With the image editor Adobe Photoshop, you can create various metals without much effort. One of the most popular metals that people want to produce is gold. Whether you want to make gold text for a brochure or golden buttons for a web site, this article will teach you how to create gold in Photoshop step-by-step.

• Create your document twice as big as you will need. This creates a sharper image once you size it down to what you need.

• Since most people don't have professionally calibrated monitors, it's a good idea to always sample colors from a photograph of the real world item you want to reproduce when using gradients. This lessens the chance that the colors are inaccurate.

• When using a gradient to represent the color, don't just make one that goes from light to dark only. Make sure to add a light node behind the ending dark node as well. This will give the appearance of reflection from the surface.

• If you use a different font and image size from the one in this tutorial, it is highly likely that you will have to tweak the settings a little. Start by adjusting distance and depth numbers,. This usually fixes any issues caused by wider or narrower fonts.

• Download the included style file at the top of this page and use it as a base to use in your own experiments.

This how to is suitable for any skill level. However, it will help if you know the basics of the Photoshop tool set. Although the more advanced area of layer styles is covered, you will be provided example settings to use. It should only take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete the tutorial. Below is a link where you can download an .ASL file that has all the styles from this article included.

Download the gold styles used in this tutorial.

When deciding on which font to use, avoid typefaces that are too thin. If you won't be using a thick font, you should at least use a bold weight of a normal one. In this example, bold Optima is used at 150 point size.

1. Create a new document by typing Ctrl+N.
2. Set the width and height to 500 pixels and give the file a transparent background.
3. Name the transparent layer textGold.
4. Push T to activate the text tool.
5. Under the main menu, you will see the text bar. Change the text size to 150 points or a size of your choice.
6. Type your sample wording.
7. If you want to center it on the background, select all by entering Ctrl+A. Go to the main menu and pick Window -> Align Layers to Selection - > Vertical (and Horizontal) Centers.

Now, that your text is ready, you'll want to begin building your gold style.

1. Click your layer named textGold then push the layer style icon at the bottom of the layer window. It looks like a lowercase f in a circle. (Hit the F7 button if your layer window is closed.)
2. Choose Bevel and Emboss. You'll notice that there is a check mark next to the name. That means it is applied to your text with default values.
3. Use the chart below to fill in the custom settings for Bevel and Emboss, Contour, Texture, Satin and Gradient Overlay.

Gradient Overlay Note: You will have to input gradient values into this menu. Basically, you're just making a transition from a lighter yellow to a warm brown.

1. After ticking the Gradient Overlay checkbox, click the colorful image next to the word gradient on the window.
2. Now, you will see the area where you will make the actual color transitions.
3. Pick the first color node and change the color to ffd126. Make the last node the same color.
4. Refer to the gradient graphic below to see where you add the third and fourth nodes.
5. To add a node, just click under the color bar on the gradient window.
6. The third color is a14210, and the fourth is 64280e.
7. Hit ok once you are done.

Gold Gradient

Finished Gold Image

If you'd like a lighter gold, you can easily alter the previous gradient settings to accomplish this. Use the picture below for a node reference.

• Light yellow: 7e7bd
• Medium yellow: e8c78b
• Dark yellow: 685325

Light Gold Gradient

Finished Light Gold Image