{"id":45244,"date":"2020-05-05T13:27:50","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T20:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/?p=45244"},"modified":"2021-02-18T22:25:08","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T06:25:08","slug":"emboss-logo-icon-photoshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/emboss-logo-icon-photoshop\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Emboss a logo or icon in Photoshop"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first discovered this technique over 20 years ago, I decided to see how far I could push it. That experimentation led to me creating a series of Photorealistic illustrations entirely made in Photoshop .Click here to see more of my Photoshop Illustration work<\/a><\/p>\n

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This is what you will create from a simple flat image, it’s quite amazing really.<\/p>\n

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Step 1.<\/h4>\n

Start with a new document. I chose 1920 x 1080 as its HD screen size and it will work perfectly for Youtube end screens or other video projects.<\/p>\n

Optionally, you can add a gradient to part of the image. I added a small white to black linear gradient by dragging with the gradient tool.<\/p>\n

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Step 2.<\/h4>\n

Add your icons or text. I found the social icons online. Easy to find with a quick google search.<\/p>\n

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Step 3.<\/h4>\n

Just to personalize it a bit, add your logo. (Of course this page can be anything you like.).<\/p>\n

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Step 4.<\/h4>\n

We need to put everything into a single layer.<\/p>\n

You could flatten the document. But it’s better to keep the layers in case you want to change something later. Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E (windows) \/ Cmd+AOption+Shift+E (Mac)<\/p>\n

This creates a flattened layer on top.<\/p>\n

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Step 5.<\/h4>\n

Press Cmd\/Ctrl+A to Select all.<\/p>\n

Press Cmd\/Ctrl+C to Copy to clipboard.<\/p>\n

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Step 6.<\/h4>\n

Choose the channels panel<\/p>\n

Create a new alpha channel by clicking the new channel button<\/p>\n

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Step 7<\/h4>\n

Paste into the channel. Ctrl\/Cmd+V<\/p>\n

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Step 8.<\/h4>\n

Click on the words RGB.<\/p>\n

Red Green and Blue channels should be back on and Alpha 1 not showing. If you see a reddish color its because the Alpha channel is still on (click its eyeball to turn it off.)<\/p>\n

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Step 9.<\/h4>\n

In the Layers Panel, create a new layer<\/p>\n

Press Shift+Delete on Mac (Shift+Backspace on Windows).<\/p>\n

When the fill dialog opens, choose 50% gray for contents.<\/p>\n

Click ok.<\/p>\n

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You will now have a gray filled layer on top.<\/p>\n

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Step 10.<\/h4>\n

Choose Filter>Render>Lighting effects<\/p>\n

(If it’s grayed out, make sure your image is RGB and 8-Bit under the Image>mode menu. Also go to Preferences>Performance and make sure Use Graphics Processor is on. If that still doesn’t work, try restarting.)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

In the lighting effects, choose Blue Omni from the presets.<\/p>\n

We are wanting the Omni light as it works best for this effect. Watch the video though above for some interesting variations.<\/p>\n

(Press Ctrl\/Cmd+H if you don’t see the tool overlay).<\/p>\n

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Step 11.<\/h4>\n

You will see a field called Texture in the properties on the right.<\/p>\n

Choose Alpha 1 from the list.<\/p>\n

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and BOOM! you will see your channel embossed. (The height slider changes it)<\/p>\n

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Step 12.<\/h4>\n

You can drag in the little wheel in the center to change the brightness, reducing it makes the color more even.<\/p>\n

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Step 13<\/h4>\n

Increasing the height makes the effect more pronounced.<\/p>\n

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Step 14.<\/h4>\n

If you move the slider to a negative number the emboss will become an inset. Interesting huh?<\/p>\n

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Step 15.<\/h4>\n

You can change the color by clicking on the rectangle by color.<\/p>\n

The color picker will allow you to choose a different color.<\/p>\n

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Step 16<\/h4>\n

You can also get a different result by dragging the light source to a different area.<\/p>\n

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Click on to apply. I think thats so real you can almost touch it. But wait, theres more, keep reading.<\/p>\n

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Everything is nicely chiseled, but what if you want a rounded edge?<\/p>\n

Step 17.<\/h4>\n

Go to the channel panel and click onAlpha 1, let’s change the image in the channel.<\/p>\n

Using the rectangular marquee tool, make a selection around the logo.<\/p>\n

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Step 18.<\/h4>\n

We only want the edges of the box, not the writing selected.<\/p>\n

Hold down the Alt\/Option key and select around the type, this takes away from the selection.<\/p>\n

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Step 19.<\/h4>\n

Choose Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur<\/p>\n

A radius of 7.8 works here.<\/p>\n

Click OK<\/p>\n

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Step 20.<\/h4>\n

Click on RGB to turn the RGB channels back on.<\/p>\n

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Step 21.<\/h4>\n

Create a new layer and fill with gray, just like we did in step 9.<\/p>\n

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Step 22.<\/h4>\n

Choose Filter>Render>Lighting Effects<\/p>\n

You will notice the blur creates a rounded edge. (This is actually how we made bevels before Layer styles, but don’t tell anyone I’ve been using Photoshop that long, oh wait, I started when I was 5 ;))<\/p>\n

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Step 23<\/h4>\n

If we reduce the Height, you can get an even softer effect.<\/p>\n

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And the result.<\/p>\n

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Don’t forget to watch the video as it also shows how to hyper realistic rock effects and more.<\/p>\n

This is part 3 of a series I’m making on Lighting effects.<\/p>\n

If you enjoyed this please share it on social media<\/p>\n

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Great to see you here at the CAFE<\/p>\n

Colin<\/p>\n

Check out part 1 here for the basics and using a color channel for texture.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Part 2 is lighting a portrait<\/p>\n

See it here<\/a><\/p>\n

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Browse our hundreds of other free tutorials here<\/a>, or search for what you are looking for in the search at the top of the page.<\/p>\n

You can also browse by topics in the free tutorials menu.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

If you are ready to get serious about Photoshop, see our full length courses here<\/a><\/p>\n

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PS Don\u2019t forget to join our mailing list<\/a> and follow me on Social Media><\/p>\n