Master Layer Styles Chapter 01 2 Videos (22:08m)
  • 01 - Introduction to Layer Styles
    Drop Shadows, Glow, Gradients, and more! Aaron breaks down all of the Layer Styles and their applications that you'll learn in this tutorial.
  • 02 - How to Use Layer Styles
    Learn the how to add Layer Styles to a Layer, how to make adjustments, and how to navigate the Layer FX dialog.
Master Layer Styles Chapter 02 11 Videos (1:56h)
  • 01 - Opacity vs. Fill
    See how both Opacity and Fill work and their differences when working with Layer Styles.
  • 02 - Luminance Blending (Blend If)
    One of the most powerful features in Photoshop, Blend If allows you to blend a layer or effect into another according to the highlights, midtones, and shadows of the image.
  • 03 - Bevel & Emboss
    Learn how to give text a realistic 3D look with Bevel and Emboss in Photoshop.
  • 04 - Stroke
    Add an outline or border to shape and texts with Stroke Layer FX.
  • 05 - Inner Shadow
    Add dimension to anything by giving it a realistic inner shadow.
  • 06 - Inner Glow
    Learn how to create subtle lighting effects with Inner Glow.
  • 07 - Satin
    Aaron breaks down how the Satin Layer Style can be used to create an effect perfect for app icons and logos.
  • 08 - Color Overlay
    Follow along as we change the color of a product using Color Overlay.
  • 09 - Gradient Overlay
    Transform a boring sky into a beautiful one by using the Gradient Overlay Layer Style to add a natural blue to white transition.
  • 10 - Outer Glow
    Enhance light sources in a scene using Outer Glow.
  • 11 - Drop Shadow
    Drop Shadow can be used to create realistic shadows for a simple composite image.
Master Layer Styles Chapter 03 6 Videos (1:12h)
  • 01 - How to Create a Fairy Effect
    Learn how to use a simple Custom Brush and Outer Glow to create a fantasy-inspired light effect.
  • 02 - How to Emboss Text
    Make text that fits seamlessly into a real environment with Emboss in Photoshop.
  • 03 - How to Create Wedding Invitation Text
    Perfect for products or mock-ups, we once again add text that looks photo-realistic using Emboss and Gradients.
  • 04 - How to Create Floating Text
    Aaron gives text extra shape and dimension by using a combination of Emboss, Inner Shadow, and Drop Shadow.
  • 05 - How to Create Neon Text
    Create a neon light effect from scratch with Glow, Emboss, Satin, and Shadow.
  • 06 - How to Create a Realistic Card
    In our last example, learn how to create a realistic card with text using Emboss, Color Overlay, and Shadow.
Home  >  PRO Tutorials  >  PRO Photoshop  >  How to Master Layer Styles in Photoshop

CREATE FAIRY EFFECT WITH OUTER GLOW

ORIGINAL

How to Master Layer Styles in Photoshop

Description

Layer Styles are incredibly flexible and have wide ranging applications. From something as simple as giving text a three-dimensional appearance with the use of Drop Shadows to high-end compositing and retouching with Blend If and luminance blending.

In this tutorial, we’ll help you master every layer effect with practical examples like adding photorealistic text to an environment, creating a neon glow effect from scratch, using layer styles to add a natural glow to a light source and much more!

What’s Included

19 Video Tutorials   |   20 Sample Images   |   Custom Brushes & Styles

Class Instructor

Aaron Nace – PHLEARN Founder

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CREATE REALISTIC COMPOSITES

ORIGINAL

Photoshop Layer Styles

Learn the differences between every Layer Style in Photoshop. Whether you’re editing photos or you want to put together a beautiful text design, an understanding of Layer Effects can speed up your workflow and greatly improve your final edits.

Create Cool Text Effects

Layer effects are incredibly useful for creating any graphic or text-based image. Make text pop off the screen (or the page) by adding subtle drop shadows, realistic textures, or stunning bevels.

Make Your Own Style Packs

Not only are Layer Styles completely customizable, but you can save custom styles to use later or to share with others! Included with the tutorial are two free Layer Effects that you can use, experiment with, and make your own.

CHANGE OBJECT COLORS

ORIGINAL

MATCH EXISTING TEXT STYLES

ORIGINAL

Shadows, Glows & Bevels

Shadows, glows, and bevels are the core effects you’ll find within the Layer Styles. Whether you’re working with text, shapes, or even part of a photo you’ll have options to add a realistic, three-dimensional look that will help the important parts of your image stand out.

Blending Modes

Blending Modes, like with normal Layers, add a lot of variety and adaptability to Layer Styles. Make a Layer Effect appear more subtle or more exaggerated and have complete control of how it interacts with the rest of your image. Be sure to check out our PRO tutorial How to Master Blending Modes in Photoshop to learn everything about these incredibly important Photoshop tools.

Luminance Blending

One of the most powerful techniques in Photoshop, Blend If allows you to target highlights, mid-tones, and shadows to precisely blend effects and layers together. Learn the ins and outs of Blend If and how you can add it to your toolbox to take your edits to the next level.

CREATE REALISTIC ENVIRONMENTAL TEXT

ORIGINAL

Opacity & Fill

While Opacity and Fill may seem very similar, knowing when to choose one or the other can make a huge difference while editing. Learn how and when to use each and see them in action as we run through over a dozen examples.

Non-destructive Workflow

Developing a non-destructive workflow is essential for the photo or graphic design professional. Layer styles are, by their nature, non-destructive. Create, edit, turn off, or remove effects at anytime to get back to the original image.

Thorough Look at Layer Styles

Layer and Text Effects are powerful, but to get the most out of them, you’ll need to know what every setting does and how to refine each effect to suit your needs. We break down every drop-down, checkbox, and slider within the Layer Style dialog box.

CREATE STYLIZED TEXT

ORIGINAL

CREATE REALISTIC OBJECTS

ORIGINAL

Photo Editing

Throughout the tutorial, we’ll cover several tips and tricks to help your photos come to life. Add glows to light sources, add shape and definition by adding shadows, and make colors pop. All done with the versatility of Layer Effects.

Work With Color

Quickly change the color of an object, add some drama to a sky, and color an image by targeting the highlights, midtones, and shadows separately. Layer Styles are incredibly useful for coloring photos and we’ll show you how to make the most of them.

Combine or Make Your Own

Layer Effects are most effective when used in combination with themselves or with many of the other powerful tools within Photoshop. Learn to use them as just one piece of the editing puzzle. Watch as we demonstrate how to get the most out of them with Adjustment Layers, Blending Modes, Clipping Masks, Layer Masks and more!

CREATE PHOTO REAL SIGNS

ORIGINAL

Graphic Design in Photoshop

Illustrator is often the go-to for the professional graphic designer, but Photoshop can be incredibly useful for making text and logos jump off the page. Make an app logo look like a something you can physically press or seamlessly integrate text into an image mockup. These are tools for both photo and design pros!

Free Layer Styles Included

We include two exclusive Layer Styles in this tutorial. Add an element of beauty to any image with fairy lights or create stunning neon text that’s sure to grab attention. We’ve also thrown in a custom brush as well! Use these in combination with your own styles to create your own original look!

Drop Shadows

Drop Shadows can be deceiving. While they may seem like a simple addition to some text, a shape, or part of an image, getting one that looks realistic often takes time and careful consideration of the various settings within the tool. LEarn to combine multiple Drop Shadows and refine the settings to get an amazing effect!

FLOATING TEXT EFFECT

ORIGINAL

CREATE EMBOSSED TEXT

ORIGINAL

Inner Glow & Outer Glow

Make an object or layer shine with the Inner and Outer Glow Layer Effects. In addition to the obvious applications, we’ll also show you how to adjust certain styles so that you can use glows as shadows and vice versa, adding even more flexibility to each of these Photoshop tools.

Stroke

Learn to create beautiful borders around layers and shapes. From solid-colored lines, to colorful gradients, or any pattern that you choose! We’ll show you the basics of applying a stroke and then go in-depth as we refine it to fit seamlessly in with an image.

Bevel & Emboss

One of the most powerful Layer Styles, Bevel and Emboss is one of the best ways to give text or a shape a realistic three-dimensional form by intelligently adding highlights and shadows to emphasize definition. Understanding all of the settings that this effect offers will surely up your graphic design game.

ENHANCE LIGHTING

ORIGINAL

Color Overlay

One of the more simple Layer Styles, Color Overlay has countless uses from speeding up workflow by allowing you to change the color of a layer quickly, or as a method of color correcting and color grading part of a photo.

Gradient Overlay

While gradients can be a great way to add depth and definition to shapes or text, they can also be used to bring the colors in a photo to life. Follow along as we use gradients to color a landscape image and add this powerful technique to your editing toolbox.

Satin

One of the lesser-used Layer Effects in Photoshop, Satin still has many uses in graphic and text design. Give text or shapes the soft, tactile feel of fabric or even increase the detail of metallic or glass textures in an image. Watch as we use this effect to create a design for mobile app logo.

Class Instructor

Aaron Nace

PHLEARN Founder

Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.

Reviews

  1. Rated 5 out of 5

    Great information, I learned a ton

  2. Rated 5 out of 5

    I learned so much from this tutorial. As a novice, I’ve been struggling to do the things I need to do for work, but Phlearn tutorials have saved my bacon. Aaron, you’re a great instuctor, always positive and upbeat, full of information and practical tips. I particularly enjoyed learning the text styles in this tutorial and will be putting the gold embossed style into use immediately. Thanks a zillion!

  3. Rated 5 out of 5

    Despite having used Photoshop for years, I’m relatively sure I’m not the only person who would occasionally stumble into the Layer Styles dialog and start mentally yelling ESCAPE! ESCAPE! It has a great many controls and options and I’ve found it remarkably intimidating. Aaron to the rescue. The examples are clear, well explained, and demonstrate the elements being taught. I found the technique to add glow to lights to be particularly valuable as the time required now to ‘turn on the lights’ in a streetscape reduced dramatically. Well done, and certainly well worth the investment of time to learn.

  4. Rated 5 out of 5

    East to West PHLEARN is Best 🙂

  5. Rated 5 out of 5

    I’ve been working in Photoshop for a dozen years or more, but I made do with a very limited selection of tools and found work-arounds to compensate. What a difference it makes to my efficiency and flexibility to learn how to use a wide range of tools and how to put them to best use. This course is fantastic. Thanks so much.

  6. Rated 5 out of 5

    Through this tutorial, I learnt so much about the power of layer styles. Aaron goes through each layer style feature individually and then presents fun practical examples for you to follow along with. I’ve found myself using layer styles way more often now which has improved the quality and speed of my workflow. I highly recommend this course particularly to those who haven’t really used layer styles in Photoshop.

  7. Rated 5 out of 5

    The example image used for the fairy effect was created by me on an experimental photoshoot. It ended up on a harddrive, never to be used until I uploaded it on Unsplash. I’m glad it now serves an educational purpose and helps others improve their techniques. What a great way to offer something to Phlearn, which has offered me so much knowledge in the past!

  8. Rated 5 out of 5

    I’ve been woking with Photoshop for years and Layer Styles was a challenge for me. This tutorials made this looks so easy now. Thank you!

  9. Rated 5 out of 5

    Excellent information. I never realised how powerful Layer Styles are until I worked through this tutorial.

  10. Rated 5 out of 5

    Absolutely brilliant! I wasn’t sure how much I’d appreciate the value of the tutorial, but you really opened my mind to the possibilities available with layer styles – an area of photoshop tools i’d tended to steer clear of. Phlearn rocks again!

  11. Rated 5 out of 5

    Outstanding! You make layer styles functional and easy to adapt to any photo or composition. Practice applications are the best! Understanding that drop shadows should be in steps made my aha moment. Love the fairy brush application and how to make scatter brushes realistic. Thank you Phlearn…you continue to open my creative windows.

  12. Rated 5 out of 5

    FANTASTIC! –as always! Not only did I learn a lot about layer styles, but I got more confident about trying different styles, combining different styles, and making my own styles. Aaron also shows that lots of times, getting the effect you want is a matter of trial and error –finding out what works for a particular image and what doesn’t. Thanks!

  13. Rated 5 out of 5

    This was a very cool series that took me from a beginner mode and exposed me to some advanced methods of layer styles. Now I know what’s possible and can start practicing what I “Phlearned” to create more realistic projects. Aaron did a great job, as always, of explaining each step in easy to understand ways for beginners and reinforcing those steps throughout the series. Thank You!

  14. Rated 5 out of 5

    This is amazing tutorial . I just waiting for it Layer effect tutorial you said everything we just need to know. We just needed some tutorial regarding Hidden features in Photoshop. You said something Modify->smooth it really new to me . Thanks PHlearn really loving it

FAQ

This tutorial includes 20 sample images, 19 video tutorials, and custom brushes and styles. Download the sample images and assets at the top of the page.

You’ll find answers to some of the most common questions in our Help Center. If what you need isn’t covered, you can submit a question to our all-star customer support team and they’ll get back to you right away!

We suggest using the latest version of Photoshop, but our tutorials are designed to be compatible with CS4, CS5, CS6, and Photoshop CC. Get the latest version of Photoshop from Adobe.

PHLEARN Tutorials are easy to follow, even for beginners.

If you need to learn the basics of Photoshop, we recommend watching the Photoshop Basics Collection and Photoshop 101-301 to familiarize yourself with all of the tools and capabilities that the software has to offer.

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