How to Create a Cool Dot-Matrix Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a liquid recipient text effect. You will begin by creating the pattern for the liquid and then you will use a font made of circles, as a recipient for your liquid. You will learn how to fill a text with liquid and how to give it a phosphorescent effect. Let’s begin !

Tutorial Resources

Step 1

First we will create the pattern for the blue liquid. Create a 10x 10px document, go to View > Show > Grid to enable the Grid and then go to View > Snap To > Grid to enable the Snap to Grid. Hit Control + K to open thePreferences window, go to Guides, Grid & Slices and enter the settings mentioned below. Along the tutorial I turned off the grid ( Control + ‘ ) for you to have a better vision. The grid will make it easier for you to create\edit the shapes.

Step 2

Concentrate on your Toolbar, set the foreground color to #FFFFFF and pick the Ellipse Tool. Move to your canvas and create the following vector shapes roughly as you can see below.

Once you’re done, save your pattern simply by going to Edit > Define Pattern. Pick a name for your pattern and click OK.

Step 3

Hit Control + N and create a 2000x 1000px document.

Step 4

Focus on the Layers panel, select the Background layer and click on the padlock icon to unlock the layer.

Focus on your Toolbar, set the foreground color to #32313C, pick the Paint Bucket Tool and click on your canvas to fill it with a new color.

Right click on the unlocked layer, go to Convert to Smart Object and then go to Filter > Noise > Add Noiseand enter the settings mentioned in the last image.

Step 5

Pick the Horizontal Type Tool and use the Fortuna Dot font.

Move to your canvas, add the “AQUA” text with the size to 450px and the color to #2E2D36.

Step 6

Open the Layer Style window for the text and enter the settings mentioned in the next images.

For the Pattern Overlay section use the Hex Metal Mesh pattern from the “Metal Mesh Patterns – Pack 1”.

Step 7

Change the foreground color to #226167, pick the Pen Tool and make sure that the Tool Mode is set to Shapefrom the top bar.

Move to your canvas and create the following vector shape. Try to pierce the font circles through the middle as you can see below.

Step 8

Focus on the Layers panel, hold the Control button from your keyboard and then click on the thumbnail icon that stands for the text to load a simple selection around it.

Now, make sure that the blue vector shape is selected and click on the Add Layer Mask button.

Once you’re done, simply hit Control + D to clear your selection.

Step 9

Open the Layer Style window for the blue vector shape and enter the settings mentioned in the next images.

For the Pattern Overlay section use the pattern created at the beginning of the tutorial.

Step 10

Change the foreground color to #21656C and pick the Ellipse Tool.

Move to your canvas and focus on the font circles half filled with the blue vector shape. Create a set of squeezed circles with the height set to 6 px and adjust the length according to those font circles.

Once you’re done, focus on the Layers panel, select all your vector shapes made in this step, click on one of it and go to Merge Shapes.

Step 11

Open the Layer Style window for the vector shape made in the previous step and enter the settings mentioned below.

Step 12

Set the foreground color to #276A71 and make sure that the Ellipse Tool is still selected.

Move to your canvas, focus again on the half filled font circles and create a bunch of tiny circles ( 1x1px – 2x2px – 3x3px ) and spread them as you can see below.

Step 13

Change the foreground color to red ( #FF0000 ) and pick the Pen Tool.

Move to your canvas and create a vector shape that covers only the half filled circles.

Step 14

Create a new selection around the text, make sure that the red vector shape is selected and click on the Add Layer Mask button.

Hit Control + D to clear your selection, focus on the Layers panel and lower the Fill to 0%.

Step 15

Open the Layer Style window for the red vector shape and enter the settings mentioned below.

Step 16

Change the foreground color to #2E2D36, pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 80px from the top bar. Move to your canvas, create a 1760x 660px vector shape and place it as you can see in the first image.

With the same tool, lower the Radius to 75px, create a 1700x 600px vector shape and place it in the center of the rounded rectangle that you have created before.

Step 17

Focus on the Layers panel, select the vector shapes made in the previous step, right click on one of it and go toMerge Shapes.

Pick the Path Selection Tool, select the 1700x 600px vector shape, focus on the top bar and go to Subtract Front Shape.

Step 18

Open the Layer Style window for the vector shape made in the previous step and enter the settings mentioned below.

Step 19

Change the foreground color to #226167, and pick the Pen Tool. Move to your canvas and create the following vector shape.

Focus on your Layers panel, hold the Control button from your keyboard and then click on the thumbnail icon that stands for the vector shape edited in the previous step to load a simple selection around it.

Make sure that the blue vector shape is still is selected and click the Add Layer Mask button.