This wikiHow teaches you how to create a glitter effect that you can apply to shapes and text in Photoshop.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Creating a New Project
Step 1. Open Photoshop
Double-click the Photoshop icon, which is the "Ps" in the blue box.
Step 2. Click File
It's in the upper left corner of Photoshop. Click to open the drop down menu.
Step 3. Click New…
You'll find this option at the top of the drop-down menu. Click to open a window.
Step 4. Enter a name
Type a name into the text box at the top of the window.
You can also adjust all the settings in this window, if needed
Step 5. Click OK
Place this button at the bottom of the window. Click to close the window and open a new project.
Part 2 of 4: Creating a New Base Layer
Step 1. Click the " New Layer " button
This icon resembles a rectangle with folded corners, which is at the bottom of the " Layers " window.
If you don't see the " Layers " window on the right side of Photoshop, first click on the label Windows at the top of Photoshop, then check the option Layers.
Step 2. Open the “Swatches” window
Click Windows at the top of Photoshop, then check the option Swatches in the dropdown menu.
Step 3. Choose a color
Click a color in the " Swatches " window on the right side of Photoshop. This is the color of the glitter that will be used.
Step 4. Replace the background color with the foreground color
Click the 90-degree arrow to the right of the two-color square in the lower-left corner of the window.
- Do this only if the front box contains color and the back box is white.
- You can also press X to change the foreground and background colors.
Step 5. Apply selected color as background
Press Ctrl+← Backspace (Windows) or Command+Del (Mac) to do this. You will see the background color change according to the selected color.
Step 6. Click Filters
It's at the top of Photoshop. Click to open the drop down menu.
Step 7. Select Noise
You will find this option in the middle of the drop down menu Filter. Click to bring up the drop down menu.
Step 8. Click Add Noise…
It's in the drop-down menu. A new window will open.
Step 9. Select the amount of noise
Click and move the " Noise " slider to the left to decrease the noise, and to the right to increase the noise.
The higher the " Noise " number, the less gaps the glitter effect has
Step 10. Check the box " Monochromatic"
It's near the bottom of the window. This option ensures that the glitter color matches the one previously selected.
If you want more colored glitter, leave this box unchecked
Step 11. Click OK
It's at the bottom of the window.
Step 12. Add the " Crystallize " effect
This effect brightens up the part with glitter, which will enhance the look of the glitter:
- Click Filter
- choose Pixelate
- Click Crystallize…
- Set the "Cell size" slider to between 4 and 10.
- Click OK
Part 3 of 4: Adding and Merging Layers
Step 1. Right click on the base layer
Will find this glitter layer options window " Layers ". Click to open the drop down menu.
For Mac users, you can hold down Control while clicking a layer
Step 2. Click Duplicate Layer…
Place this button on the dropdown layer.
Step 3. Click OK when prompted
This option will create a copy of the glitter layer and place it at the top of the " Layers " window.
Step 4. Right click the new layer
It's at the top of the " Layers " window. A drop down menu will appear.
Step 5. Click Blending Options…
You'll find it near the top of the drop-down menu. Click to open the Blending Options window.
Step 6. Click the "Blend Mode" drop-down box
This box is at the top of the window. Click to open the drop down menu.
Step 7. Click Multiply
This option is in the drop-down menu.
Step 8. Click OK
It's on the right side of the window. Click to apply the " Multiply " effect to the duplicate layer.
Step 9. Rotate the second layer
This ensures that the second layer complements the base glitter layer instead of just blending in with it:
- Click Image at the top of Photoshop.
- choose Image Rotation
- Click 180°
Step 10. Create and rotate one more layer
Right-click (or Control-click) the layer you just created and edited, then click Duplicate Layers… and click OK. You will rotate the layer by clicking Image, choose Image Rotation, and clicking 180° in the pop-out menu.
You can add and edit more layers after this if you want, but three should be enough for the glitter effect
Step 11. Merge the three layers
In the " Layers " window, click the top layer, then hold down Shift while clicking the bottom layer (not the " Background " layer). When all layers are selected, press either Ctrl+E (Windows) or Command+E (Mac) to merge all three layers together. This step will create the glitter layer.
Step 12. Change the glitter color
If you want to change the color of the glitter, do so by following these instructions:
- Create a new layer and make sure it's at the top of the " Layers " window.
- Choose a color and apply it to the layer.
- Right-click the layer.
- Click Blending Options…
- Click the "Blend Mode" drop-down box.
- Click Soft Light
- Click OK, then repeat additional layers to darken the colors, if needed.
Part 4 of 4: Applying the Glitter Effect
Step 1. Create a new layer
Click the " New Layer " button at the bottom of the " Layers " window.
Skip this step if you want to apply a glitter effect to the outline of the image
Step 2. Add text or images
Depending on whether you want to fill the outline of a text or image with a glitter effect, the next steps can vary:
- Text - Click icon T in the toolbar, then type the text you want.
- Image - Open the image in Photoshop, select the "Quick Selection Tool" in the toolbox, click and drag around the outline of the image, right-click the outline area of the shape, and click Layer Via Cut.
Step 3. Move the layer below the glitter layer
Click and drag the text or image from the top of the " Layers " window to lay it beneath the glitter layer.
The glitter layer should be at the top of the " Layers " window
Step 4. Right click the glitter layer
It's at the top of the " Layers " window. Click to open the drop down menu.
Step 5. Scroll down and click Create Clipping Mask
You'll find this option near the bottom of the drop-down menu. You will see the glitter effect immediately impact the layer below it.
Step 6. Save the image
Click File, choose Export, click Quick Export as PNG, enter a file name, and click Export.
