Here’s a quick preview of the image that we will be creating:
Step 1
On a blank document type the text in Illustrator. I’m using the Impact
typeface and this foreground color: #CCCCCC. Then go to Effect > 3D >
Extrude & Bevel, and set the values as shown below. Then copy (Ctrl or
Command + C) the 3D text.
Step 2
Let’s open Photoshop, create a new document (1280 x 1024 px) and put this image as a background. Then
paste the 3D text (created on Step 1) as a Smart Object.
Step 3
Next, go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects and set the values as
shown below. This way the text will match the scene lightening.
Step 4
Select the Smart object layer, right click on the layer and select Duplicate
Layer > Destination: New, and Name: Map. Then go to Layer > Rasterize >
Smart object. Save the document as Map.psd somewhere in your
Desktop.
Step 5
Now, let’s save the previous document as “Displace texture”, delete the
raster 3D text and paste this
image on a new layer. This will be our first texture.
Go To Filter > Distort > Displace, search for “map.psd” and set both
the Horizontal and Vertical values to 50. Then, Select all (Ctrl + A or Command
+ A) and copy the selection.
Step 6
Paste the “Rock Texture” into a new layer above the 3D smart object. Change
the Blending mode to Overlay.
Ctrl (Command) + Click on Smart Object miniature to select the text shape,
then Ctrl (Command) + Shift + I to invert the selection, then hit DEL to delete
the extra texture (on the “Rock Texture” layer).
Then use the Magic Wand tool to select the front face of the 3D text on the
Smart Object layer and delete the selection on the “Rock Texture” layer.
Step 7
Using the Burn Tool, burn some shadows on the “Rock Texture” layer.
Step 8
Select the “Sand dunes” layer, select the Clone Stamp tool and holding the
Option (Alt) key, click somewhere on the sand. Then create a new layer above
“Rock texture”, name it “More Sand” and clone the sand on that layer.
Step 9
To improve the texture effect, delete some areas of the “Rock Texture”
layer.
Step 10
Now we’re going to add some ‘dirt’. Open the “Displace texture” file one more
time. Paste this image into a new
layer. Go To Filter > Distort > Displace, search for “map.psd” and set
both the horizontal and vertical values to 50. Then, select all (Ctrl + A or
Command + A) and copy the selection.
Step 11
Paste the “Dirt texture” into a new layer. Ctrl (Command) + Click on the “3D
text” layer miniature to select the text shape, then Ctrl (Command) + Shift + I
to invert the selection, then hit DEL to delete the extra texture (on the “Dirt
texture” layer).
Using a soft eraser, delete the bottom of the “Dirt texture” layer, then
improve the result by using an irregular eraser.
Step 12
Change the “Dirt texture” blending mode to Multiply and add a small Drop
Shadow.
Step 13
To add the grass, go to the “Displace texture” file and paste this image. Apply a Displacement map,
just like the other textures and finally copy the grass.
Step 14
Paste the grass on the main document, delete the bottom part and using an
irregular Eraser delete some areas on the borders.
Step 15
Burn some shadows on the “Grass texture” layer.
Step 16
Add a small drop shadow to the “Grass texture” layer. Using the Sponge tool,
desaturate some of the areas of the grass.
Step 17
Paste the grass texture into a new layer on a plane on Vanishing Point filter
window (go to Filter > Vanishing Point) to match the perspective of the
landscape.
Step 18
Erase some random areas of the “Grass” layer, and using an irregular brush
delete some random areas here and there.
Step 19
Select a part of the grass, feather the selection and adjust the hue value to
-30.
Step 20
Finally add a soft drop shadow to the “Grass” layer.
Step 21
Let’s add more details. Paste this image into a new layer and adjust the
Hue/Saturation values to match the existing colors. You can call the new layer
“Hanging plant” or something like that.
Step 22
Using an irregular eraser, delete everything with the exception of the
hanging plant, and place them next to 3D text’s corners.
Step 23
Duplicate the “Hanging plant” layer and go to Edit > Transform > Flip
Horizontal. Then distort the copy a little bit. Follow this with the use of the
burn tool to make the copy darker according to the the scene lighting.
Step 24
Add as many details as you want. I added a few more hanging plants and a
bush.
Step 25
Just to create a more dramatic effect apply these two adjustment layers to
the entire design: a Photo Filter and a Gradient Map (Opacity 35%).
Final result
Now you’ve got a nice 3D text inside a photograph. Click on the image for a
larger preview. Try it on your own and come up with your own variations.
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