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This tutorial will teach you how to create gold metallic text in Photoshop without using any plugin filters.This tutorial covers Photoshop 3, Photoshop 4, and Photoshop 5.

1. In Photoshop, select File/New. Create your text using the Text tool.

Next, use the Gradient tool. You can change the setting of the Gradient tool by double-clicking on the Gradient tool icon, which will open the Option palette for the Gradient tool.

In Photoshop 3 you'll want to select only the text by using Control+Alt+T on Windows, or Command+Alt+T on the Mac.
Again, in Photoshop 3, set your background color to an orange-brown, and the foreground color to a pale yellow as shown in the example below. In the Options Palette for the Gradient tool, the first setting should be Normal, the Opacity 100%, the Style should be Counterclockwise Spectrum, and the Type should be Linear. Apply the gradient from top to bottom of the text selection while holding down the Shift key. Using the Shift key with the Gradient tool constrains the gradient to a smooth vertical blend. This first application of the gradient will not give you gold colored text, but the second step will.

In Photoshop 4, you won't need to select the text.

In Photoshop 5, you'll want to select Layer/Type/Render Type, or right mouse click on the "T" icon in the layers palette and select Render Type. Then select the Transparency Checkbox on the Layers palette before you apply the gradient.

2. Next, in Photoshop 3, change the settings in the Options Palette for the Gradient tool, the first setting should be Hue, and change the Style to Clockwise Spectrum. Apply the gradient from top to bottom of the text selection while holding down the Shift key. And there you have it, shiny gold type! Add a drop shadow if you like.

In Photoshop 4 and 5, select either the Orange Yellow Orange or the Copper gradient by double-clicking on the Gradient icon to display the Gradient Options palette, then select Gradient. Apply the gradient from top to bottom of the text selection while holding down the Shift key. Using the Shift key with the Gradient tool constrains the gradient to a smooth vertical blend.

3. Select Mode/Indexed, in Photoshop 3, or Image/Mode/Indexed in Photoshop 4 and 5, and save this as a gif file. A gorgeous gold gradient!

Don't forget to experiment, and try this effect on logos, clipart, etc, as well as type. Play around with the gradient colors too!

The typefaces used on this page include Oz Handcraft, at the top of the page, by Bitstream (also included with CorelDraw).

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