Easy Metallic Chrome text effect | Affinity Photo Tutorial
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Introduction
In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to create a stunning metallic chrome text effect using Affinity Photo. This effect will give your text a shiny, reflective appearance that stands out. Let's get started!
Step 1: Create a New Document
- Open Affinity Photo and press
F
to create a new document. - Choose the template size of 1920 x 1080 pixels, or customize it as per your needs. It's best to start with a black background, so you can easily see the chrome effect.
- To set a black background, go to Layer > New > Fill Layer and select black.
Step 2: Add Text
- Select the Text Tool by pressing
T
. - Choose the DemiBold font (or any font you prefer) and set the size to 300 px with a gray color. For the gray color, set your RGB values to 128.
- Type your desired text (for instance, your username) and center it in the document.
Step 3: Apply Layer Effects
- Right-click on the text layer and select Layer Effects.
- Check Inner Shadow and link the chain icon. Set both offsets to 0 for maximum coverage.
- Choose the shadow profile you like; the fourth option is recommended.
- Set the direction to 804, shadow darkness to 50, and the second shade to 15. Adjust these settings to your liking and close the effects panel.
Step 4: Group the Text Layer
To keep things organized, group the text layer by pressing Ctrl + G
and rename the group to "Text".
Step 5: Create Gradient Layer
- Create a new layer by pressing
Shift + Ctrl + N
. - Select the Gradient Tool by pressing
G
. Ensure you're using the gradient and not the paint bucket tool. - Hold
Shift
to draw the gradient across the canvas. - Set the layer blend mode to Overlay.
Step 6: Adjust Gradient Map
- Add a Gradient Map adjustment layer.
- For the gradient, set the left color to black, the right to white, and choose any color for the middle (we recommend blue).
- Close the gradient map settings when you're satisfied with the colors.
Step 7: Refine the Effect with Curves
- With the gradient layer selected, go to Adjustment > Curves.
- Add five new points to create a wave pattern, adjusting the curve to your preference.
- Once you're done, exit out of the curves adjustment.
Step 8: Final Touches
To smooth out rough edges:
- Duplicate the text layer by selecting it and pressing
Ctrl + J
. - Drag the duplicated layer to the top of the layer stack.
- Set the duplicated layer's opacity to 0 and apply an Outline effect with a radius of 2.
- Set the outline to position from the Outside to Center.
Now you should have a beautiful metallic chrome text effect!
Keywords
- Affinity Photo
- Metallic Chrome Effect
- Text Layer
- Gradient
- Layer Effects
- Curves Adjustment
FAQ
Q: What software do I need to create a metallic chrome text effect?
A: You will need Affinity Photo to follow this tutorial.
Q: Can I use different fonts for this effect?
A: Yes, feel free to use any font that you prefer.
Q: What should I do if the gradient effect doesn't look right?
A: Make sure you're using the right colors and check the gradient settings. Adjust the gradient curve if necessary.
Q: Can I customize the colors of the chrome effect?
A: Absolutely! You can choose any colors you like during the gradient adjustment phase.
Q: Why should I group the text layer?
A: Grouping helps keep your layers organized, making it easier to manage the project.