In this tutorial, I will show you how to make 3D spectacular text effect using simple techniques from Xara3D and Photoshop. We’ll use Xara3D to create the text and Photoshop to decorate the text with different brushes. Let’s get started!

Start by creating each letter separately in a 3D program, I use Xara3D (download the Xara3D 6 trial to your Desktop, run the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions), and import them into a Photoshop document.

Create a new file in Xara3D and then start representing by one figure of the next year (2010)

Select for the beginning the text options by clicking on the Text Options icon:

… and then the Color options:

… set the Extrusion options:

Also the Bevel Options

… finally the Shadow Options:

Then we have to set also the angle of the figures’ position on the file and the light:

Choose after that the Export to File option and save each character:

Create a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1920px by 1200px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Using the Rectangle Tool (U), let’s represent a big rectangle reserved for background we want to have.

For this layer click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay:

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next background:

Import the earlier saved figures into a Photoshop document. Keep each figure in its own layer, and then arrange them around each other, in whatever way looks good to you.

For the layer containing the first ‘0′ figure we’ll adjust the Hue/Saturation (CTRL+U) settings. Click and drag the Hue slider to change the color of the selected figure

We’ve got the next color for first ‘0′ figure:

Next we’ll represent four new layers (Create new layer) for each figure and select Hard Round brush of white color from Brush Tool (B)

and paint very accurately the frontal parts of the figures as shown:

Each layer must have different Layer Style. For the layer contain ‘2′ figure, click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay:

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next gradient for ‘2′ figure:

Set the Layer Style >Gradient Overlay for the ‘0′ figure as shown:

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next gradient for ‘0′ figure:

Set the Layer Style >Gradient Overlay for the ‘1′ figure as shown:

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next gradient for ‘1′ figure:

Set the Layer Style > Gradient Overlay for the very last figure:

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next gradients for figures:

This spectacular 3D effect is great for things like club flyers and postcards used to promote big events.

Create a new layer and using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) represent several lines the way it is represented below. Firstly let’s represent the rectangular selection and then choose the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill the selection with white color.

Next select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) and place the lines’ layer exactly the way it is shown below:

Set the Fill to 40%. Make three copies of the layer containing the lines. The copies will be used for other figures:

Click on the lines’ layer to make it active on the Layers panel, hold CTRL button and click on the frontal figure’s layer contain the gradient; there will be a selection of this layer:

Click on the bottom part of the Layers panel on Add a Mask icon and the lines will be cut around the figure:

This operation should be done for the rest of the figures. Choose the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to place the copies’ layers with lines above the other figures. We’ve got the next effect on the figures:

Next step we’ll download a set of brushes for in Adobe Photoshop, named: Floral and Floral ornaments . Create a new layer and go to Brush Tool (B), select the next brushes from downloaded set – Floral.

Apply brushes as shown:

Then make the layer containing the ornaments active, holding CTRL+SHIFT click on the frontal layer contain gradient of each figure and there we’ll have the selection of the figures’ layers:

Click on the bottom part of the Layers panel on Add a Mask icon and the ornaments will cut out around the figures:

Set the Fill to 68% for the layers contain the ornaments and change Blending mode to Luminosity

Select Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown:

Take now the Custom Shape Tool (U) to represent several snowflakes on the figures:

Choose a different Fill value for the snowflakes’ layers, getting this way the next demonstrated result:

This way we can represent the snowflakes on the rest of the figures:

Combine in a group all the layers composing the snowflakes above the ‘2′ figure (press CTRL button to select the corresponding layers and then hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create new group icon from bottom part of the Layers panel). Set the Opacity to 59% for the made group.

Next we have to combine in a group all the layers composing the figures, snowflakes, brushes’ ornaments, the lines and the Curves adjustment layer (press CTRL button to select the corresponding layers and then hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create new group icon from bottom part of the Layers panel). Create a new layer and go to Brush Tool (B), select the next brushes from downloaded set – Floral_ornaments. Foreground color is white.

Apply brushes as shown. This layer needs to be placed lower than the figures’ group, Curves adjustment layer, the brushes’ ornaments and snowflakes.

Find a stock photo of a flower, like the one from below:

Cut out the flower and insert it on a new layer. Using the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) we can make smaller the flower’s dimension, placing it the way from below.

The flower’s layer will be placed lower than the figures’ group:

Make four copies of the last made layer with the flower and select Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to place the copies the same way demonstrated below. The copies’ layers will be placed lower than the figures’ group, but above the brushes (from Floral _ornament set).

Next we must apply the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw a circle lower than the earlier represented figures’ group, brushes’ layers and the flowers layers.

Set the Fill to 0% for the layer with circle and go to Layer Style >Stroke

We’ve got the next circle:

Next we’ll make copies of the layer with the circle and choose Free Transform (Ctrl+T) click on Maintain Aspect Ratio in Options bar to make smaller proportionally each following circle:

Combine in a group all the layers with the circles (press CTRL button to select the corresponding layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create a new group icon from bottom part of Layers panel). Make four copies of the group we’ve got and select again Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to change the copies’ sizes, placing them under the characters’ layers:

Select a different Fill value on the groups’ copies of the circles: