Easy Metallic Chrome text effect | Affinity Photo Tutorial

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to create a stunning metallic chrome text effect using Affinity Photo. This effect will give your text a shiny, reflective appearance that stands out. Let's get started!

Step 1: Create a New Document

1. Open Affinity Photo and press F to create a new document.
2. Choose the template size of 1920 x 1080 pixels, or customize it as per your needs. It's best to start with a black background, so you can easily see the chrome effect.
3. To set a black background, go to Layer > New > Fill Layer and select black.

Step 2: Add Text

1. Select the Text Tool by pressing T.
2. Choose the DemiBold font (or any font you prefer) and set the size to 300 px with a gray color. For the gray color, set your RGB values to 128.
3. Type your desired text (for instance, your username) and center it in the document.

Step 3: Apply Layer Effects

1. Right-click on the text layer and select Layer Effects.
2. Check Inner Shadow and link the chain icon. Set both offsets to 0 for maximum coverage.
3. Choose the shadow profile you like; the fourth option is recommended.
4. Set the direction to 804, shadow darkness to 50, and the second shade to 15. Adjust these settings to your liking and close the effects panel.

Step 4: Group the Text Layer

To keep things organized, group the text layer by pressing Ctrl + G and rename the group to "Text".

Step 5: Create Gradient Layer

1. Create a new layer by pressing Shift + Ctrl + N.
2. Select the Gradient Tool by pressing G. Ensure you're using the gradient and not the paint bucket tool.
3. Hold Shift to draw the gradient across the canvas.
4. Set the layer blend mode to Overlay.

Step 6: Adjust Gradient Map

1. Add a Gradient Map adjustment layer.
2. For the gradient, set the left color to black, the right to white, and choose any color for the middle (we recommend blue).
3. Close the gradient map settings when you're satisfied with the colors.

Step 7: Refine the Effect with Curves

1. With the gradient layer selected, go to Adjustment > Curves.
2. Add five new points to create a wave pattern, adjusting the curve to your preference.
3. Once you're done, exit out of the curves adjustment.

Step 8: Final Touches

To smooth out rough edges:

1. Duplicate the text layer by selecting it and pressing Ctrl + J.
2. Drag the duplicated layer to the top of the layer stack.
3. Set the duplicated layer's opacity to 0 and apply an Outline effect with a radius of 2.
4. Set the outline to position from the Outside to Center.

Now you should have a beautiful metallic chrome text effect!

Keywords

• Affinity Photo
• Metallic Chrome Effect
• Text Layer
• Gradient
• Layer Effects
• Curves Adjustment

FAQ

Q: What software do I need to create a metallic chrome text effect?
A: You will need Affinity Photo to follow this tutorial.

Q: Can I use different fonts for this effect?
A: Yes, feel free to use any font that you prefer.

Q: What should I do if the gradient effect doesn't look right?
A: Make sure you're using the right colors and check the gradient settings. Adjust the gradient curve if necessary.

Q: Can I customize the colors of the chrome effect?
A: Absolutely! You can choose any colors you like during the gradient adjustment phase.

Q: Why should I group the text layer?
A: Grouping helps keep your layers organized, making it easier to manage the project.