Hell of Tutorial in Photoshop
A few days ago I took sometime to try some tutorials I read such as the really cool Dramatic Text on Fire Effect in Photoshop by Collis from PSDTUTS, and put some 3D typography ideas into practice. My idea was to create a 3D text with fire coming from the inside of the document like a hole.
Step 1
The first thing you will have to do is create the 3D text. To do that you can use Illustrator. It has a very nice 3D filter and it will work just fine.
Type the text you want and go to Effect>3D>Extrude & Bevel. Change the Position to Off-Axix Bottom. Then you just rotate the X,Y, and X Axis until you get the result you want. Follow the image below for reference. Tip: It's very important that you select Draw Hidden Faces. Otherwise Illustrator will not create some faces that will be very important for the end result.
Step 2
Now you will have to expand the 3D effect in order to select and change the color of the faces you want. Go to Obejct>Expand Appearance. First select the top faces, and move them away. Then select just the outer faces and fill them with black.
Step 3 - Photoshop
Create a new document in Photoshop and fill the background with Black. Copy the 3D text without the top faces and paste it in Phothoshop. Position it in the middle of the document and reduce its size.
Step 4
With the Magic Wand Tool (W) select the black faces and delete them.
Step 5
Go to Images>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation, change the color of the text to Orange.
Step 6
Make sure you have black and white for the background and foreground colors. Then go to Filter>Render>Clouds... After that, resize the layer. Make it smaller just to cover the word. Then just change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge
Step 7
Now create a new layer on top of the others and fill it with black, then with the Brush Tool (B) select a regular brush, very soft, like 0% hardness, and white for the color. Then just paint over some ares to make them brighter. (1-4)
Step 8
Apply a Layer Style to the 3D word, use Stroke with 1px Size, 40% Opacity and Black for the color.
Step 9
Let's add a Gradient Overlay to the background. It will be necessary in order to make some of the light effects work. Use Radial for the Style and use Black and #412e1d(brown) for the colors.
Step 10
Now duplicate the 3D layer and go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur use 30px for the Radius. Position this layer beneath the Hell layer.
Step 11
With the Ellipse Tool(U) create an ellipse like the image below, then go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 70px for the Radius. After that, just change the Blend Mode to Overlay.
Step 12
Create a new layer on top of the Backgroud layer. Fill it with white and go to Filter>Texture>Texturizer. Use 60% for Scaling, 15 for the Relief and Top for the Light. Change the Blend Mode to Multiply.
Step 13
Here I wanted to add a nice texture to the floor, so I used a wooden texture. You can find the one I used at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/947335. Or you can check the Great Wood Textures at http://abduzeedo.com/great-wood-textures.
Paste the image in the document and resize it to make it cover the gradient area. Then go to Edit>Transform>Distort. Move the vertices to apply a nice perspective to the wood. After that just change the Blend Mode to Multiply.
Step 14 - Fire
Now let's create the fire. To do that I will use what I learnt from the awesome Dramatic Text on Fire Effect in Photoshop by Collis from PSDTUTS.com. Basically we will get a photo of fire with flames and use the Warp tool to create different variations of the flame.
Download the image at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/985088 and paste it in the document. Make sure that it's in front of the other layes. Then with the Eraser Tool (E) delete some areas. Also go to Edit>Transform>Warp and distort the flame to get a nice effect. Then just change the Blend Mode to Screen.
Step 15
Create more flames using the same technique, you can even use the Smudge Tool (R) to change the form of the flames.
Step 16
Create a new layer in front of the other layers and go to Filter>Render>Clouds. Make sure you have selected Black and White for the Background and Foreground colors. Then you can resize the layer a bit to make the smoke smaller. With the Eraser Tool (E) delete some areas and just leave smoke over the text. Then change the Blend Mode to Soft Light.
Step 17
Repeat the same thing as the previous step, this time however use Hard Light for the Blend Mode. This step will create a more volumetric smoke to the image.
Step 18
Let's create the cracks on the floor. To do that let's use another image from sxc.hu, you can download it at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/995884. Place the image on the document and resize it to cover the gradient area. Then like we did before with the wood texture, go to Edit>Transform>Distort. Distort the image until you get a nice perspective, then change the Blend Mode to Multiply.
Step 19
This step might look complicated but it's not. Actually it's quite simple. Duplicate the crack layer and change the blend mode to Normal again. Go to Image>Adjustments>Invert, then go to Image>Adjustments>Desaturate. This will invert the colors so what was once black will now become white and vice-versa. Now go to Image>Adjustments>Levels and use 40, 1.00, and 226.
Right after that select the Magic Wand Tool (W) and select the black part of the image. Then go to Select>Similar, Photoshop will select all the black from the layer. Then delete the blacks and you will have the cracks in white. Now just apply a Layer Style. Go to Layer>Layer Styles>Color Overlay. Use #ffba00 for the color.
Step 20
Select the Eraser Tool (E) with a big soft brush, use 0% hardness. Then start deleting the layer. Leave just a small area close to the word. After that go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use a small value 0.5%. Then the last thing here, move this layer 2 pixels left and bottom, so it will create a nice 3D effect.
Step 21
Here you can duplicate the yellow crack layer and apply a another gaussian blur, this time use a greater value and change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge. If you want you can duplicate it one or two more times to make the effect brighter.
Conclusion
You can add more cracks or change the flames, now it's up to you. The idea of this tutorial was to create an image using fire coming from hell, like a deeper place using 3D typography. It's basically a mix of tutorials and techniques. It's all about playing and looking on the web, there are really great tutorials out there.
Click on the image to see a full preview







Hola Fabio, I am Katrin from Spain. Haven´t tried your "Hell" tutorial yet, I found you by searching for help for PSDTUTS "Fire" tutorial, Step 11. Please, if you can, explain me what to do with "Step 11", I am stuck now about 2 months, nobody volunteers any info and I don´t want to leave it uncompleted or take another tutorial without finishing it off - sucessfully :)
Help if you can. Thank´s anyway.
Katrin
Amazing tutorial! Love it!
hello good tutorial, I do a question ¿what is the name of the typography that you use?
Saludos =)
Step 6: create new layer, then cloud render as said.
Resize. Click text thumbnail, making a selection of your text.
While cloud layer is active, create a layer mask (reveal selection).
That should do the trick.
I use CS3 often enough, just the new layer won't cut it. But thanks for the hint, Gazelle.
Same comment as a few before: stuck at step 6.
Great tutorial but:
1. Follow up is non-existent as the maker does not reply to questions asked. That makes it a very poor tut imo.
2. Many comments added after the questions have been asked, but nobody takes the time to explain the step 6 thing. That makes the commenters very unhelpful people.
If I find how to get it working, I'll make sure and post on the issue.
To cut a long story short: a disappointment indeed.
this is so cool.super tutorial
Very nice tutorial. Thank's a lot.
My result is here : http://www.arts-gazelle.com/graphisme/images/hell_flammes.jpg
Great tutorial, I would have made the cracks glow more orange ...
to those having trouble with step #6 - make sure you create a new layer for the filter. If you use photoshop more you'll know that sort of thing automatically.
love ittttt!! got my version uploaded just click on my flickr
Flickr Photostream
WOWOWOW -Superb Effect.. I would definately use them for my designing
AGREED. i stopped after #6...#6 wasnt really explained. and would not come out right. it seems some parts was skipped over like we knew what we suppose to do..awesome effect but the tutorial lacks in some parts..oh well
This tutorial looks good but is very very confusing, it is one of the finest effects i have seen, its truly amazing, i just with the author would please please please please, make it simpler to understad, the steps are very confusing and missing out instructions, it seems like your jumping areas.
Mr Fabio Sasso
Anonymous (not verified) 07/31/2008
When I try to do Step 6, I cannot seem to get it to work. The cloud layer is just a square, and it does not blend in with the words? Why is this and how can I fix the roblem?
same here. it wasnt really explained. so i never got pass #6 adn quit
astig (cool)! you're such a master!
awesome tutorial, i am a big fan of you from romania, i've tried to copy all of your tutorials but i can't.keep up the good work and sorry for my english, i'm just an 14 years old kid:D
Amazing Tutorial,If you see more tutorial related to this, there are some fire effect tutorial on http://codervods.com/Default.aspx?mode=default&category=Adobe%20Photosho...
Thanks
amazing! great tutorial. thanks you so much
How do i select only the outer faces??
i have a problem with step 6. i think the cloud effekt is used on a own layer. my problem is, if i use the Gradient Overlay in the background (step 9), you although see the clouds in the overlay
I need some help. Every time I try to apply the bevel and extrude to my text, Illustrator tells me that "an unknown error occurred [129]" and an "error occurred while processing the appearance of the object."
And nothing happens to the text.
Help please!
Great tutorial, but like many others finding it a bit difficult to follow, maybe make a video tutorial of it or something, great work!
This tutorial looks good but is very very confusing, it is one of the finest effects i have seen, its truly amazing, i just with the author would please please please please, make it simpler to understad, the steps are very confusing and missing out instructions, it seems like your jumping areas.
Mr Fabio Sasso
Please please redo this tutorial in an easier to understand format, i am stuck at steps 6-7 ad would love to be able to achieve the effect you have
Thanks
Hey fabio. Since you know how to work the 3d stuff in illustrator, do you think you could write a tut on how to make the 3d letters go together like in this wallpaper?:
http://gomedia.us/arsenal/freestuff/wallpapers/boldisbeautiful-1024x768....
Hey guys, thank you very much for the comments, I really appreciate them... about the font, it's a P22 font called Constructivist-Solid.
Awesome tutorial! I believe this was asked above, but could someone please tell me what font was used, and where to get it? Thanks!
cool effect, good tut.
Max | Design Shard
very very impressive I love it. Thank you for sharing this one.
Nice tutorial! I don't understand why you use the 3d option, when you could just transform the text.
Hi great tut... but i use photoshop 7 and i dont find effect after i typed... can someone help me?
Grtz Yil
nice effects! hope to see more text effects soon. :D
Great tut as usual dude!
this is what i concocted:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2417/hellwi1.jpg
Fantastic tutorial. I've learned something new here after following the tutorial to the end (Select>Similar highlights similar colors).
you need to explain the tutorial a lil better dude =/ i wass a lil cofused on step 7
When I try to do Step 6, I cannot seem to get it to work. The cloud layer is just a square, and it does not blend in with the words? Why is this and how can I fix the roblem? Other than that, the Tutorial is Awesome.
Wow!! Awesome design. I was thinking thinking, what separates great pictures and design, from what "average" people do.
The amazing people just have the know how to manipulate their program.
Anyone know which font was used. This is an awesome tutorial!
Coño! Buenisimo!
Sweet! Awesome tutorial! :)
lol this is sick
Porra.. ficou muito loooco.
a parada do fogo pode fazer tbm no ParticleIllusion, tem uns presets legal lá.
Great tutorial, amazing stuff. One of the best ever I'd Say.
i stucked at the steps no 7
here is my result and it doesnt look like your but i'm happy with it..thanks anyway for the great tut.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm117/starlight_hafidz/Untitled-1copy...
Looks great. Just burned my fingers touching my monitor.
love it!!
this is really cool..
http://www.giackop.com
I like the way the text comes from "hell" :D
Really cool !
WOW this is a great tutorial.fantastic work.thanks a lot.
good skill
Very cool tutorial Fabio! Very impressed with this one.
Thats a Hot One !
love it.once again,great tut from abduzeedo!
Holy Smoking Hell! That is one of the coolest tuts I've seen in a while. Fabio, hands down I am you're follower.
What an excellent tutorial -- I love reading your guides because they always turn out amazing. I love that you resist showing the final product until the end :) Keep up the good work.
nice! one of the coolest tuts i've seen in a while.
wow fabio you are the best love your work keep up the good stuff
Wow! Great work!
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