Preview

Dynamic Recessed Watercolor Typography in Photoshop

Aug 26th in Designing by Fabio

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to mix vector elements and watercolor effects with text to create a stunning design. It's a quick process that depends heavily on good choices of images and colors.

Author: Fabio

I am a Brazilian designer living in Porto Alegre (south of Brazil). In 2003, I founded a web design studio called ZEE, with Fabiano Meneghetti, an architect and friend of mine. It's a small studio now, with 4 people working basically with web.

Final Image Preview

Before we get started, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here. Fabio has another great watercolor effects in photoshop tutorial on the site as well you may want to review as well.

Step 1

The first step here is actually the first step in all my projects. I look for references images based on my sketch. This research and planning process is intertwined. It allows me to look through various elements and plan the direction to follow. Of course, I can change the direction during the creation as this process is fluid. So I found multiple images with effects I really liked and wanted to apply to a design (images: 1, 2, 4, and 5). Then I put some ideas on paper (image 3), added my own direction, and developed my concept.

Step 2

Create a new document in Photoshop, I used a wallpaper size of 1920 pixels by 1200 pixels.

Step 3

Download the Bleeding Dragon Oldpapers textures, and place the Paper 2.jpg in your document.

Step 4

Now let's use some brushes, in this case the fantastic Bitbox set of watercolor brushes. Go ahead and download these watercolor brushes. Bitbox has some other amazing watercolor brushes as well, so feel free to test different ones as well.

So, let's select the Brush Tool (B) and blue for the color. Create a new layer, then with just one click paint place some paint on the layer.

Step 5

Create a new layer, select a different brush and use red for the color. Once again paint the layer. Also you can try different Blend Modes, in this case I used Normal but you can try Multiply as well.

Step 6

Create more layers and paint each layer with different colors. Use yellows and greens and different blend modes as well. Try to reproduce the image below.

Step 7

Group all the layers with watercolor brushes and duplicate the group. You can hide one. With the other layer go to Layer > Merge Group. Rescale the layer and make it bigger, as in the image below. Then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and use 250 for the value. Now change the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Step 8

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Select a big round brush and change the hardness to 0%. Choose white for the color and paint over the layer mask to hide some areas of the layer. Mainly in the center.

Step 9

Write the text you want, for the typeface I used a P22 font called Constructivist. You can use the one you like the most. Just make sure that it's really bold. Also, I placed some birds I got from the GoMedia's Arsenal (Set 5). The pack is called Flock of Birds, but I'm sure there are brushes with birds like that you can search on the web for.

The main idea here is make the birds coming from the text. That's why I placed them over the S and a bit on the T.

Step 10

Again, let's use that group of layers painted with the watercolor brushes we hid on the Step 6. First, use a big version, as in the image below. Rename the group to "Watercolor Big" and change the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Step 11

Duplicate the group several times. Change the Blend Mode to Multiply for each copy. Then select all new copies and merge them in one unique layer. Just go to Layer > Merge Layers. After that change the Blend Mode to Soft Light, rename the layer to "Watercolor Small," then group it with the "Watercolor Big" group. Rename this new group to "Watercolor."

Step 12

Here let's add more elements to our design. Use some brushes and paint over some letters (1-6). I used some Brushes from Brusheezy: 1, 2, 3, 4. Make sure you paint in black and with small brushes.

Step 13

Merge the layers with the text, the birds and the brushes with the splatters and other details. Go to the Layer palette, then hold down the Command Key and click on the thumbnail of the layer you have just merged. That will create a marquee selection, as in the image below. Now select the "Watercolor" group and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

Step 14

Duplicate the group we have just used on the previous step and go to Layer > Merge Group. This layer has to be beneath the "Watercolor" group. After that go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Change the Fill Opacity to 0%. Select Inner Shadow and change the Blend Mode to Multiply. Use 75% for the Opacity, 5 pixels for the Distance and Size, 130º for the Angle, and Choke set to 0.

Step 15

Here I used one image of a linear floral design from iStockphoto. Place it in your design and change the Blend Mode to Multiply. This layer has to go beneath the watercolor layers. Duplicate the layer twice. Rotate and place them behind the D,, P, and S. Use the image below as a reference.

Step 16

Let's add more vector elements, I used another image from iStockphoto, this time of floral elements. Place the new image in your design and repeat the same thing as the previous step. This time let's use just two copies.

Conclusion

Now you can add your logo or some text to finish the design. The idea of this tutorial is to show how to create a design from multiple reference images, a simple sketch, and your own ingenuity. Using vectors and images from stock sites allows you to create quick and attractive results with relatively simple steps. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.


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User Comments

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  1. John Wu August 26th

    Awesome! Looks great.


  2. Hiperkarma August 26th

    Thanks, nice ;) keep up and try to make a Las Vegas alike text just like on casinos :D


  3. Dan August 26th

    I like it, would have been nice to see something on creating those other elements, maybe something for vectortuts?


  4. Whitney August 26th

    Awesome!


  5. Vankata August 26th

    thanks for the tut its very useful :) i’ve been looking for an idea for my new design i’ll use same of this technics!


  6. NourShow August 26th

    Wooooooooooooooow … This is what I can say for this tutorial (Y)
    Thanks Fabio, keep doing buddy :d


  7. Tom Sinclair August 26th

    Looks really good! Definitely something I’m going to try


  8. vino August 26th

    finally a good post……after waiting for a long time to see one after that classic engraving tut. it took 3 days for people to come up with a new one….


  9. godonholiday August 26th

    Very nice, I can not wait to try this out!


  10. MONSTER August 26th

    Looks great!


  11. rerere August 26th

    Inner shadow? oh nooooooooo!!!!!


  12. Rich Tidwell August 26th

    Awesome design, thank you!


  13. Manuel August 26th

    Looks great. Thanks for sharing this technique. I love this watercolor-style.


  14. Nate August 26th

    Looks great Fabio!


  15. Max | Design Shard August 26th

    Very nice effect, Typography is great, ill try this.


  16. Aliasart August 26th

    This is really nice, I would’nt ever have such a great idea.


  17. Fredro August 26th

    Fabio is back!


  18. Thomas | Brush King August 26th

    Great Tutorial :)


  19. Michael August 26th

    Beautifull tutorial, amazing


  20. Alessandro Giglio August 26th

    you’re the best here :)


  21. greven August 26th

    Nice tutorial fabio. :) Thanks for sharing.


  22. Jasper Wiese August 26th

    OK tutorial, but 90% of the final image (and the most impressive parts at that) are just stock images.


  23. Braden Keith August 26th

    Looks good


  24. Vince August 26th

    Fabio, you constantly submit great tuts. Kudos


  25. Tom Ross August 26th

    Simple awesome. One of the best text tuts I’ve ever seen :).


  26. Tonamel August 26th

    You make it look so easy!


  27. Paul Anthony Webb August 26th

    This is a fantastic tutorial. Simply awesome. =D


  28. PainiaX August 26th

    Step 12

    The Brushes of the Links aren’t the ones used in the picture…


  29. vane August 26th

    looks so beautiful! thanks Fabio!


  30. insic August 26th

    sweet! i like the output


  31. Anjum August 26th

    its just okay :(


  32. Tstikvoort August 26th

    Awesome!!! i love it :D


  33. ferdinand | fudgegraphics August 26th

    Looks great! For more free hi-res watercolour brushes visit fudgegraphics


  34. Shane August 26th

    Great stuff! Thanks!


  35. NaldzGraphics August 26th

    great tutorial:)very artistic


  36. mcurtisg August 26th

    YAY, fabio is back!

    Remember bro, I need to chat with you at some point on Skype


  37. yusuf1 August 26th

    wow, that is really awesome, my site needs a huge facelift and what other place to come other than psdtuts?????? thank you very much fabio for tha tut, cheers!


  38. Dustin August 26th

    Awesome tutorial.

    Almost no photoshop technical knowledge required. Just artistic skills.

    As for me, it is much more than simple typography :)


  39. Jinsey August 26th

    Hot Stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  40. Web Designer August 26th

    Great! This is good! Thanks!


  41. Joe August 26th

    I love the whole concept and idea, the final image looks great to but there is one flaw in my opinion the bevel or drop shadow on the text doesnt look that great i would of took this away or lowered the opacity to make the text seem alot more greater or even have used a different way of making the text stand out.

    Just a little honest critism but the rest is great i love you work its brilliant and thanks alot for sharing.


  42. Rodrigo August 26th

    great work ! fabio’s work is allways an inspiration to my work.


  43. Seraphim Collective August 27th

    Great Job.

    For those of you that can afford it. Painter X will give you great results when used with Photoshop also.


  44. Sérgio August 27th

    I’m having a problem between step 13 and step 14. I merge all the layers you say, then when i Ctrl+click the thumbnail of the layer I’ve just merged and the marquee appears, as soon as i Reveal The Selection the Layer just keeps black, I’ve too Hide the layer with the text so i can see the selection with the colors. But then in step 15 and 16 when i try to add the vector ornaments and stuff if i put the vector beneath the layer of the brushes it still shows the ornaments behind the layer.

    Sorry if it’s just too confusing, it’s hard too try to explain something by text when obviously it’s much easier seeing it.


  45. rjton August 27th

    very very good…. fucking istock…you must pay :(

    great tuto


  46. Gui August 27th

    Beautifulll!
    I wanna became a plus memberrr ;_;


  47. fili August 27th

    amazing stuff, thanks for this great tut


  48. sonny bill williams August 27th

    you are the man bro


  49. aGS August 27th

    Cool, I liked the Vector art from iStock… These are mostly very well done.


  50. Darrin August 27th

    Ya lost me a few times on this one =(


  51. Duo August 27th

    Looking cool, but there is nothing great about it, all the best parts: patterns and linear floral designs are just downloaded


  52. Joefrey Mahusay August 27th

    Fabio you did a great tut on this. Thanks and keep it up!


  53. Edward August 27th

    Woooow!! Really cool!
    Thanks a lot!


  54. Joe August 28th

    Who would have though vector elements and watercolor effects! When done right the end results can be awesome.


  55. - August 28th

    Very nice, kind of cheating though with stock images….


  56. mattems August 28th

    you do good things. very creative, good use of resources. Thanks!


  57. Mark Abucayon August 28th

    very very nice. love it again, more fabios work please. like it.


  58. Nemesis Design August 28th

    Gonna try this soon, thanks


  59. Brandon August 29th

    great tutorial on a pretty hot style. thanks for posting - lovely work as always.


  60. LuciferX August 29th

    Very nice, thank’s for the tuttorial


  61. Yako August 29th

    Great tutorial
    i didn’t followed it all the way, but you helped me very good

    (sorry for the bad english,, i’m Dutch:D)

    my result:

    http://i36.tinypic.com/15qqjgl.png


  62. tits August 30th

    cool
    no comments =)


  63. RafaBritto August 30th

    I’m keeping doing all this bad ass tuts!
    here it goes one more….
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2809740027_edbd8322d9_b.jpg
    About you guys?


  64. aravind September 1st

    wow! amazing


  65. joraN' September 3rd

    Looks awesome.
    Keep up the good work!


  66. cLaK September 4th

    Great work! i like the technique, awesome :)


  67. Marve September 6th

    way too awesome!
    Can’t believe it:o


  68. emerz September 7th

    nice tutorial! ;) my result: my blog


  69. Lawrence77 September 8th

    brilliant mind….
    How is you accomplished FABIO….?
    After Einstein you only got heavier brain……..

    laranz.joe@gmail.com


  70. Danny September 9th

    brilliant


  71. Kams September 9th

    I’m assuming this won’t work for PS7 users without some changes? I get stuck at step 7 when it says to Group layers, and then go to Layer->merge group. I don’t see that option at all under Layer. Also, duplicating a group doesn’t seem to work. If anyone could shed some light for me, I’d appreciate it, since I would love to try this.
    =)


  72. Jai September 9th

    Not a new one but okey!!!1


  73. Alberto September 12th

    more examples here
    http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Destructive-Vintage-TyPO-experiment/97151

    ciao
    Alberto


  74. Jacko! September 12th

    Hermoso!


  75. sasidesign September 17th

    looks like awesome
    thanks man.


  76. Katie September 25th

    This is amazing. I recently started working for a web company and I have to learn some photoshop. All of these tuts have been so helpful for me. I have rented some books, but i think this is more informative about specific things. So far a lot of these blogs have helped me with things I needed to do. I love it. Thanks so much.
    Katie :)


  77. Ali October 9th

    Hi Fabio,

    this is splendid indeed, I couldn’t follow up with it for I lack to experience pertained to many details.
    I couldn’t use the brushes I’ve downloaded the amazing way you did; you were like using real brushes and I couldn’t set em up the way you did to get the best result.

    It was inspirind so very much, thanks a million and think am thirsty to more and more.

    blesses


  78. tantone October 11th

    very nice

    you are really talanted …i want to see more of your work please


  79. Kai October 15th

    Step 14, I’m not getting that indented look. Can anyone help me out?


  80. urwen October 18th

    Very nice! Thank you, got some practice with using stock images:) and very nice technique for watercolour effect.
    Thank you!


  81. romane November 5th

    Thank you so much. Really helpful and really beautiful.


  82. Phoenix November 9th

    Excellent tutorial. Just finished following your outline, and I had a blast doing the whole thing. Taught me a lot about layer masking I didn’t quite understand till this tutorial.
    Thanks again!


  83. Glen November 23rd

    Beautiful image. I’ll be trying this one out, it would make a great wall pic too, thanks!!.
    There are a lot of free bird vector packs I’ve found, just do a google search.


  84. The Retouchers Rant November 24th

    fantastic


  85. Michelle November 28th

    Superb!!! Love this effect.


  86. tika December 9th

    great!

    i love it…


  87. Torres January 3rd

    Im so lost on step 13. I have the same problem as one of the other users. My text and birds remain black. Please explain. Thanks


  88. Chell January 6th

    Wow this is amazing and so easy to follow. Thanlk you so much


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