OSX Style Aqua Font
Tutorial from: http://www.talk-mania.com/showthread.php?t=32944
This tutorial will help you make OSX style “Aqua” effects. Also, by going a little further with the same effects we can create a pretty cool ice effect.
To start we have our image. I suggest making sure the image is RGB now, it will help a little later in the tutorial. To do this go to [Image/Mode/RGB] in the top menu bar.
Go ahead and put down some nice fat type. The bigger the typeface the better this will look with the settings I give here. I chose Impact for the font.
With the new font layer for the text selected we can get started with our blending options. Right click on the font layer and select [Blending Options]. The first thing we will do is set the [Gradient Overlay]. Double click on the gradient bar to bring up the color selector. Double click on the little arrow on the bottom left of the gradient. When you double click on this, it allows you to change the gradient color. The color I’ve chosen will represent the dark side of the gradient, a dark blue. After double clicking on the arrow, input the following color numbers in the RGB boxes: [R=42, G=66, B=133]. You should see the immediate color change if you have any of the text you typed in earlier, visible. Ok, now we’re going to set our light color by double clicking on the bottom right arrow and input the color numbers in the RGB boxes [R=192, G=222, B=255]. Now we’ve got our colors all set. In the gradient overlay window, leave everything default except the gradient angle, which you should set to -90 degrees. You should be able to see from the image the correct settings.
Next we’re going to add an Inner Shadow by clicking on the Inner Shadow radio button. Here we will set the Mode to Multiply, the Opacity to 65%, angle to 90 degrees, Distance 10, Choke 0, Size 10. You should be able to go by the image for your settings.
Next we’ll make a drop shadow. Click on the Drop Shadow radio button. We want our opacity to be 60%, Distance 10, Spread 0, and Size 10. Everything else will be default. Again, use the image for help if needed.
The outer glow will be our next blending mode. Click on the Outer Glow radio button. Click on the Yellow color box to change the glow color. We will put in the numbers 0,0,0 in the RGB boxes. This will give us a clean black. We want to set the mode to Multiply, 70% opacity, Spread 0, Size 8. Everything will be default as the image shows.
Now we click on the Bevel and Emboss radio button. This will make the effect pretty much look like the final product, with a few subtle changes. Make the size 5, and most importantly, change the Altitude to 75, the Highlight to 100, and the Shadow to 0.
For a little bit more shine, click on the Contour radio button and set the Range to 80%.
There you go, OS X styling. Or pretty close to it. Of course these settings can be altered for color, depth, and distance of just about anything to fit your selection or image. Once you have this effect, if you like it, I suggest saving it in your style palette by dragging the Type layer into your styles palette and naming it whatever you like. That way to copy this effect on other layers or images, just highlight the layer and click the corresponding Style.
