The 80’s have always had an iconic impact on Pop Culture. I have been seeing a lot of 80’s inspired designs on the internet, but never found a tutorial. So, here’s a simple tutorial inspired by the 80’s. This is just a basic design to get you started, and Adobe Photoshop is all that’s required (and very few stock images). And of course, a lot of modifications can be done with this technique.
Final Preview:
Part 1: Creating The Main Text
Taking a canvas size of 1900 X 1200. Of course you could pick any size according to your preference, but make sure the resolution is decent enough.
Fill the background layer BLACK.
With the Text Tool type whatever you want the text to be. I chose “Leave, but don’t leave me”, from a Pink Floyd song. “But don’t leave me” is coming later. Right now we’ll work on “Leave”. The font I have used is Futura Heavy.
- Right-click on the text layer, go to Blending Options to create Layer styles.
- On the Layer style box, go to Gradient Overlay, tick it.
- On the Gradient Overlay, we open the Gradient editor and make the New Custom Gradient as above. I have chosen shades of black, white and grey so that we can easily modify the colors later.
Then apply Stroke, and in the fill type, set it to Gradient, and choose the simple Black to White Gradient preset.
Next, make a new layer above the text layer, name it Gradient 1 (or anything you please). Fill it with a gradient. I used real bright colors, in honor of the 80’s.
The ‘Gradient 1′ layer is set to Soft Light mode, with an opacity of 72% (you can experiment with the modes, and opacity).
The above image shows you are current progress. We are beginning to have the 80’s looks to it.
Part 2: The Background
Next we are going to add a nice texture to the image. I have used a paper texture. You can find it here.
Select all (Ctrl/Cmd+A), copy the texture (Ctrl/Cmd+C) and paste it (Ctrl/Cmd+V) on your work. The Blend Mode is ‘Vivid Light’, and you can see we already have a great effect going.
Now it’s time to create a new brush to get a cloud effect; open up the Brush Engine, and use the following settings:
It’s a very useful brush, and can be used to make clouds in other work as well.
Now make a new layer “Clouds”, and paint with the brush you just created. Add a bit of Inner Shadow, to add more depth to the clouds.
Now change the order of layers, bring the ‘Clouds’ layer just above the Background. Also, the opacity of the ‘Clouds’ layer is Changed to 56%.

Now Ctrl/Cmd+Click the ‘Leave’ (Text) Layer, which selects the region of the text, and then go to the ‘Gradient 1′ layer and add a layer mask. This masks of the gradient from the rest of the image and leaves it on the Text.
Then we create a New Layer, Name it ‘Clouds 1′, Above the ‘Clouds’ layer. Make sure your foreground and background colors are Black & White, Go to Filter -> Render -> Clouds.
Keep the overlay mode as Vivid Light. Then in the Blending mode, add a Gradient Overlay, and use the following 2 colors for the gradient: #00fff0 and #e303bb.
Next we will add some stars to the background.
We now make a new layer above the ‘Cloud 1′ layer and fill it with Black. Then we go to Filter -> Noise -> Add Noise. Use Gaussian, Monochromatic, 10 % amount. There are various ways of making a star filled sky, this is the one I chose.

Next, choose Image -> Adjustment -> Levels and use the following values for Inputs: 65, 1.00, 99.
I have renamed the layer to Stars, and the blending mode is set as Screen.
Next we’ll add bigger glowing stars. Make the following brush using the brush engine:

Paint with varying brush sizes. Use the bracket keys ([ and ])to change the size quickly. Then add a Layer mask, and paint with black, using the same brush. This gets rid of some extra stars.
Now with a brush of 0% hardness and size of around 300, paint along the edges and get rid of some more stars, also add some Gaussian Blur if required.

Part 3: The 80’s Twinkle
It’s very simple to create the twinkle used in so many 80’s posters.

- Take a soft brush, and just click once with it on a new layer, to create a soft circle.
- Duplicate the layer, and go to Filter -> Blur -> Motion Blur, Angle 0 degree, Distance around 46 pixels.
- Keep duplicating and adding motion blur 3 more times.
- Then merge all these layers (5 of them). Go to Free Transform, and stretch it, it widen the glowing object.
- Finally, duplicate the merged layer, Rotate by 90 degrees.
We have the twinkle now. We merge both layers, and name the new layer ‘Twinkle’.
Now we can use the ‘Twinkle’ layer where needed.
Duplicate the ‘Twinkle’ layer over the Text layer (rotated, transformed etc.) and place them on the text. This makes it shiny and 80’s!
Part 4: The shapes
Create a new layer for the shapes.
Using the polygon lasso tool, and create a selection in the shape shown above. Select the Gradient tool, and use a Gradient of color White (foreground color) and transparent. We fill the selection with this gradient.
Next, Duplicate the shape and shift it a bit. (Press Alt/Option and drag the shape). Merge the layers, and duplicate them. Then we flip them horizontally and create and new shape.
Orient the shapes in different directions and places, as shown below:
Then apply a Gradient Overlay, using Blending options on the few layers, with Hard Light as the Gradient Overlay Blend mode.
So, this is how it looks so far (below). We are almost done now. You can leave it right here, or make a few more adjustments.
I add the new Text layer, “But Don’t Leave Me”, and apply a stroke via the Blending options.
If you think the colors are too bright, you can add a Hue/Saturation mask on the top of the layer stack, and lower the saturation to somewhere around -15.
The final image:
Hope you had a lot of fun going through this tutorial. A big thanks to the guys at GoMedia, for making this possible. Cheers!
Go Media is a creative agency based in Cleveland, Ohio. Besides the GoMediaZine, we also work for clients and sell stock artwork and design files on the Arsenal.
July 29th, 2009 at 3:07 pm -
This is great. I love the integration of all these techniques, and the fact that you were able to keep it so simple. Good stuff. The final 'LEAVE' looks really good.
Thanks for this tut.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:46 am -
Yummy Mummy!
Those textures look great, in a 80s style wonder, keep expecting David Bowie to jump out of the screen with a crystal ball…no I'm not on crack!
Cheers for the inspiration once again.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:50 am -
Great technique. The font looks amazing!
Let's go give it a shot! =]
July 30th, 2009 at 8:07 am -
That's awesome, thanks!
July 30th, 2009 at 11:02 am -
Yeah!…even i'm gonna go try this one..
July 30th, 2009 at 11:04 am -
Awesome article! Thanks for that! I'm going to have a go now!
Nice one Rahul.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:41 am -
This is really dope!!
I just found this via blogger, its a good tut!
but i get lost at “Part 4: The shapes”
on what layer should i do this?
because i dont get the texture..
maybe its me, but i miss some explanation about it…
thanks in advance! en thank you for the tut anyway!
July 30th, 2009 at 12:16 pm -
Nice tutorial!
July 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm -
Well, after u have created the selection with the polygon tool, fill it with the gradient on a new layer. Now, with the move tool, press Alt, and drag the shape u ve created. This makes another shape on top of the last one. Repeat this Alt+drag again. So, you have what u wanted. Now merge all the 3 layers.
Then u can play around with this semi transparent shape.
Hope this makes it clear for you.
Cheers!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:32 pm -
Im wondering why you didnt create your mask for the text using a clipping mask instead of selecting the text and creating a layer mask. This would allow you to edit the text and have the mask apply with it. As it is right now, the mask is rasterized which means each time you change the text, you have to edit the mask as well.
Also, would it not be easier to create the shapes using a vector shape instead of making selections? You could have the vector shape filled with the gradient and it also makes it easier to edit after the fact.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:14 pm -
Since I already had a Gradient Overlay applied to the text, the clip masking won't work.
As for using vector shapes, yes of course. Actually I didn't use the vector shapes as I like merging the shapes, so that it doesn't create a clutter of vectors, so I didnt use the vectors. But yes, vector shapes should certainly do the trick.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:55 am -
Nice Blog, so how would of they done this in the 80s without photoshop???
July 31st, 2009 at 6:35 am -
Great tutorial, I love the effect! Was very easy to follow and has helped me learn some new photoshop tricks, thanks a lot.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:45 am -
Exactly, I wonder how? That's food for thought…
July 31st, 2009 at 8:51 am -
Question:
When I apply the color gradient to “LEAVE” how do i get it to fill just the letters, and not the whole page?
July 31st, 2009 at 8:55 am -
Never Mind, Figured it out.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pm -
Freeeffej, what did you do? I can't figure that bit out. It seems like a step is missing.
August 1st, 2009 at 4:06 am -
Select the whole of the text region by Alt+Clicking the text layer, and then just add a layer mask to the Gradient layer. This way, the rest of the portion is masked off….
August 1st, 2009 at 9:30 pm -
Como E Que Eu Fasso Isso Numa Foto? Tem Que Baixar Um Pograma E Manu?
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 pm -
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3713/ineedai...
August 5th, 2009 at 5:25 am -
sorry rjha i'm kind of missing the step just to fill the word leave here – i appreciate you described it in the comments but still not getting it – alt click text layer then add a layer mask to gradient1 layer?
August 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm -
awesome !!!!! i love the wallpaper
August 6th, 2009 at 6:34 am -
nice effect thanks for the detailed tutorial..
August 10th, 2009 at 8:00 pm -
The style we're trying to emulate here is airbrush art. The best example of this revived style today can be seen in the music video for “DVNO” by Justice, which nails the style of 1970s/80s TV / film idents and title graphics of all sorts – hand-drawn cel animation, early CGI, Scanimate, etc. It's nice that we can emulate some things in Photoshop, but there's nothing quite like knowing how the originals were created.
What's killing me here is the lack of proper kerning between the “a” and the “v”. If I was art-directing this I'd send it back to have it tightened up.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:07 pm -
The kerning between the A and V was bugging me too!
I just finished the tutorial last night. I stuck to it pretty closely, but I might make another for my boyfriend and deviate from the tutorial a little more. I used “Swim for your life” from the Jack's Mannequin song Swim for my text. It's my favorite wallpaper I've made so far.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:05 pm -
I am learning a lot as I go through this but I'm stuck at Step 4. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?
I make a new layer. I make a shape with the polygon lasso tool. I fill my shape with the foreground-to-transparent gradient. For me, the result is a white to transparent shape. Not the cool mask effect that you show.
I'm a beginner at photoshop, so I'm probably some step that is obvious – but not obvious to me!
August 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm -
I figured it out – I had the layers in the wrong order. ;-)
August 18th, 2009 at 9:48 am -
what photoshop are you using?
cuz mine doesn't have gradient editor on it?.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:03 am -
He's using CS4….what photoshop are YOU using that doesn't have a gradient editor….as far as I can remember photoshop 6 and 7 had gradient editors
August 20th, 2009 at 2:04 am -
Sweet TUt bro…..
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 am -
excellent.. so many little dirty tricks tips in it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 am -
That's simply great, I have learned lots of brush techniques from it.
Thanks for helping us
September 13th, 2009 at 7:31 pm -
used this here: http://rumple.deviantart.com/art/rumple-the-pri...
love it@
September 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm -
I am just finished with the turorial, and the design came out great!!!! Thank you sooo much for posting this! Some parts were a little bit confusing, but I figured it out! Thanks!
September 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm -
I am just finished with the turorial, and the design came out great!!!! Thank you sooo much for posting this! Some parts were a little bit confusing, but I figured it out! Thanks!
September 20th, 2009 at 7:36 am -
can u help me find the Brush Engine???:-sfaast.10x and its a g8 tut
September 21st, 2009 at 1:53 pm -
Leave but dont leave me? Pink Floyd reference?
October 6th, 2009 at 1:35 pm -
great it was realy help full thankuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
October 28th, 2009 at 4:41 am -
u only design with one font. the rest is skill. salute!
November 12th, 2009 at 12:51 pm -
That is such an awesome effect. Thanks for the share.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:55 pm -
hey buddy u have damn gud skills and u sharing them wid every1. . thatx realli sooo nice ov u
November 24th, 2009 at 9:31 pm -
OK why oh why oh why does the gradient just fill up the screen every time i try i add it. I'm following the lesson to a T. Please help me!!!!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 2:25 pm -
u are nt adding layer masking to it. thtx y!
December 4th, 2009 at 2:40 pm -
I just upgraded to CS4 and it was a breeze no problems at all. Thanks for your help though!
January 5th, 2010 at 7:09 am -
Actually I didn't use the vector shapes as I like merging the shapes, so that it doesn't create a clutter of vectors, so I didnt use the vectors. But yes, vector shapes should certainly do the trick.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:29 pm -
Bringing the 80's back in style with photoshop.
http://internet-pro-tools.com/photoshop-3d-tuto...
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:22 am -
To me this is the best text effects tutorial I have seen yet.
http://adobe-video-tutorials.blogspot.com/2009/...
May 5th, 2010 at 4:14 am -
Thanks for this nice work!
dizi izle
June 3rd, 2010 at 8:55 am -
HI !
Cool effect I will certainly be useful to my new project.
Thanks
June 6th, 2010 at 11:45 pm -
Wonderful tutorial. I love the outcome of colors.
July 24th, 2010 at 5:36 pm -
did you ever figure out how to get the graident to apply to just the text? I'm stuck at the same spot and I've tried everything, either the gradient takes up the whole screen or it doesn't show up at all :(
August 5th, 2010 at 11:56 pm -
I'd like to learn something about Photoshop, thanks
August 10th, 2010 at 7:21 pm -
For me Bad Tutorial Many Things not explain how Just say do it or do that but how? for begginers is very poor tutorial