Adobe Photoshop, the popular image editor, can easily aid you in creating various realistic metals. This tutorial can be used to make various metallic objects such as buttons, shapes or text. If you need polished silver for your project, this How to Create Silver in Photoshop page will help you accomplish it in a few easy to follow steps.

• To load the .ASL file, simply unzip the file and drag it into your style folder located in your Photoshop install folder. Example Location: C:/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS2/Presets/Styles. Restart the program. Then, you just open the styles window in Photoshop by going to Window -> Styles. Click the small arrow on the interface and you should see ashaSilver in the dropdown. Choose the style, then apply it to your text by having the layer active and clicking the silve

• If you find that the style doesn't look exactly right on your font, try adjusting the settings. Usually, you just need to tweak the depth and distance numbers.

• When making a gradient to represent a shiny metal, try placing a one of your light color nodes at both ends. The last node will replicate light reflecting off the surface.

• To guarantee a sharper image, make your document twice the size that you need. Then, shrink it back down to your final size.

This tutorial is for all skill levels, although, it helps if you already know how to find the basic tools. If you have never worked with the layer styles in Photoshop, you may want to use the .ASL file included with this tutorial to help you see an example already put together. It should only take around 10 to 15 minutes to fully complete this how to article.

Download the silver style used in this tutorial.

Be careful when choosing a font. You should aim for a normal to thick weight typeface that doesn't have many thin lines. Bold Optima was used at 150 point size for this sample.

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 textSilver.
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.

At this point, you will build up the form of your word with layer styles.

1. Click your layer named textSilver 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 pictures in the following steps to fill in the custom settings for Bevel and Emboss, Contour, Texture, Satin and Gradient Overlay.

Bevel and Emboss Settings

Contour will add extra depth to the bevel.

Contour Settings

Here you will add a small amount of grain to the surface to give it more realism.

Texture Settings

Satin will add light variation to the surface.

Satin Settings

In this final step, you will add a gradient that will control the surface color and give the appearance of a simple reflection.

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 ffffff. Make the last node the same color.
4. Refer to the Gradient Editor 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 9c9c9c, and the fourth is 5e5e5e.
7. Hit ok once you are done.

Gradient Overlay Settings

Gradient Editor

Finished Silver Image