How to create Light Text effect

Here we’re going to See how to create light burst text effects in photoshop with very simple techniques. We are going to learn how to use the blending mode section of the layer style options. Here’s how the final image will look like.

Step 1: Create new document

Create a new document with a Black background, Type your text in white colour. Use a heavy font.

Step 2: Create the backlight

In the layers palette click Command on the text layer thumbnail to create a selection. Edit the border selection. Select > Modify > Border. We use 35 pixels.

Step 3: Create and Paint new layer

Create a new layer, select a White colour and paint the new layer .

Step 4: Paint Text Layer

Select the text layer and paint it black. Rasterize the text: Layer > Rasterize > Type. Move the text layer above the backlight.

Step 5: Create the light strokes

Select the backlight layer and set the blending mode to dissolve.

Step 6: Give Blur effect

Create a new layer above it. Select the new layer and the backlight and in the layers palette apply merge layers. Select Filter > Blur > Radial Blur Apply a 100 amount. Locate the center where you want to place the principal lights.

Step 7: Transform Backlight

Distort the backlight making it a little Longer: Edit > Transform > Scale.

Step 8: Burst effect

Create a new layer and paint it with a circular gradient from White to Black. Place the center exactly where you place the Blur center. Set the blending mode to screen.

Step 9: Create the reflection

Duplicate the text layer. Flip it. Edit > Transform Flip Vertical.

Step 10: Lighten Reflection

Move it so its base is placed below the original text. Add a layer mask clicking the small icon in the layers palette. Paint the layer mask with a Linear Gradient from Black to White to dissolve the reflection. Set the transparencg to 70%.

Step 11: Create the Shadow

Duplicate again the text layer. Distort the layer for creating perspective: Edit > Transform > Perspective.

Step 12: Apply Gaussian Blur

Try to distort it so it has the same angle as the Light strokes. Apply some Blur. Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Step 13: Fine-tune

Lets bring some Light strokes in front of the text. Double click on the text layer (not on the thumbnail or the name). It will open the layer style options. In the blend if section in the bottom of the Dialog box: option + click in the White slider in underlying layer so it divides. Move the divided slider to the left so some stroke blends through the text.

Step 14: Add colour

Create a new layer above the background and below all layers. Make a rectangular selection. Paint it with a dark blue colour (this will create the illusion of horizon).

Step 15: Some more colours

Create a new layer above all and paint it with a linear radient blue, red and yellow.

Step 16: Final effect

Set the blending mode to soft Light.