Stones in the water text from scratch in Photoshop

Ok guys, this stone sign in the water tutorial is a bit on the advanced side, but do not be afraid to have a go, simply follow the step-by-step instructions really carefully and you should be fine, go!

Create a new document.

My dimensions are 1600 x 1200 pixels.

Create a new layer.

In the menu click  Layer, New, Layer...

Press D, to set black/white color.

In the menu click Filter, Render and choose Clouds.

In the menu click Layer, Layer Style and choose Gradient Overlay...

In the Gradient Overlay dialog window choose the same settings as I did and click OK (see picture).

Choose the Horizontal Type Tool (T for a keyboard shortcut) and choose a gray color similar to mine (see picture).

I used the Arial Black font, you can choose what ever font you like.

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Enter a short text of your choice.

Press Ctrl + T then resize and move the text the way you would like to have it on your image, let's say in to the center of the image.

Press Enter to confirm the changes.

Hold Shift while resizing to keep your text proportional.

In the menu click Layer, Layer Style and choose Drop Shadow...

Set a dark gray color similar to mine and choose the same settings as I did (see picture).

Don't close the window yet ...

In the left pane click Inner Shadow.

Choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

Hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) then choose the text layer and the clouds layer bellow (see picture).

Press Ctrl + E , to merge the two layers.

Now press Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac)  + J, to duplicate the chosen layer.

Now choose the original cloud layer then hide the duplicated layer by clicking the eye icon next to it (see picture).

Press X, to set the white/black color.

We will now create the stones effect.

In the menu click Filter, Texture and choose Stained Glass...

In the dialog window choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

In the menu click Filter, Sketch and choose Photocopy...

In the dialog window choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

In the menu click Filter, Texture and choose Craquelure...

In the dialog window choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

No choose the duplicated clouds layer and make it visible again.

In the menu click Filter, Texture and choose Stained Glass...

In the dialog window choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

Press Ctrl + L  (Cmd on a Mac) and choose the similar settings to mine.

Click OK.

In the menu click Filter, Blur and choose Gaussian Blur...

Set the Radius to 25 pixels and click OK.

Press Ctrl + L (Cmd on a Mac) and drag the black slider (see picture) to the beginning of the histogram (see picture).

Click OK.

Press Ctrl + A, (Cmd on a Mac) to select the whole layer.

Press Ctrl + C, (Cmd on a Mac) to copy your selection.

Open the Channels.

In the menu click Window and choose Channels.

Create a new channel (see picture).

Press Ctrl + V, (Cmd on a Mac) to paste the selection.

Hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) and click the new channel's thumbnail to create a while color selection.

Now go back to your layers.

Press F7 if you can't find the layers.

Create a new layer.

The new layer should be the top layer (it probably already is anyway.)

In the menu click Edit and choose Fill...

In the Use dialog window choose Color... and then in a new window select a light blue water like color.

Click OK and again click OK to fill the selected areas with your water blue color.

Press Ctrl + D, (Cmd on a Mac) to remove the selection.

Set the layer's Opacity to 60% (see picture).

Again create a new layer

In the menu click Layer, New, Layer...

Press D, to set black/white color.

In the menu click Filter, Render and choose Clouds.

In the menu click Filter, Render and choose Difference Clouds.

In the menu click Filter, Sketch and choose Chrome...

In the dialog window choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

Press Ctrl + U (Cmd on a Mac) and in the dialog window enable Colorize.

Choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

In the menu click Layer, Layer Style and choose Inner Glow...

Choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

Choose the top water layer, right-click it and choose Create Clipping Mask.

All there's left to do now, is to hude the duplicated clouds layer (see picture).

The little eye icon next to it.

And you are done! You should be proud for completing this tutorial it really was a handful :)

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