How to Create a Text Effect: Top 15 Text Effects Tutorials on Tuts+

Text effects can add a fun, unique element to any creative project. Having an eye for text effects is an essential skill for any designer or marketer who wants their work to stand out. If you’ve been wondering how to create text effects, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explain what are text effects, why they’re popular, and when to use them, and we’ll share our favorite text effect tutorials.

Text Effects enable any creator to manipulate text and make typography more visually interesting. They often use color, shadow, textures, glow, or even 3D effects (learn more about the 3D design trend). The text you produce still needs to be clear and readable while complementing your overall design, so it can take a skilled designer to get it right. Or, a beginner designer with help from tutorials – read on!

In 2022, we’re seeing 90s trends return in a big way in the world of design. In fact, we’ve already spotted them pop up in this year’s top font trends. For text effects, this means an increase in neon and glitch effects, as well as throwbacks to holographic aesthetics. There are also floral and garden-inspired designs and some classic styles that seem to never go out of style (we’re looking at you, wood texture).

If you haven’t worked with text effects before, you can master this fun style using online tutorials. Envato Tuts+ offers a ton of tutorials for beginners, and more experienced designers, to learn and hone this new skill. Ready to learn how to create text effects? Here are the top 15 text effects tutorials on Envato Tuts+.

Designed for absolute beginners – even those who have never opened Photoshop – this tutorial will take you through creating a rough and ready Rusted Metal Text Effect, ideal for men’s skincare or fashion brands. 

Use textures, 3D materials, and light settings to create this rustic chipped paint on wood Text Effect. It’s perfect if you work in events, especially those that are bridal or baby related.  

For something a little more dramatic, this tutorial will take you through Photoshop’s flame filter as well as additional textures (extra smoke and sparks, perhaps?) and blending options.

A water effect is great for creating summer inspiration and a holiday feel, or even a sense of intrigue or mystery. Learn to create your own wavy water effect with the text below it in this tutorial.

As we said at the beginning of this piece, neon is having a moment in the design world. Use this tutorial to create bold, no-nonsense neon text reminiscent of Las Vegas Boulevard at night.

Synonymous with VHS tapes and pixelated distortions in video games, glitch effects can also be super effective in text design. This tutorial takes most of the hard work out of it and leaves you with a fun, futuristic look.

If spring has just sprung, a floral-inspired text effect like the one featured in this tutorial can be a blossomy way to capture the mood. Use this kind of design to add an injection of brightness, boldness, and brilliance.

Popular in the tech industry, an isometric text effect can also be an excellent choice for a branding refresh or a hero design element on your website or flyer. There are a few different steps that this tutorial will take you through, but don’t worry – there’s a video to guide you as well.

We did promise that there would be 3D effects in this article, and here’s the first. This Photoshop action tutorial will teach you to take a simple motion blur filter and come out with something straight out of Star Wars.

Using a different visual style of 3D, master the shadow effect with this tutorial. This style is classic, classy, and perfectly suited to luxury branding and events.

The fur text effect is not as often spotted out in the world of design, but it’s cute, quirky, and perfect for injecting some humor into your brand. Take a look at this Photoshop tutorial for how to create your own furry letters. 

Next is the old-school style that never goes out of fashion: comic book typography. To make a comic book style text effect in Illustrator, look no further than this tutorial – and live out your own superhero design fantasy.

For a nature-inspiration theme, the grass is greener with this Photoshop action tutorial. You’ll use two brushes and a layer style with a grass pattern to create a grass text effect – and thereafter you’re just one click away from using your Photoshop action on any text.

For a holographic text effect that evokes the very best of late ‘90s glitter and glitz, this pastel style is the one. In this Photoshop tutorial, learn how to use filters and layer styles to create a simple but impactful text effect.

And lastly, one for the fans of Stranger Things. This Stranger Things hotoshop tutorial will show you how to easily create a text effect inspired by the hit Netflix TV series, and bring a little of the supernatural into your designs.

We hope you enjoyed this roundup of text effects tutorials on Envato Tuts+! To take your skills a step further and learn to create the font itself, check out these Top Typography and Font Tutorials. And for a whole range of design templates ready to use alongside your new fonts and text effects, head over to Envato Elements and subscribe for access to thousands of options in our creative asset library.