How to Create Avengers Text Effect in Illustrator & Photoshop
In today’s tutorial we are going to re-create text effect used in the comic (also an upcoming movie)- The Avengers, to make ourselves feel like we are actually also a hero, at least a Illustrator/Photoshop hero :)
We will make the text manually in Adobe Illustrator, then import its path to Adobe Photoshop and apply some effects and texture. Instead of “Avengers”, we will use “Hongkiat” as the text, or you can use any text you please.
Let’s get started.
Getting Started
To follow this tutorial, you will need following resource:
- Concrete Texture from vandelaydesign
- Free Alternative: Free Concrete Textures from Texture King
- The Avengers from Owen Dawson
- The Mighty Avengers from Owen Dawson
Avenger Text Effect
Step 1: Getting the font
Let’s start with working on its characters. Our first option is using a free font type. After searching in google using keyword "free fonts Avengers", I found two fonts with Avengers theme, The Avengers and The Mighty Avengers. Both are made by Owen Dawson. Unfortunately, both do not have the complete alphabet for our project.
First font has no K and O. We need these two characters in "Hongkiat". Also, we cannot use its A character because it is not suitable if used between letters, such as in "Hongkiat".
Second font seems to be based from The Avengers original comic. It has round edges instead of sharp edges. This font style is different from its movie poster.
So, our best option is to draw the characters manually. We are not going to use these fonts but they will be useful for our reference while creating the characters.
Step 2: Reference
You should start googling for The Avengers. This is what I use for our reference. Save the image file, create new file in Adobe Illustrator, then paste the file. Click Object > Lock > Selection to lock image and prevent it from being edited accidentally.
Step 3: Making Characters
In current "AVENGERS" text, we can find N and G which is used in "HONGKIAT". Make new layer, then use pen tool to trace character N and G.
Step 4
For other characters (H, O, K, I, A, and T), we will base it from other available characters. For I, we use the available N character and remove half of it.
For O, we modify E by closing it and add hole on its center.
For K, we can simply modify R by cutting its upper part.
We also use R as base character for A.
For T, we use A character that we have created earlier.
Step 5
Place all these character into its position. Currently, we have "ONGKIAT".
Step 6: Draw First Character "H"
Just as in the reference image, first character is very tall compared to the others. For the H, we can use reference from preview font The Avengers.
Step 7
Draw two circles from same origin. Select both circles, open Pathfinder panel and select Subtract to create a ring shape.
Step 8
Place ring shape on top of H and O character. Note: To help us see better, I will remove unused paths from sight.
Step 9
Select "Ho" characters, click Object > Path > Offset Path.
Step 10
Right click H and select Ungroup to separate Offset Path from its main path. Repeat this process to O.
Step 11
Place big H on top of ring shape by clicking Object > Arrange > Bring to Front. Select big H and ring shape, then select Subtract on Pathfinder panel.
This is the result.
Step 12
Right click ring shape and select Ungroup.
Step 13
Place big O on top of ring shape by clicking Object > Arrange > Bring to Front. Select big O and the ring shape underneath it. From the Pathfinder panel select Subtract.
Below is the result.
Step 14
Delete remaining parts of the ring that are unused.
Step 15
This the complete preview on our current path.
Step 16
Draw two rectangles, then rotate them 45° and –45°. Position both shapes until we get an arrow shape.
Step 17
Select both shapes and select Unite from Pathfinder panels.
Step 18
Place arrow on top of H character. See picture below for its placement. Select both shapes and select Subtract.
Now, we have an arrow hidden inside the H character. This text is now ready to be used.
Step 19: Start Working in Photoshop
Open Photoshop. Make a new file with size: 2000 px × 900 px. Fill background with color: #070707.
Step 20: Importing Character Path
Return to Illustrator. Select all character paths and then hit Ctrl + C to copy it into clipboard.
Step 21
In Photoshop, hit Ctrl + V. Paste text as path.
Text from Illustrator is placed as a new path. You can find it on Paths panel.
Step 22
Select path inside O and A. In option bar, set its mode to Subtract. This mode will make both paths create holes inside their main path.
Step 23: Convert Path to Shape
Click black and white circle in Layers panel. Select Solid Color, set its color to #070c12. Now, we have new shape based on the imported paths.
Double click layer to open Layer Style dialog box. Add Bevel and Emboss. Select Technique: Chisel Hard to get hard edges.
This is our current result.
Step 24
Add concrete texture and place it on top of the text. Set its blend mode to Screen and reduce its Opacity to 47%.
Step 25
Add layer mask. Draw linear gradient from white to black.
Step 26
Hit Ctrl + Alt + G to convert texture into Clipping Mask. The texture now goes inside the text.
Step 27
The texture is currently faded in lower part of the text. Let’s reveal some of them there by painting that area with white using brush with Opacity 30%. Below, you can see layer mask after painting those areas.
This is the result. You can see that now there’s a subtle texture on lower part of the text.
Step 28: Add Embossed Stroke Effect on Text
Duplicate text and paste it behind the original text layer. Add Layer Style: Stroke.
Below, you can see that the result is just a flat color stroke line.
Step 29
Let’s add Bevel and Emboss and set its Style to Stroke Emboss. This way, the effect is also applied to the Stroke we have just added.
Now, the stroke has Emboss appearance.
Step 30
Add Outer Glow to add subtle shadow behind each character. Currently, we will not be able to see its effect because the background is still too dark.
Step 31
Create new layer above text with stroke effect. Press Ctrl and click on text layer. Click Select > Modify > Expand. Set Expand by 3 pixels. Notice that we expanded selection for 3 pixel so it matches the stroke size.
Fill selection with a linear gradient from white to black to white.
Set its blend mode to Overlay. Reduce Opacity to 30%.
Step 32: Add Lights on Background
Create new layer under the text. Activate Brush tool and set its Opacity to 100%. Draw white line behind the text.
Step 33
Reduce brush’s Opacity and draw bigger line covering the first line.
Step 34
Paint random light cast on line’s edges.
Step 35
Press Ctrl and click on text layer to create new selection based on text shape. Make new layer and place it on top of main text.
Activate Brush tool, set its Opacity to 10%. Paint some whites on middle of the text as like the light cast is from behind.
Below, you can see the result before and after adding light cast.
Step 36
Make new layer again. Place it on top of text. Right click and choose Stroke.
Select white color, Width: 1 px.
Step 37
Hit Ctrl + D to remove selection. Apply Gaussian Blur to soften the stroke line.
Step 38
Erase some of the stroke lines. These lines become highlight on the text shape.
Step 39
Draw another stroke line again on new layer. Erase some of it to act as sharper highlight.
Step 40
Make new layer and fill it with linear gradient, white to black. Press Ctrl and click on text layer.
Step 41
Add layer mask by clicking Add Layer Mask icon on Layers panel. Set blend mode to Overlay and reduce its Opacity to 55%.
Step 42: Adding Color
Again, press Ctrl and click on text layer.
Add Adjustment layer Hue/Saturation. Use setting below and make sure to activate Colorize option.
Here’s the result on the text.
Step 43: Increase Text Contrast
Make new layer. Press Ctrl and click on text layer then fill selection with radial gradient from black to white.
Set blend mode to Overlay then reduce its Opacity to 40%.
Step 44: Adding Subtitle
Draw a thin rectangle on top of the text with color: #3b568. Add Layer Mask, then paint both ends with black. Add subtitle above the rectangle.
Final Result
We’re done! Below is the result of our tutorial. Click on the image to see it in full size. I hope you enjoy this tutorial and learned some new techniques. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
