Chrome Text Effect in Photoshop
One click chrome on live, editable type. 80s chrome, retro sci-fi and psychedelic chrome looks, all fully editable.
Real covers from Synkit chrome packs. Tap a pack to switch.
The short answer
To make a chrome text effect in Photoshop, stack Bevel and Emboss, contours, gradients and Satin on a live text layer until the reflections look like polished metal. A chrome layer style applies that whole stack in one click and keeps your text editable. Synkit chrome layer styles come as .asl files that you import from the Styles panel.
At a glance
- What it is
- Chrome layer styles for Photoshop
- What it does
- One click chrome on live, editable type
- Works in
- Photoshop
- Format
- Layer styles (.asl), Psy-Chrome as a .PSD preset
- Packs
- ChromeFX (10 styles), ChromeFX 2 (10 styles), Chrome Collection Vol.1 (50 styles), Psy-Chrome (5 effects)
- Every pack
- Included in the Layer Styles Bundle
- Made by
- Synkit, by Jorge Lopez
What it is
Building chrome text by hand means stacking Bevel and Emboss, contours, gradients and satin until the reflections look right. Synkit chrome layer styles apply the whole stack in one click and keep your text live, so you can change the word, the font or the size and the chrome follows.
ChromeFX and ChromeFX 2 each hold 10 styles inspired by bold 80s chrome. Chrome Collection Vol.1 adds 50 styles rooted in 80s sci-fi and retro-futurism, and Psy-Chrome brings 5 editable chrome text effects in a .PSD preset.
Examples
Same effect, different settings
Chrome and metal
Want the metal side too? Read the metallic guide.
The manual chrome method in 8 steps: contours, satin, inner shadows and texture.
Chrome packs
Chrome styles, ready to apply
4 packs, 80 styles. Every one is in the Layer Styles Bundle.
How to Photoshop
How to make chrome text in Photoshop
Load the styles
Unzip your download. In Photoshop open Window > Styles, then choose Import Styles from the panel menu and pick the .asl file. Double clicking the .asl file also loads it.
Set your type
Type your word on its own text layer. Bold, wide fonts carry metallic bevels best.
Click a style
Select the text layer and click a style in the Styles panel. The effect is applied to the live layer, so the text stays editable.
Match the size
If the effect looks too heavy or too thin for your font size, use Layer > Layer Style > Scale Effects to scale every effect at once.
Tweak and save
Double click the effects in the Layers panel to adjust any setting, then save your version as a new style.
Settings
The 3 settings that matter
Depth
Bevel and Emboss
Size and depth decide how thick and sharp the metal edge looks. Lower the size on small or thin type so the letters do not fill in.
Reflections
Gloss Contour
The gloss contour shapes the highlights and dark bands that read as reflections. Swap the contour to move from soft polish to hard chrome.
Scale
Scale Effects
Layer > Layer Style > Scale Effects resizes every effect in the style at once, so one style works on a headline and on a small logo.
Compare
Built in vs Synkit
| What you want | Building it by hand | Synkit chrome styles |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome on live type | Stack Bevel and Emboss, contours, Gradient Overlay and Satin by hand | One click from the Styles panel |
| Range of looks | Start from scratch for each look | ChromeFX 10, ChromeFX 2 10, Chrome Collection Vol.1 50 |
| Editable text | Yes | Yes. Change the word, font or size and the style follows |
| Tweaking | Every setting is yours | Every style is fully editable in the Layer Style dialog |
| Reuse | Save your own style once you get there | Styles load once into the Styles panel |
FAQ
Chrome text, quick answers
Does chrome text stay editable in Photoshop?
Yes, layer styles sit on the live text layer, so you can change the word, font or size at any time.
What file format are the chrome text effects?
The chrome layer style packs come as Photoshop layer styles (.asl). Psy-Chrome comes as a .PSD preset with 5 editable chrome text effects.
How do I install chrome layer styles in Photoshop?
Open Window > Styles, choose Import Styles from the panel menu and select the .asl file.
Can I edit the chrome layer styles?
Yes, every style is fully editable in the Layer Style dialog.
Can I get every chrome pack at once?
Yes, the Layer Styles Bundle includes all current standard layer style packs plus future releases, as a one time purchase.
Keep going
More layer style guides
Layer Styles Bundle
Every layer style pack in one download
Every current standard layer style pack, plus every future release emailed to you at no extra cost. One-time purchase, instant download.
