In this Text Effect Quickie, we’ll create an easy to use layer style that will quickly transform ordinary text into bubble styled font, perfect for use in underwater scenes.
What We’re Making
This tutorial will show you how to produce text that will appear as shown in the graphic below. You can also download the Free Bubble Effect Layer Style if you’d like.
Before getting started, you may want to find a suitable font for this effect, as not all fonts will necessarily look right when this style is applied. You want a font with rounded edges — no sharp corners.
Some fonts that should work well include:
- Bubble Club Font - Preview / Download
- Bell Bottom Laser Font - Preview / Download
- Bambina Font - Preview / Download
Once you’ve downloaded a font that appeals to you, head on to the next part of the tutorial!
Step 1 - Background
This effect really works great on top of dark backgrounds, but will also work fine on lighter backgrounds (so long as it’s not too light, as the effect itself makes things brighter). Go ahead and create a new document, and fill in the background with a color of your choice (or #2d3134 if you’d like to borrow our background color).
Step 2 - Set the Type
Using the Horizontal Type Tool, set some text in the document with your font you downloaded earlier. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but make sure you set your Text Color to White.
Set this layers blending mode to Darken. This will make your text disappear from the canvas.
Step 3 - Setting Up the Style
Go into your text layers Blending Options (Right Click Layer > Blending Options).
Apply the layer effects shown below, making any modifications as needed.
Drop Shadow
A Drop Shadow helps create contrast between our text and the imagery behind the text. It’s not necessary for the effect, but does help over busy backgrounds.
Inner Shadow
Inner Glow
These values may need to be adjusted to compensate for the size of your text. Larger text may require a larger size in the “Elements” settings.
Bevel and Emboss
This Layer Effect may also require some adjustments to compensate for text size.
Satin
Gradient Overlay
For our Gradient Overlay, we’re using a White to Transparent gradient.
Touchups
This layer style works very well on more than just text. You may want to try using the Ellipse Shape Tool to add some bubbles surrounding the text, and applying the style to them as well.
You can also add in some smaller trailing bubbles with a small 1-3 pixel white brush rising to the surface if you intend to use this effect in an underwater scene. If you’d like to see some other touch-ups I added to our final version, feel free to download the Bubble Text Effect PSD!
Text Effect Quickie: Moon Shine Text Effect
Text Effect Quickie: Vibrant Pop Text Effect
Text Effect Quickie: Delicious Chocolate Text
Layer Styles in Photoshop
NICE MAN!! VERY HELPFUL
AND CONGRATS #1 FAV TUT SITE IN PSDTUTS!!!
If I want to download the layer effect where in Photoshop folder should I save it?
Cool! This reminds me of Spongebob’s “Bubble Buddy“
@ Jana - It actually works in the same way which you Install Brushes and Custom Shapes. Only, look for the Arrow icon in your “Styles” palette vs. your brushes or shapes palette.
So… Find the Arrow on your “Styles Palette”, then click Load Styles, and finally browse to the style you wish to install. Good Luck!
Thanks bl4kdev1l and Blue Buffalo! I’m very proud to be featured on PSDTuts right now! Enjoy the effect! We’re going to start releasing a few “Text Effect Quickies” on a more frequent basis here I think.
great tutorial
Dat was a gud one. Thanxs.
Dear David… I’ve downloaded the fonts.
I’ve also read your comment to Jana on how to install them - Install Brushes and Custom Shapes.
The problem is, I followed all the steps but when the new window appeared to load the files, I was unable to see them. All of the fonts apparently invisible. I don’t know what to do.
The properties of the font is -
Type - TrueType Font File (.TTF)
Open with - Windows Font Viewer.
Hope you can help. Thanks! ( I am using PSD CS3, and windows vista. )
Oh.. btw,I noticed that the file’s type should be .tpl, am I right?
All the fonts I install is in .ttf file. so, how can I change the type please?
^^
@ ladyheart - Actually, Font’s are different to install than the “Layer Style” document provided in the tutorial. Installation depends on your operating System. For Windows, I believe you’ll need to move the font to your C > Windows > Fonts Directory (or something like that…), or if you have Vista, Right Click the Font, and then install it.
It may require you to restart Photoshop before that font will be made available.
After that, you may want to look through our Drawing and Type Tools Tutorial if your not familiar with using Type in Photoshop.
oh.. I see.. I’ll try then. thanks David!
Text Effect Quickies: Bubble Text
vai ti fude filha da puta vagabundo lazarento corno pau no cu
My options looked nothing like the tutorial. Did you use PS CS3 Extended?
@Paul - No, but they really shouldn’t differ too much in look or in how they work.
nice tutorial..
thanq david..
terima kasih
This is the best Photoshop tutorial site online! Thanks a million for your hard work! Keep it up.
great work nice tuts
really liked this “School Of Photoshop”
thnx for every thing
I absolutely LOVE this simple, but very intriguing text effect. It will come in great use with my latest project, the concept fits the project perfectly. I have not been around a tutorial site for this long, and for this many hours before
Again this site intrigues me so much. Full of wonderful items and resources.
p.s. David when will the first tutorial of this month be released. i’m so eager to read it.
@Uproar: Of this month? We’ve already released several mate
Glad to hear that this effect worked out so well for you!
@David sorry im so behind, here in cyprus, i moved to my permanent housing, and its been 8 months and still no internet. im so behind, please excuse not seeing these months articles
and yes this worked out great as the bar i designed for was called…wait for it
…..keep waiting…
“BUBBLES!”
Nice tutorial, i love the layer styles
thanks buddy!