How to Create a Cartoon Gradient Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial I want to show you how to create a gradient text effect in Adobe Photoshop. If you want to get the final result without any effort, you can buy it on GraphicRiver.

This pack includes different text effects and works with shapes and text.

Tutorial Assets

The following assets will be used during this tutorial:

• Great Vibes font

Before you start creating this text effect, download and install the font.

1. How to Create the Layer Styles

Step 1

Open Photoshop, and go to File > New to create a new document.

Step 2

Fill the document using #282828color. Pick the Type Tool (T) with these settings:

• Font: Great Vibes
• Font Size: 127 pt
• Color: White
• The tracking for the selection characters: -25

Step 3

Write "Fairy" (the first letter should be capital) and place it in the center of the Photoshop document (pressControl-Ato select the document, and then pick theMove Tool (V)and click on theAlign Vertical CenterandAlign Horizontal Centericons).

Step 4

Double-click the text layer to apply the following layer style.

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 7 px
• Position:Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #ff0084

Then click OK to save changes.

Step 5

Select the Fairy layer, go to Layer > Duplicate Layer, and name the layer "Middle". Click OK to create the layer. Pick the Move Tool (V) and move it up and left by 7 px. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Clear Layer Style to clean the layer styles. Change the color to#c6c6c6.

Step 6

Then double-click with your mouse on the text layer to open the Layer Style window.

Add a Stroke with these settings:

• Size: 4 px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #8c054a

Step 7

Now add anInner Glow:

• Blend Mode: Overlay
• Opacity: 50%
• Noise: 0%
• Color: #ffffff
• Technique: Softer
• Source: Edge
• Choke: 100%
• Size: 4 px
• Contour: Linear
• UncheckAnti-aliased
• Range: 100%
• Jitter: 0%

Step 8

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Gradient: from #f6b6ce to #e35b9b
• Style: Reflected
• Angle: 90°
• Scale: 46%
• UncheckReverseandDither
• CheckAlign with Layer

Step 9

Add aDrop Shadowwith these settings:

• Blending Mode: Normal
• Pick the color#840048
• Opacity:100%
• UncheckUse Global Light boxbefore setting theAngle:135°
• Distance: 10 px
• Spread:100%
• Size:0 px
• Contour: Linear
• UncheckAnti-aliased
  
• Noise: 0%
• CheckLayer Knocks Out Drop Shadow

Click OK to save changes.

Step 10

Select the Middle layer and duplicate it. Double-click on the name and change it to "Front". Press Enter to apply the settings. Pick the Move Tool (V) and move it up by 5 px and left by 1 px. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Clear Layer Style to clean the layer styles.

Step 11

Make sure that the Front layer is selected.Double-click with your mouse on the layer to apply the following layer style. Set the Fill Opacity to 0%.

Step 12

Add a Stroke:

• Size: 7 px
• Position: Inside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 0%
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #000000

Step 13

Add a Color Overlaywith these settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Color: #ffffff
• Opacity: 40%

Then clickOKto save changes.

Step 14

Select the layers Fairy, Middle and Front, go to Layer > MergeLayers (or press Control-E) to merge them into one.

Step 15

Double-click the text layer to apply the following layer style.

Add a Stroke:

• Size: 10 px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #000000

Step 16

Now add anOuter Glow:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Noise: 0%
• Color: #ffffff
• Technique: Softer
• Choke: 100%
• Size: 14 px
• Contour: Linear
• UncheckAnti-aliased
• Range: 100%
• Jitter: 0%

Step 17

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Blending Mode: Normal
• Pick the color#000000
• Opacity:30%
• UncheckUse Global Light boxbefore setting theAngle:135°
• Distance: 35px
• Spread:0%
• Size:0 px
• Contour: Linear
• UncheckAnti-aliased
  
• Noise: 0%
• CheckLayer Knocks Out Drop Shadow

ClickOKto save changes.

Congratulations, You're Done!

In this tutorial you learned how to create a piece of fairytale text. Hope you like it. Don't forget to share your result with us.

This text effect we have just created is a part ofmy text style pack on GraphicRiver.