How to Make a Graffiti Text Effect in Photoshop

Today, we will learn how to create a cool graffiti text effect with Photoshop. Graffiti varies from simple writing to complex, creative drawings and designs. It can be an expressive form of art as well as visually communicate a story. We will be using Photoshop tools like layer styles and displacement maps to create this effect.

We are using a paint splatter svg set and brick wall image as the background. We will add texture from this grunge texture pack and a cool graffiti font called Street Art.

Step 1 - Create a Displacement Map

Let’s create a displacement map of our background layer to be used later in the tutorial. A displacement map is a high-contrast black and white version of your image. It adds depth by creating a more realistic 3D look to the text effect.

Begin by opening the background image.

Desaturate Your Image

We need to convert the image into black and white. Go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (Shift + Command/Control + U). If the image is already black and white, move onto the next step.

Increase the Contrast

Now, increase the contrast on the image. Open the Levels panel (Command/Control + L) then click the Auto button and/or adjust the shadows and highlights levers.

Save High Contrast Image as PSD file

We will save the high contrast image as a PSD file for our displacement map. It must be saved as a PSD for the displacement map to work.

When saving the file, adding “displacement” to the file name makes it easier to identify. For example, Grunge Overlay Displacement.

After saving the file, we need to revert back to the original image. You can undo the changes or close the file without saving, then re-open the original image again. Either use Command/Control + Z or open the History panel (Window > History) to undo the changes.

Step 2 - Add the Text

Now, we are going to add text and adjust the font. Select the Horizontal Type tool (T), choose your font and type your text. Use black for the fill color and resize the text as needed. We changed the text size to 1200 pt.

Next, center your text by selecting both the layers in the Layers panel. Then click the Horizontal and Vertical Align Center icons on the top menu.

Step 3 - Distort Your Text

To give the text a realistic hand-drawn vibe, we need to distort it a bit. Make sure that you are on the text layer with the Horizontal Type tool (T) selected. Then, click on the Create Warped Text button.

Choose Flag with the following values:

• Horizontal
• Bend: -15%
• Horizontal Distortion: 0%
• Vertical Distortion: +5%

Convert Text Layer to a Smart Object

Before applying any other effect, turn your text into a Smart Object. This helps when going back and adjusting anything later on. Right-click on top of the text thumbnail and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Duplicate Your Text Layer

Create a duplicate (Command/Control + J), then hide the original text layer. Click the small eye icon on the left side of the thumbnail on the Layers panel. Then rename the duplicate layer to Text.

Step 4 - Add Layer Styles to Your Text

Graffiti is composed of gradients, shadows, and borders. So we will use Layer Styles to add several elements to a single text layer.

Double-click the Text layer thumbnail to open the Layer Styles panel. In the Blending Options tab, reduce the Blend Mode Opacity to 90% and the Fill Opacity to 0%.

Next, click on the Bevel & Emboss tab and use:

• Style: Inner Bevel
• Technique: Smooth
• Depth: 200%
• Direction: Up
• Size: 20px
• Soften: 0px
• Angle: 110º
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Altitude: 10º
• Gloss Contour: Custom*
• Anti-aliased: Checked
• Highlight Mode: Normal
• Highlight Color: #ffffff
• Highlight Opacity: 95%
• Shadow Mode: Multiply
• Shadow Color: #242422
• Shadow Opacity: 1%

* Gloss Contour: click on the thumbnail to open the Contour Editor. Add two anchor points by clicking on the mapping curve line.

Set the first point to Input 46% and Output 0% with the Corner box checked. Set the second point to Input 54% and Output 100% with the Corner box checked.

Click Ok once you are done to go back to the Layer Style panel.

Below the Bevel and Emboss tab, click on the Contour tab:

• Choose Gloss Contour: click the thumbnail to open the Contour Editor, add three anchor points by clicking on the mapping curve line. Set the following values for each point:

1. Input 0%, Output 100%,

2. Input 25%, Output 10%,

3. Input 50%, Output 50%,

4. Input 75%, Output 10%

5. Input 100%, Output 100%

• Antialiased: Unchecked
• Range: 100%

Click on the Stroke tab:

• Size: 10px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Hard Light
• Opacity: 85%
• Overprint: Unchecked
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #000000

Click on the + (plus) sign on the right side of the tab to create a second Stroke tab.

Now, in the second Stroke tab use:

• Size: 30px
• Position: Outside
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 95%
• Overprint: Unchecked
• Fill Type: Color
• Color: #ffffff

This second tab should be the one beneath the first Stroke tab.

Next, click on the Inner Shadow tab and use:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Color: #11110d
• Opacity: 95%
• Angle: -63º
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Distance: 20px
• Choke: 0%
• Size: 0px
• Contour: Choose Ring - Double
• Antialiased: Unchecked
• Noise: 33%

In the Gradient tab use:

• Blend Mode: Hard Light
• Dither: Unchecked
• Opacity: 95%
• Gradient: Blue, Red Yellow* (see note below)
• Style: Linear
• Align With Layer: Checked
• Scale: 70%

*To select the gradient, click on the small arrow left side of the Gradient Picker. Navigate to the Legacy Default Gradients folder.

If you can’t find the folder, go to the Gradients panel. Click the small menu icon on the top right side. Choose Legacy Gradients from the drop-down menu.

Finally, in the Drop Shadow tab use:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Color: #ffffff
• Opacity: 80%
• Angle: 110º
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Distance: 0px
• Spread: 50%
• Size: 75px
• Contour: Half Round
• Antialiased: Unchecked
• Noise: 35%

Click Ok once you are done editing the settings.

Step 5 - Apply Displacement Map to Text

Before applying the displacement map, we must duplicate our text first. Make sure that the duplicate is the top most layer. Then, rename it to Effects.

With the Effects layer selected, let’s go to Filter > Distort > Displace. Use a value of three for the Horizontal and Vertical Scale.

Select Stretch To Fit as the Displacement Map and the Repeat Edge Pixels option for the Undefined Areas.

The higher the value, the more distortion is applied. Once done, click on Ok, then navigate to the PSD file we created earlier.

Once the displacement map is applied, the results should be similar to below. The text has been distorted just enough to appear “painted” on the wall.

Step 6 - Blend Text with the Background

We want to blend the text with the wall using the Blend if option on the Layers Styles panel. First, double click on its thumbnail to open the panel.

In the Blending Options tab, locate the Blend If controls in the bottom portion of the tab. On the Underlying Layer bar, drag the shadows lever (left side) to the right.

Then drag the highlights lever (right side) to the left to blend the text with the background.

To soften up the blend, we need to split the shadow and highlight levers. Select one lever, then hold Option/Alt while clicking + dragging to the side to split it. Do this for the second lever. This will create a transition with a smoother blend.

Step 7 - Adjust Layer Styles of Text Layer

We are also going to change the Blending Mode settings on the Text layer.

Double click on its thumbnail to open the Layer Styles panel. In the Gradient tab, change the Blending Mode to Screen and lower the Opacity to 65%.

Before closing the Layer Styles panel, we want to save our style for future use.

Click on the New Style button, name your style Graffiti Text. Be sure to check the Include Layer Effects and Include Layer Blending Options boxes, then click Ok.

When you want to use this style, select the Styles tab inside the Layer Styles panel. Then select the Graffiti Text thumbnail to apply it to your layer.

Step 8 - Add Texture to Your Text

We want to add texture to the graffiti text to give a more painted look.

Import a Texture Image

Open the texture file that you want to use. Then, click + drag the texture thumbnail onto the canvas of your graffiti design.

Resize the Texture Layer if Needed

Use Free Transform (Command/Control + T) to resize the texture layer if needed. Move the texture layer thumbnail in the Layers Panel so it is placed on top of everything.

Change Blending Mode of Texture Layer

Name this layer Texture, change its Blending Mode to Multiply and reduce its Opacity to 80%.

Step 9 - Add Some Paint Splatters

We are going to add some paint splatters and color them to complement our graffiti effect.

Import the Splatters to your Document

Open the file that contains the splatters, then select one of them using the tool of your choice. We used the Lasso tool (L). Copy your selection using Command/Control + C.

Go back to your graffiti file and paste the splatter (Command/Control + V). Make sure it is placed under the Text and Effects layers.

Resize and/or rotate if needed. After you are done, hit Enter or click on the small checkmark on the top menu.

Change Color and Blend of the Splatter

Next, adjust the color of the splatter and blend it better with the Background layer. Double-click on the splatter thumbnail to open the Layer Styles panel.

In the Color Overlay tab, set the Blend Mode to Normal, the Opacity to 100%. Choose a color from the Color picker. We used the code #1e1ea0.

In the Blending Options tab, first, reduce the Opacity to 86%. Then, go to Blend If in the bottom portion of the tab. Adjust the Underlying Layer bar by dragging the shadows lever (left side) to the right. Next, drag the highlights lever (right side) to the left. This will blend the splatter with the background.

Split the levers in the same way as Step 6 to make the blend transition smoother.

Add More Splatters

Add as many splatters as needed, adjusting their size and placement to fit your design.

Instead of repeating the Layer Styles options each time, right-click on top of the first splatter thumbnail. Next, choose Copy Layer Style from the menu.

Right-click on each splatter and choose Paste Layer Style. Change the color on the Color tab and adjust the Blend if values a bit.

Group Text, Effects and Splatter Layers

Select the Splatters, Text, and Effects layer thumbnails. Group them together by clicking on the small folder icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. Leave out the Texture, Background, and original text layers. Name the group Text Effects.

Step 10 - Edit Your Text

If you want to edit your text, just right-click on the original text layer (the one that is hidden) and choose Edit Contents.

A new window containing only your text should open. There you can apply your changes and go to File > Save when you are done.

Now, if you head back to your original file, the text should reflect the changes.

Well done on creating an awesome graffiti text effect in Photoshop. We have more great tutorials to follow like how to use text effects and how to make 3D text in Photoshop.