Opacity: 50%
- Color:
- Shadow Mode:
- Opacity: 0%
This will style the third text layer.
8. How to Quickly Organize Layers
Step 1
Place all the text layers in a group and name it Text Layers.
Step 2
Duplicate the first copy text layer, drag it outside and on top of the Text Layers group, rename it to Top, and change its Opacity to 35%.
9. How to Create and Save Simple Fill Brush Tips
Step 1
Pick the Brush Tool and open the Brush panel. Choose the Hard Square 16 pixels brush tip and modify its settings as below:
Brush Tip Shape
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Step 2
Click the Create new brush icon in the bottom right corner of the Brush panel, and type Fill Brush 01 in the Name field.
Step 3
With the same brush tip selected, modify the settings as below to create a variation of it:
Brush Tip Shape
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Step 4
Save the modified tip with the name Fill Brush 02.
Step 5
Modify the settings as below to create another variation of the same brush tip:
Brush Tip Shape
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Step 6
Save the modified tip with the name Fill Brush 03.
10. How to Fill the Text Using Different Brush Tips
Step 1
Create three new layers, and name them 01, 02, and 03 from bottom to top.
Step 2
Select the layer 01, and pick the Fill Brush 01 tip. Click-drag slightly over the text to add the brush.
Step 3
Select the layer 02, and fill the text using the Fill Brush 02 tip.
Step 4
Select the layer 03, and fill the text using the Fill Brush 03 tip.
Step 5
Create one more new layer on top of all layers, name it 03 copy, and fill the text again with the Fill Brush 03 tip.
Step 6
Select all the brush fill layers, and change their Fill value to 0.
11. How to Create the Main Fill Style
Double-click the 01 layer to apply the following layer style:
Step 1
Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Technique: Chisel Hard
- Size: 6
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode: Linear Light
- Color:
#fbfbfb - Opacity: 100%
- Color:
- Shadow Mode: Color Burn
- Color:
#010101 - Opacity: 50%
- Color:
Step 2
Add a Contour with these settings:
- Contour: Cone - Inverted
- Check the Anti-aliased box.
- Range: 100%
Step 3
Add a Texture with these settings:
- Pattern: Leaves
- Depth: 50%
- Check the Invert box
Step 4
Add a Color Overlay with these settings:
- Color:
#62466d
Step 5
Right-click the styled layer, and choose Copy Layer Style. Select the rest of the brush fill layers, right-click any of them, and choose Paste Layer Style.
12. How to Tweak Layer Style Settings
Step 1
Double-click the 02 layer, uncheck the Texture effect, and change its Bevel and EmbossHighlight Mode's Opacity value to 50%.
This will style the second fill layer.
You can hide and show the fill layers if you like to see the difference each time you modify a layer style.
Step 2
Double-click the 03 layer, uncheck the Texture effect, and change its Bevel and Emboss values as below:
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 24
- Altitude: 37
- Highlight Mode: Vivid Light
This will style the third fill layer.
Step 3
Double-click the 03 copy layer, uncheck the Texture effect, and change the following values:
Bevel and Emboss:
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 56
- Altitude: 32
- Highlight Mode: Vivid Light
- Opacity: 50%
Step 4
Contour:
- Contour: Cone - Asymmetrical
This will style the last fill layer.
Step 5
Move the Top text layer on top of all the brush fill layers, place it with them in a group, and name it Inside.
13. How to Create a Spiky Brush Tip
Step 1
Create a new 100 x 100 px document.
Pick the Polygon Tool, and set the Sides to 3 in the Options bar. Create an upside-down triangle shape in the document.
Step 2
Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), and click-drag the bottom anchor point downwards to elongate the triangle a little bit.
Step 3
Move the anchor points and scale the triangle's sides down until you get a spike shape that you like.
Step 4
Go to Edit > Define Brush Preset, and type Edges in the Name field.
14. How to Create and Save Stroke Brush Tips
Step 1
Pick the Brush Tool and open the Brush panel. Choose the Hard Square 12 pixels brush tip and modify its settings as below:
Brush Tip Shape
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Step 2
Save the modified tip with the name Stroke 01.
Step 3
Choose the Edges brush tip and modify its settings as below:
Brush Tip Shape
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Step 4
Save the modified tip with the name Stroke 02.
15. How to Create a Work Path Stroke
Step 1
Right-click any of the text layers and choose Create Work Path.
Step 2
Create three new layers and name them Stroke 01, Stroke 01 copy, and Stroke 02 from bottom to top.
Step 3
Select the Stroke 01 layer, pick the Stroke 01 brush tip, and hit the Return key once to stroke the path.
Step 4
Select the Stroke 01 copy layer, and hit the Return key again to stroke the path with the same brush tip.
Step 5
Select the Stroke 02 layer, pick the Stroke 02 brush tip, and hit the Return key to stroke the path.
Hit the Backspace key to get rid of the work path.
16. How to Style the Stroke Layers
Double-click the Stroke 01 layer to apply the following layer style:
Step 1
Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Technique: Chisel Hard
- Size: 6
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 56
- Altitude: 32
- Gloss Contour: Cone - Inverted
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode: Vivid Light
- Color:
#edf0f2 - Opacity: 100%
- Color:
- Shadow Mode: Color Burn
- Color:
#010101 - Opacity: 50%
- Color:
Step 2
Add a Contour with these settings:
- Check the Anti-aliased box.
Step 3
Add a Texture with these settings:
- Pattern: Pattern Texture
- Check the Invert box
Step 4
Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Color Burn
- Color:
#010101 - Opacity: 100%
- Distance: 0
- Size: 5
Step 5
Add a Color Overlay with these settings:
- Color:
#dbd3e0
Step 6
Right-click the styled layer and choose Copy Layer Style. Select the rest of the stroke layers, right-click any of them, and choose Paste Layer Style.
17. How to Tweak Layer Style Settings
Step 1
Double-click the Stroke 01 copy layer to adjust these Bevel and Emboss settings:
- Angle: 170
- Altitude: 32
- Highlight Mode:
- Opacity: 50%
This will adjust the effect.
Step 2
Double-click the Stroke 02 layer to adjust these Bevel and Emboss settings:
- Angle: 53
- Altitude: 37
- Gloss Contour: Cove - Deep
This will create a more dynamic result.
Step 3
Place all the stroke layers in a group and name it Stroke.
18. How to Create a Back Stroke
Step 1
Create a new layer on top of the BG Texture, name it Back Stroke 01, duplicate it, and name the copy Back Stroke 02.
Right-click any text layer and choose Create Work Path.
Step 2
Select the Back Stroke 01 layer and pick the Brush Tool.
Choose a hard round 20 px brush tip, and hit the Return key to stroke the path.
Step 3
Open the Brush panel to adjust these brush tip's settings:
Brush Tip Shape
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Step 4
Select the Back Stroke 02 layer and hit the Return key to stroke the work path with the modified tip.
Hit the Backspace key to get rid of the work path.
Step 5
Command-click any text layer's thumbnail to load a selection.
Step 6
Select the Back Stroke 01 layer, press-hold the Option key, and click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add an inverted layer mask.
19. How to Style the First Back Stroke Layer
Double-click the Back Stroke 01 layer to apply the following layer style:
Step 1
Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:
- Size: 8
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 90
- Altitude: 26
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode: Vivid Light
Step 2
Add a Contour with these settings:
- Contour: Cove - Deep
- Check the Anti-aliased box.
Step 3
Add a Texture with these settings:
- Pattern: Leaves
- Scale: 50%
Step 4
Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:
- Pattern: Stone Pattern
- Scale: 25%
Step 5
Add an Outer Glow with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Soft Light
- Opacity: 35%
- Color:
#ffffff - Size: 50
Right-click the Back Stroke 01 layer, and choose Copy Layer Style. Right-click the Back Stroke 02 layer, and choose Paste Layer Style.
20. How to Modify the Second Back Stroke Layer Style
Double-click the Back Stroke 02 layer to modify its layer style using these settings:
Step 1
Add an Outer Glow with these settings:
- Blend Mode: Multiply
- Opacity: 55%
- Color:
#aaaaaa - Size: 75
Step 2
Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:
- Opacity: 75%
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 113
- Distance: 19
- Size: 20
Step 3
Click the + icon to add another Drop Shadow effect with these settings:
- Opacity: 35%
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle: 120
- Distance: 50
- Size: 50
This will style the second back stroke layer.
21. How to Add Global Adjustments
Step 1
Create a new layer on top of all layers, name it Noise, and go to Edit > Fill.
Set the Contents to 50% Gray and click OK.
Step 2
Right-click the Noise layer and choose Convert to Smart Object, and change its Blend Mode to Soft Light.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise, and change the Amount to 3 and the Distribution to Uniform.
Step 4
Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose Brightness/Contrast.
Change the layer's Blend Mode to Luminosity, and change the Contrast value to 10.
Step 5
Duplicate the BG Texture layer, and place the copy on top of all layers.
Expand the copy's Filter list and double-click the Hue/Saturation tab to change the Saturation value to -100.
Step 6
Double-click the BG Texture copy layer to adjust its Blending Options.
We are going to adjust the Underlying Layer sliders under the Blend If section.
Press-hold the Option key, and click-drag the right slider to split it. As you move the slider's ends, you'll notice how the texture will affect only the darker areas below it. Keep moving the sliders until you get a result you like.
Step 7
Add a Photo Filter adjustment layer, choose Sepia from the Filter menu, and change the Density to 7.
Congratulations! You're Done
In this tutorial, we created a pattern texture using filters, and saved a bunch of brush tips.
Then, we created text layers, styled them, and used the brushes to create fill and stroke layers for the text. After that, we used many different layer style settings to style the brush layers in order to achieve the geode effect.
Finally, we added a couple of global adjustments to finish off the effect. Please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions, and outcomes below.
