How to Add Light, Shadow & Reflections to 3D Text in Photoshop

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Create a new document or import a new one. Adjust the Resolution to 300 pixels/inch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11101″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Click on the Type tool and enter your word.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11102″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Adjust the font size, style, color and other options to your liking. After that go to the top & click on the checkmark.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11103″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Click Yes for the Text Layer to be rasterized.  Adjust the settings to your liking. Make sure all the options under the mesh are selected.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11104″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Click on the 3D Object Rotate Tool.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11105″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This will give you the ability to move the object around. Click on the mesh area and start moving the object. You can also use the 3 color widget.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11106″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Go to the layers and click on 3D under the 3D layer (your naming would be different depending on what you specified).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11107″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This will open a new tab containing the object rasterize text made earlier.

Change the foreground & background colors (if you like) and double click on the Layer to open Layer Style & click on Bevel & Emboss. Following are the settings I used. Also set was the Color Overlay.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11108″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Click Ok & Save it with Ctrl + S. Close the file.

Go back to the original file. There’s one more thing we would like to change with the text. Click on the 3D Extrusion Material – … & click on it. This will be for the depth color.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11109″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This will open in a new tab.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11110″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This will be blank right now. Go ahead and fill in with the foreground color either by going to clicking on the Paint Bucket tool or by pressing Alt + Backspace.

Now go ahead and add Gradient Overlay by double clicking on the layer and open the Layer Style window.

Click on the Gradient bar & open the Gradient Editor. Click on the lighter color and set it to the foreground color (you can set your own color of choice). Click on Ok & hit Ok again.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11111″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Save the new tab by pressing Ctrl + S and close the tab.

To Change The Light, go to the 3D panel and click on Infinite Light 1. Changing the intensity will make the front lighter or darker.  The handle of the light is shown on top in red.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11112″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To change the direction of the light, click on the light rotate tool.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11113″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]