How to Create a Snow Text Effect in Photoshop

Many graphic designers in winter create a snow text effect in Photoshop or in illustrator. The snow text effect in winter stands out. To create the snow text effect is simple. Here is the way to do that below.

1. Open a new file. My canvas size is 500 PX  by 300 PX.

2. Select Horizontal Type Tool in the toolbox, and write any text. I wrote SNOW. 

3. Click Add a layer style icon to SNOW text layer on the bottom in the Layers panel, and then select Bevel & Emboss. Set Structure and Shading in the Layer Style window like a image below. After then, click OK, and SNOW text will change.  

4. Create a new layer in the Layers panel, and set foreground color white in the toolbox. Choose Brush Tool in the toolbox, and then select Hard Mechanical 13 pixels in the control panel; you can select a different brush here. Draw snow on SNOW text like a image below. 

5.  Click Add a layer style icon to Layer 1 on the bottom in the Layers panel, and then select Bevel & Emboss. Set Structure and Shading in the Layer Style window like a image below. After then, click OK. 

6. You can see the snow text effect completed like a image below.

How to Create a Fog Effect in Photoshop

Using Photoshop, you might want to create a fog effect. The way to do that is simple. Follow steps below.

1. Open a file that you want to create a fog effect. I'm going to use a image below.

2. Create a new layer in the Layers panel. Set Default Foreground and Background Colors in the toolbox. Fill background color(white) to Layer 1; a hot key is Ctrl + D.

3. With highlighting Layer 1, select the Filter drop-down menu < Render < Different Clouds.

4. Click "Add layer mask" icon on the bottom in the Layers panel, and Layer 1 will change like a image below. After then, select the Filter drop-down menu < Render < Clouds.

5. With highlighting Layer 1 in the Layers panel, set Opacity to 35%. You can see the image foggy like this below.

6. Select the Image drop-down menu < Adjustments < Brightness/Contrast. Set Brightness to -49 like a image below. After then, click OK.

7. Choose Screen to Layer 1 in the Layers panel, and then set Opacity to 35% like a image below. You can see the image changed. That's it.

You can compare before and after below.

How to Create a Rain Effect in Photoshop

Last time, I explained how to create a snow effect. On the contrary to this, this time, I'm going to explain how to create a rain effect in Photoshop CS6. Here are steps below.

1. Open a file that you want to create a rain effect. I'm going to use this image below.

2. Create a new layer on the bottom on the Layers panel. Click Default Foreground and Background Colors in the toolbox. Set foreground color to black, and then fill it out on Layer 1; a hot key is Alt + D.

3. Select the Filter drop-down menu < Noise < Add Noise. Set Amount to 150%:  the more amount you set, the more rain you can make. Click Gaussian in Distribution and check out Monochromatic. After then, click OK.

4.  With highlighting Layer 1 on the Layers panel, choose the Filter drop-down menu < Blur < Motion Blur. Set Angle to 65 degrees and Distance to 35 pixels. After then, click OK.

5.  Select "Screen" on Layer 1 on the Layers panel like this below.

6. With highlighting Layer 1 on the Layers panel, select the Image drop-down menu < Adjustments < Levels. Set Input Levels on the Levels window like a image below: it depends on your image.

7. Create a new layer on the Layers panel. Select Gradient Tool in the toolbox and Linear Gradient on the control panel; choose Black, White on it. After then, drag it from top to bottom. 

8. If you do so, Layer 2 on the Layers panel will change like this below. With highlighting Layer 2, select Multiply and set Fill to 40%. 

After then, you can get a result like this below. 

 You can compare before and after below.

How to Create a Snow Effect in Photshop

Even though I don't like winter, I love snow. Whenever it snows, I try to take a picture. Even if it doesn't snow, I can make a snow effect in Photoshop. Here is a way to do that.

1. Open a file that you want to create a snow effect. I opened this photo below.

2. Create a new layer on the Layers panel: Shift + Ctrl + N. Select the Edit drop-down menu < Fill. Choose Black in the Fill window.

3. Select the Filter drop-down menu < Noise < Add Noise. Set Amount to 100%, select Uniform in Distribution, and check out Monochromatic in the Add Noise window. After then, click OK.

4. Choose the Filter drop-down menu < Other < Custom. Set figures like a image below in the Custom window. After then, click OK.

5. Select Rectangular Marquee Tool in the toolbox, and then drag it. Press Ctrl + T like a image below. After then, expand it as big as the whole canvas size.

6. Highlighting Layer 1 in the Layers panel, select Screen like a image below, and the image will have a snow effect like this below. However, you need to make snow look more natural.

7. Choose the Filter drop-down menu < Blur < Motion Blur. Set Angle to 68 degrees and Distance to 10 pixels; it depends on your photo. You will see a more natural snow effect on your photo.  

Here is an output. You can compare before and after below.

How to Make a Reflection in Photoshop

You can often see some images or text reflected. A reflection makes images or text look different. I'll let you know how to make a reflection in Adobe Photoshop CS6 here.

1. Open a new file with a black background.

2. Using Horizontal Type Tool in the toolbox, type any text. I wrote "Reflect" here.

3. Duplicate the Reflect layer on the Layers panel, and the Reflect copy layer on it will be created like a image below.

4. With holding on the Shift key, using the arrow down key on your keyboard,  put down Reflect text. After then, with highlighting the Reflect copy layer on the Layers panel, choose the Edit drop-down menu < Transform < Flip Vertical. The direction of Reflect text will change like a image below.

5. Select Rasterize Type Layer in the Type drop-down menu.

6. Click "Add layer mask" icon on the bottom on the Layers panel.

7. Choose Gradient Tool in the toolbox, and select Linear Gradient on the control panel: click the third one - Black, White. After then, set Opacity on the Layers panel to 27%; it depends on you in order to adjust Opacity.

8. Holding on the Shift key, drag it from down to up like a image below. That's it.

Here is an output below.

When you use an image to make a reflection, it is the same process as text above.

How to Put Text on a Path or in a Shape

You can sometimes see text in a shape or on a path. It is wonderful to make different images with text. I'd like to explain how to put text on a path or in a shape in Photoshop CS6 here.

1. Open a new file; any size is okay. 

2. Select Custom Shape Tool in the toolbox. Choose No Color in Fill and in Stroke on the control panel. Select the shape you want, and then drag it like a image below; I chose Heart Card here. 

3. Select Horizontal Type Tool in the toolbox. Click the path on the heart shape, and your mouse will change and you will see the circle point on the path like a image below. Type any text on it. 

4. If you put text all on the path, the circle on it will change like a image below. 

5. Choose Character in the Window drop-down menu, and then adjust Horizontally scale if you need. After then, the path on the heart shape will change like this below. 

Here is the way to put text in a shape below. Follow the step to # 2 above. After then, select Horizontal Type Tool in the toolbox. Click in the heart shape, and your mouse will change and you will see the circle point on the path like a image below. Type any text in it. 

This is an output.

You can compare the output text on a path and text in a shape below.

Apply this skill to your works.

How to Make Clear Tape in Photoshop

When producing a image in Photoshop, you sometimes need clear tape. I'm going to let you know how to make clear tape. It is simple to do that.

1. Click New in the File drop-down menu. Create a new canvas: 500 PX by 300 PX. 

2. Create a new layer on the Layers panel: a hot key is CTRL + J.  After then, select Rectangular Marquee Tool in the toolbox and then drag it like a image below. 

3. Select Eyedropper Tool in the toolbox, and then select the color you want; I chose light gray. Fill out the box. After then, deselect it: a hot key is CTRL + D.  

4. Choose Polygonal Lasso Tool in the toolbox. After then, click "Subtract from selection" icon on the control panel: a hot key is ALT. Create jagged edges like a image below. 

5. Press the Del key, and then deselect. Create jagged edges on the other side. If you do that, it will be like a image below. After then, use Dodged Tool or Burn Tool in the toolbox in order to look realistic to the tape. 

6. Click "Add a layer style" icon on the bottom on the Layers panel, and choose Drop Shadow with setting the opacity to 25%. Click OK. 

7. After pressing CTRL + T, rotate this tape like a image below. After then, go to the File drop-down menu and click Save for web; save it for PNG.

After then, you can use the clear tape like a image below. That's it.