Creating 3D text in Photoshop can help you enhance images and videos, giving them a new dimension and depth. It may seem challenging for beginners, but we’ll walk you through the two most straightforward methods.
Whether making 3D text using Photoshop CS6 Extended or CC, follow along as we go through the steps to master the process quickly.
Before jumping into the 3D text Photoshop tutorial, let’s see the benefits of using this raster graphics editor.
In this article
Why Use Photoshop to Make 3D Text
The most notable reasons to make 3D text in Photoshop include:
- Non-destructive editing – Photoshop lets you create and edit individual layers without affecting the original image. That makes it perfect for adding 3D text to existing visuals because they remain unchanged while editing the text layer.
- Various layer styles – You can seamlessly customize your 3D text style in Photoshop. You can apply a color or gradient overlay, drop shadow, inner glow, texture, and other blending options to add depth to your 3D text effect.
- Extensive plugin support – Photoshop is compatible with many add-ons for streamlining designs. You can install a 3D text Photoshop plugin to add customizable effects and actions to your library. A ready-made, editable 3D text Photoshop mockup can make your work a walk in the park.
Whether you download Photoshop 3D text effects PSD files or make a custom design, Photoshop gives you creative freedom, providing many helpful tools beyond 3D text editing.
Let’s see how to make 3D text in Photoshop.
How to Make 3D Text in Photoshop
You can create 3D text in Photoshop by extruding text from a type layer or recording an action to apply specific effects. Here are the steps for each.
Method 1: Using 3D Extrusion
Extruding text from a selected type layer means turning it into a 3D layer. Here’s how to make 3D letters in Photoshop using extrusion:
Step 1: Create a new Photoshop document, ensuring the Color Mode is RGB. Otherwise, you can’t extrude text in Photoshop.
Step 2: Activate the Type tool and set the font and size.
Step 3: Open the Color Picker and select the text color.
Step 4: Type your (future) 3D letters in Photoshop and adjust their position using the Move tool. Then, right-click the text layer in the Layers panel.
Step 5: Click New 3D Extrusion from Selected Layer.
Step 6: Click Yes in the dialog box to switch to the 3D workspace.
Step 7: Right-click the background layer in the Layers panel and click Postcard.
Step 8: Long-press the Shift key and click both layers to select them. Then, release the Shift key and use the Ctrl + E shortcut (or Command + E on macOS) to merge the layers.
Step 9: Switch to the 3D panel and click the text layer to select it.
Step 10: Go to the Properties panel to browse Photoshop 3D styles under Shape Presets and pick your favorite.
Step 11: Return to the 3D panel and select your text layer. Then, hit the Light Bulb button at the bottom and click New Infinite Light. You can also change the material by selecting all the options under the 3D text layer (or clicking the third button at the top) and customizing them in Properties. For instance, you can create 3D metal text in Photoshop.
Step 12: Once you add a light source, adjust its direction to customize the shadows.
Step 13: Change the light source’s color, intensity, and shadow softness in the Properties panel. Then, click the 3D Render button at the bottom and wait until Photoshop processes the design (it will take a while).
Step 14: Once your 3D text style in Photoshop is ready, right-click the layer in the Layers panel and click Convert to Smart Object.
Step 15: Select Essentials in the Workspace drop-down list and save your 3D text Photoshop PSD file.
Pros and Cons of Using 3D Extrusion
Method 2: Using a 3D Text Action
Another method to create 3D letters in Photoshop is to record an action. That lets you apply specific changes to multiple text layers before merging them to create a 3D effect.
An alternative is to get a 3D text action Photoshop free download. Many sites offer editable templates with multiple mockup designs, saving time and effort.
Here’s how to create a 3D text action in Photoshop to turn letters into 3D:
Step 1: Create a new Photoshop document with preferred specifications (keep RGB as the Color Mode).
Step 2: Double-click the background layer to rename it for better organization. You can name it Top Layer to follow along better as we go through the steps.
Step 3: Activate the Type tool and choose the desired font. Adjust its size, style, and color, and type your text.
Step 4: Right-click the Top Layer and click Convert to Smart Object.
Step 5: Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer or hit Ctrl + J (or Command + J on macOS). Then, move the copy below the Top Layer and rename it to 3D Effect.
Step 6: Click Edit > Free Transform and adjust the Width and Height in the Options bar. Setting them to 99.9% is ideal because you’ll shortly create more identical layers to add depth. Then, thicken the text by dragging it to the right using the Move tool. Be careful not to overdo it because you don’t want blank space between the letters. The circled example below shows how NOT to leave the text.
Step 7: Go to Window > Actions > New Action (the Plus button) and pick a name like 3D Effect. Then, hit the Record button in the Actions panel and repeat Steps 5–6 (duplicating the Top Layer, moving the copy below it, and using Free Transform to resize and reposition the text). Once you finish, click the Stop button.
Step 8: Click the first 3D Effect layer and hit the Play button in the Actions panel multiple times (until you achieve the desired letter thickness). Then, use Shift to select all the copies and hit Ctrl + G (or Command + G on a Mac) to group them so they’ll morph into a 3D font Photoshop layer.
Step 9: Double-click the 3D Effect group and hit the fx button at the bottom of the Layers panel. You can now enrich your text with 3D Photoshop styles. First, add a Color Overlay and set Opacity to 50% (just a suggestion). Then, pick a color under Blend Mode.
Step 10: Click Inner Glow and customize the Structure, Elements, and Quality.
Step 11: Add an Inner Shadow and adjust the parameters. Click OK.
Step 12: Double-click the Top Layer and activate fx in the Layers panel. Add a Stroke and customize the settings to your liking.
Step 13: Apply an Inner Glow and adjust the parameters.
Step 14: Finally, add a Gradient Overlay with the desired settings and click OK.
Here’s the result of all our settings for a 3D layer style in Photoshop.
Pros and Cons of Using a 3D Text Action
Drawbacks of Creating 3D Text Effects in Photoshop
Photoshop is resource-hungry, requiring significant CPU and GPU usage. It also limits GPU functionality for older graphics cards and drivers and takes forever to render a 3D image.
Furthermore, creating a 3D text effect in Photoshop requires extensive, time-consuming customizations. Photoshop doesn’t have presets, templates, or straightforward navigation. It gives you a blank canvas, leaving you to find your way around. Its steep learning curve makes it challenging for beginners.
The software may be feature-rich, but it doesn’t have a user-friendly interface. You may spend hours making 3D text in Adobe Photoshop—precious time you could spend on other tasks like perfecting your videos.
Fortunately, there’s an alternative. Wondershare Filmora is an intuitive video editor with hundreds of text presets (including 3D letters) and animation styles. It also lets you create custom 3D text for videos and import Photoshop designs for a PIP overlay.
Choose from various text styles, including 3D text options and change the font, size, and color of your 3D texts.
The best part? Filmora isn’t resource-intensive. It offers fast rendering without consuming significant CPU or GPU resources. Its user-friendly interface makes it ideal for beginners, while its advanced functionalities (including many AI-powered features) make it the ultimate video editing software for all content creators. Here’s how to use its 3D text tools.
How to Add 3D Text to a Video [Filmora]
Adding 3D text to a video is a walk in the park with Filmora. Filmora is a powerful tool for adding engaging and visually appealing 3D text to videos, enhancing the overall quality and creativity of the content with extensive practical features.
Key Features for Adding 3D Text in Filmora
3D Title Options: Filmora provides a variety of pre-designed 3D text templates that can be easily added to your video projects.
Extensive Customization: You can customize the font style, size, color, and other text properties to create unique 3D text that fits your video’s theme.
Animation Effects: Filmora allows for the application of various animation effects, including entrance and exit animations, to make the 3D text dynamic and engaging.
Text Shadow and Bevel Effects: You can enhance the 3D appearance of text by applying shadow and bevel effects, adding depth and realism to the text.
Here are the steps for the three methods.
How to Add 3D Text Made in Photoshop to a Video
Whether you’ve customized a mockup from a 3D text effect Photoshop free download or created an original design, you can import your 3D text into Filmora to add to a video. However, Filmora doesn’t support PSD files, so convert it into a PNG format first and ensure it has a transparent background.
Follow these steps to add 3D text made in Photoshop to a video:
Step 1: Launch Filmora and create a New Project.
Step 2: Click File > Import Media > Import Media Files and choose a video and your PNG image with 3D text.
Step 3: Drag and drop the video onto the timeline and place the image on the track above.
Step 4: Click the 3D text picture on the timeline to select it and go to the Image tab in the Properties panel. Perform the desired edits, like adjusting the scale and position and animating the text (e.g., making it fade in or out).
Step 5: Change the Blend Mode and Opacity under Compositing. Then, add a Drop Shadow and Auto-Enhance your PIP overlay.
Step 6: Click Export to save the edited video to your device or share it directly on social media.
Step 6: Customize the output settings and hit Export.
How to Make 3D Text for a Video in Filmora With Presets
Filmora’s text presets can save you considerable time, helping you focus on what you do best—creating engaging videos. Here’s how to use presets to make 3D text:
Step 1: Once you import a video and drag it to the timeline, go to Titles and search for 3D Titles. Click your favorite to download it before dragging and dropping it onto a track above the video. You can add as many as you want, move them to different segments, and adjust their duration.
Step 2: Double-click your text layer to customize it. Change the default text, font, size, style, alignment, scale, and other settings and click Advanced.
Step 3: Adjust the 3D text effect’s speed and letter spacing. You can also add more text and switch to another 3D material preset.
Step 4: Modify the input text under Customize.
Step 5: Switch to the Animation tab to animate your 3D text.
Step 6: Click Save as Custom to reuse your 3D text for other videos. Name the preset and click OK. Then, hit Apply > OK.
Step 7: Find your saved 3D text under Titles > Mine > Custom.
How to Create Custom 3D Text for a Video in Filmora
Like Photoshop, Filmora supports adjustment layers for non-destructive editing. That makes it perfect for creating custom 3D text for videos. Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Import a video and drag it to the timeline. Then, go to Titles and drag and drop the desired one above your video track.
Step 2: Change the text, font, color, and other characteristics under Titles > Basic.
Step 3: Find Transform and increase the Scale. You can also experiment with other settings.
Step 4: Duplicate your text layer. Then, right-click one copy and select another color mask for better organization.
Step 5: Customize the second text layer. For instance, change the color to yellow.
Step 6: Click Advanced and enable the Outline. Then, change its color and thickness (e.g., set it to 4) and hit Apply.
Step 7: (Optional) Select any text layer and animate it in the Animation tab. Repeat the process for the second layer.
Step 8: Move the second text layer to the fourth layer on the timeline.
Step 9: Go to Media > Adjustment Layer > Preset.
Step 10: Drag and drop the Adjustment Layer onto the third layer on the timeline.
Step 11: Go to Effects and find the desired one.
Step 12: Drag and drop the effect onto the Adjustment Layer. We’ll use the BCC Radial Blur from Boris FX.
Step 13: Go to Effects > Video Effect and choose Smear under Blur Type. Then, change the Blur Amount (e.g., set it to -30).
Step 14: Decrease the Mix with Original to give the 3D effect a sharper look.
Step 15: Find the Center setting and adjust the direction of the 3D look.
Step 16: Double-click the Adjustment Layer and hit Save as Custom in the Layer tab. Then, click Export to download your video.
Bonus Tips: How to Turn Text Into a 3D Object in Photoshop
Photoshop lets you turn text into 3D objects, including cubes, cylinders, pyramids, donuts, etc. The process involves creating a mesh from a text layer (or any 2D image).
Here’s how to convert text into a 3D object in Photoshop:
Step 1: Create a new document and add text using the Type tool. Our 3D object will be a sphere, so we’ll copy and paste the text to fill the background for the most striking results.
Step 2: Go to 3.New Mesh from Layer > Mesh Preset > Sphere (choose any 3D object).
Step 3: Click Sphere Material under Sphere in the 3D panel. Then, open the Base Color settings in the Properties panel.
Step 4: Choose a color and the lowest intensity and hit OK.
Step 5: Push the Glow to the maximum to make the letters more visible. You can also change the material. For instance, you can create a 3D gold effect in Photoshop.
Step 6: Click Scene in the 3D panel and change the 3D Mode in the Options bar. For instance, you can zoom the 3D camera.
Step 7: Experiment with other modes, including orbiting, rolling, and panning the 3D camera.
Conclusion
This 3D text effect Photoshop tutorial is a beast, so thank you for reading this far. We hope it helps you master 3D text and simplify the process.
However, Filmora can help you create 3D text for videos faster, whether using presets or starting from scratch. It will render your designs quickly without slowing down your computer. You can even import your 3D Photoshop text effects and add them to videos as PIP overlays.
