Tutorials > Grungy Chrome in Photoshop OR After Effects

Grungy Chrome in Photoshop OR After Effects

In this tutorial, we’ll check out a grungy chrome text effect, side by side in both Photoshop and After Effects! Along the way, we'll create a high end effect while highlighting some interesting similarities, differences, and unique features of both programs. Written project descriptions below…


PHOTOSHOP 16 Bit Document (Layers are listed as they appear in the document, "➔" indicates layer in Clipping Mask)
1) Curves Adjustment Layer for extra contrast
2) Texturelabs_LensFX_155: Screen mode, Opacity 50%
3) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
4) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
➔ 5) Texturelabs_Grunge_122: Overlay mode, 40% Opacity
➔ 6) Texturelabs_Sky132: Blend-if underlying layer white sliders at 16 and 84, Hue/Saturation with Saturation at -50
➔ 7) Gradient Map Adjustment Layer: Grungy Chrome preset
➔ 8) Texturelabs_Grunge_155: Overlay mode, 10% Opacity
➔ 9) Layer with Black to White Gradient: Overlay mode, 60% Opacity
10) GROUP FOLDER 10a) Text Layer: 50% Grey text, Bevel and Emboss with Depth 200% Size 10px Global Light Angle 80, Inner Shadow Effect with Opacity 50% Distance 0px Size 35px
11) Black Background Layer


AFTER EFFECTS (Layers are listed as they appear in the composition)
1) Overall Adjustment Layer: Noise Effect 7%, Gaussian Blur Effect 2, Unsharp Mask Effect Amount 100, Curves Effect for extra contrast
2) Glow Adjustment Layer: Screen mode, Levels Effect with Input Black 18500 and Input White 31500, Fast Box Blur 30, Solid Composite set to black
3) Texturelabs_LensFX_155: Screen mode, Opacity 50%
4) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
5) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
6) KNOCKOUT Solid Color Layer: Stencil Alpha Blending Mode, Set Matte Effect with Take Matte From TEXT LAYER
7) Texturelabs_Grunge_122: Overlay mode, 40% Opacity
8) SkyBlend Photoshop Layer: Exported from Photoshop with Blend-if settings listed in Photoshop instructions above, or download the PSD using the Texturelabs link above
9) Adjustment Layer: Apply Color LUT Effect with GrungyChrome LUT (download link above)
10) Texturelabs_Grunge_155: Overlay mode, 10% Opacity
11) GRADIENT Solid Color Layer: Gradient Ramp Effect with swap colors and start/end points matching top and bottom of underlying text, Turbulent Displace Effect with Amount 100 Size 50 and Evolution keyframes from 0 to 360 degrees over a few seconds
12) TEXT LAYER: 50% Grey text, Bevel and Emboss with Depth 200% Size 10px Global Light Angle keyed from 80 degrees to 40 degrees over a few seconds, Inner Shadow Effect with Opacity 50% Distance 0px Size 35px

8 textures used in this tutorial:

Grunge 155 - Weathered surface

small: 960×641 jpg

medium: 1920×1281 jpg

large: 4240×2829 jpg

x large: 7952×5304 jpg

Sky 132 - Sunset pink clouds

small: 960×641 jpg

medium: 1920×1281 jpg

large: 4240×2829 jpg

x large: 7952×5304 jpg

SkyBlend PSD File

.PSD file (9MB)

Grunge 122 - Dried drips

small: 960×642 jpg

medium: 1920×1283 jpg

large: 4240×2832 jpg

LensFX 139 - Sun flare

small: 960×640 jpg

medium: 1920×1280 jpg

large: 3840×2560 jpg

LensFX 155 - Iris artifact

small: 960×640 jpg

medium: 1608×1072 jpg

Grungy Chrome Gradient Preset - .GRD file

.GRD file

Grungy Chrome LUT - .CUBE file

CUBE file