Overlapping Text Effect

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make overlapping text with reflections. I used GIMP to produce this effect.

The Text Overlay Effect

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make overlapping text with reflections. Made in GIMP.

1. Getting Started

• Begin by opening up Gimp –> making a 1600 x 1200 with 480dpi page and its transparency.

Getting Started

2. Fill Background with Black

• Now grab the paint bucket and fill it black:

Background

3. Text Tool

• Add your first letter:

Text Tool

4. Text Properties

• With the following settings: Font: Sans, Colour: White, Size: 410

Text Properties

5. All Letters

• Repeat the above steps until you have all your letters, like below:

All Letters

6a. Alignment

• To help with the alignment: Go View –> Show Grid

Alignment

6b.

• And go View –> Snap to Grid

Snap to Grid

7. Layout

• Then align all your letters up with a little bit of overlap between them:

Layout

8. Alpha to Selection

On the “letter layer” (mine is: S) Go: Layer –> Transparency –> Alpha to Selection

Alpha to Selection

• Press delete:

Delete

9. Colouring

• Now add some colour (mine is: green, with 75% Opacity), You may like to make the Opacity less!:

Colouring

10. Repeat

• Fill in the “Whole Selection” and Repeat the above steps for all your letters!:

Repeat

11. Moving Layers

• You can change which letters overlap each other by moving their layers

Moving Layers

12. Merge Down

• Then “Right Click” on the layer and “Merge Down”, all letters!

Merge Down

13. Gaussian Blur

• Duplicate the “Letters Layer”, and then go Filters –> Blur –> Gaussian Blur

Gaussian Blur

• Settings around: 45 and 45.

Settings

14. Glow Effect

• You should now have a “Glow Effect”, then Merge Down that layer.

Glow Effect

15. Rotate and Flip

• Duplicate the layer, and Rotate 180degrees and Flip sideways:

Rotate and Flip

• Then Move it down, until there is a slight gap:

Move it down

16. Add Layer Mask

• Now go Layer –> Mask –> Add Layer Mask

Add Layer Mask

• Settings: White(Full Opacity)

Settings

17. Gradient Tool

Grab the Gradient Tool with these settings: FG Only: Black

Gradient Tool

• Apply Gradient like below:

Apply Gradient

• Should look like this, and then Merge Down:

Merge Down

18. Rotate

• Now Rotate the “Letters Layer” (around -15degrees works nicely):

Rotate

• Should look like this:

Result

And you are now finished!!!

finished

I hope you like it and credit goes to tutorial9: tutorial9.net

Written by Mike

Michael Scott is the publisher and photographer behind Scott Photographics! He is very passionate about his photography and enjoys sharing the best of his experiences for others to enjoy too! Contact Mike via email!