Gangsta Diamonds or Christmas Bling...

By Colin Smith www.photoshopcafe.com, edited by Jed Gibbs 2005-6


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Make a new file 1024 pixels wide by 500 pixels high at 200 dpi resolution.

Use the Text tool to create the text you want to turn into the Gold and Diamond effect.
From the Layer Menu choose Rasterize layer.

This will convert the text into pixels - a picture of text:

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Make a selection around the text (Hold down the Control key (or on Macs the Apple Key) and click on the layer thumbnail image, or use the Magic Wand making sure there is no X in the 'contiguous' check box).

Press "D" to reset to default colours of Black and White, or click the little icon next to the colour wells.
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For rubies choose Red and Black, emeralds Green and Black. They may change a little later...

Filter > Render > Clouds

If the render menu is not available convert the file to RGB mode (from Image > Mode > RGB).

Now this is where we create the diamond effect.

Filter > Distort > Glass

Choose the Tiny Lens texture and scale it down.

Use the settings as shown here for 72 pixels per inch images, if you set have your file to 200ppi try a scale value of 100% instead. Adjust to taste!

Click OK to apply

That completes the diamond covered look to the text.

Now to add a golden border.

Apply a layer style to the layer by clicking the F symbol at the bottom of the layers palette - choose stroke. Try size 30px - what value you decide on will depend on the resolution of your file and the effect that you are after. Higher res files will need a wider stroke for the same effect.

Position = Outside (you could try Center but it reduces the width of your text)

Fill type: Gradient, choose the default copper setting from the little down arrow.

Click on the Bevel and Emboss option

Choose "Stroke Emboss" this will apply the bevel to the stroke we just made.

Crank the Depth up and set the size for the same as the stroke: try 30

Change the gloss contour until you get something that looks nice and metallic.

Click OK

This shows the basic effect. Now to adjust the colour to make it look more like gold...

Apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the half-black, half-white circle at the bottom of the layers palette, and push the saturation all the way up to 100.

Drag the hue triangle a little to the right until you get an expensive gold colour.


Add some sparkles:

Load the assorted brush set that comes with Photoshop. (Click the arrow at the top of the brushes palette and choose assorted from the menu. When prompted select "append" to add the set without removing any you have already).

Choose the small 50 pixel starburst.

This will be too small for a 200ppi file so drag the Master Diameter slider to the right to 200 px.

Make the foreground colour white.

Create a new layer above the Bling and "dab" in the sparkles with the paintbrush tool. If it goes wrong you can more easily remove them from the new layer...

A contrasting gradient laid across the background layer can set it off. Just type 'G' to select it from the tools palette.

Choose a gradient you like and then drag the tool across the background layer to apply it.