Need design advice - cut out text that shines light through

[Jeremy8]

I'm trying to do something, but am having trouble making it look right. So I registered here for some advice.

I'm trying to make text look like it's cut out of a layer (so it's 3D- pointing in, like the attachement below). However, what I'm having trouble doing is the lighting. I don't want it to look like another layer is behind it. Instead I want light to be coming out of it. So the shadow doesn't work because there would be nothing for a shadow to be on... it's light that comes through the "cut out".

Hope someone can help. Let me know if I need to describe what I'm trying to do more.




(example of 3D I'm trying to do, but with a background behind the cut out instead of light)

 

[ibclare]

I am not exactly sure what you mean by "shines light through." I just read your text again and I'm going back to the drawing board. I had images but I don't think they were what you want.

This example is of a clipping mask, letters filled with image. The layer effects are a small amount of inner bevel and a good bit of inner shadow. Let us know if this is or isn't what you're getting at and we'll give you all the tips we can :mrgreen:

 

[Vafann]

I'm trying to do something, but am having trouble making it look right. So I registered here for some advice.

I'm trying to make text look like it's cut out of a layer (so it's 3D- pointing in, like the attachement below). However, what I'm having trouble doing is the lighting. I don't want it to look like another layer is behind it. Instead I want light to be coming out of it. So the shadow doesn't work because there would be nothing for a shadow to be on... it's light that comes through the "cut out".

Hope someone can help. Let me know if I need to describe what I'm trying to do more.



View attachment 6527
(example of 3D I'm trying to do, but with a background behind the cut out instead of light)

Ok, I think I understand what you mean... you want the part that looks blue here, to be light coming out of the "holes in the paper" ?

 

[Paul]

How did you make that Clare?

 

[Jeremy8]

Ok, I think I understand what you mean... you want the part that looks blue here, to be light coming out of the "holes in the paper" ?

Yeah, exactly.

So the example Vafann posted is not exactly what I'm going for. I'm not sure how the shadows will work, if there would be shadows at all. Kind of like the attachments below except with text and maybe even a gradient of color instead of just white light.

 

[Paul]

I did this by repeating layer with overlay of its self untouched, then i did a couple of radial blurs with varying light adjustments.

 

[Jeremy8]

I did this by repeating layer with overlay of its self untouched, then i did a couple of radial blurs with varying light adjustments.

I'm not sure if this is the best method. Well maybe, but do I have to do radial blur on each letter? Because the letters in the center get the least "glow" since it's radial.

 

[Paul]

I highlighted the inner area with magic wand first then did a layer of that with the radial blur then did another of the whole thing, just an idea mate?

 

[Hoogle]

Clare has the right concept for the base of it yes use a clipping mask but if you clip it Like clare has done on here you will also need a masked layer for the beams of lights out of the lettering which makes it a pit more complicated. Clare glad you have seemed to have the hang of the clipping mask now. However I still owe you 1 from your post yesterday watch out you never know when it will strike but it will happen

 

[Hoogle]

I did mine through inverting it so the texxt acted like a wall for something different but you can still achieve the same without inverting it you just need 2 background layers if black do your type in black with a white stroke for my example. merge the text layer with 1 of the black layers use a mask and a light ray brush and paint in the rays using screen mode. there is a plugin caleed rays light i Believe that does it very similar automatically I think so if you like this kind of stuff mybe worth investing is as my method can be very fiddly with masking etc

 

[stufflol]

Like ibclares , but with a drop shadow instead of an inner shadow , is this what you mean?

 

[ibclare]

How did you make that Clare?

Hi Belial, in bed when you wrote that! Make text layer. Make background picture layer above the text. Ctrl/Cmnd click between the layers (or is it alt/option click?) or go to layers>clipping mask. Add layer fx. That simple.

 

[ibclare]

Clare has the right concept for the base of it yes use a clipping mask but if you clip it Like clare has done on here you will also need a masked layer for the beams of lights out of the lettering which makes it a pit more complicated. Clare glad you have seemed to have the hang of the clipping mask now. However I still owe you 1 from your post yesterday watch out you never know when it will strike but it will happen

You're sure right Hoog. I like what You made. I fiddled around with it, using, yes, a mask as well (didn't remove the copyright info), but this is not my forte. All the text style options in Photoshop - that I know of - create drop shadow or bevel effects but it is hard to get a good inner depth, especially of the type our questor wants. I did make this but you have the better light on dark happening. Still thought I'd share. Hmmm, just posted and the rays above the s disappear. Gotta fix that.

 

[ibclare]

I think if you want to get the kind of depth and illusion that you want Jeremy (and I'm not saying there isn't an ap, LOL), you mihgt need to go online, or keep watching the forum for someone to come along with an answer. Anyway, you can try to google it. So my idea if you can't wait and can't find anything (please let us know if you do), is to clip a string of the windows with light shining photos together on one layer so they line up with the text. Put them above the text and control click the line between the layers (cmnd click mac). Have another copy of the light shining thru layer, mask that and paint out the parts that are inside the letters already and have the rays on the background. You will have to match the BG of the doc with the of the light img of course. So black is best. I did blues as the img used had sky in it.

 

[$1r_M4x1mu$]

Hi Jeremy8

Welcome to PhotoShop Gurus

In order to achieve that effect you can use any of the techniques in PS, mentioned before by Belial, Hoogleman or ibclare, a white text and by using the radial blur filter to create tha light passing through effect, also you may want to duplicate that layer a couple of times, and set the blending mode to screen, and then using layer mask paint away some areas on the blurred layer to give more realism to the image.

Other ways if you want to go further, you ca use a 3d modeling tool, mentioned before, like 3Ds MAX, lightwave, modo or cinema 4d to create you shape, and just play whit light positioning, until you get the desired effect, as shown below.

Base


Textured