Create Detailed Letters of Gold and Diamond

This tutorial will show how we can create a set of detailed letters with gold and diamond. We will learn how to use the Polygonal tool to make a simple diamond and also introduce a convenient way to duplicate layers with minimal efforts.

Step 1

Create a new document of size 1000×700 pixels. Pick the Polygonal tool, set it to Shape Layers mode, sides to 18 and foreground color to #CECECE. Make a polygon on the document like what I did below.

Make another smaller polygon above the earlier one with foreground color #A8A8A8. Align the smaller polygon to the center of the larger one.

Select the Pen tool, set it to Shape Layers mode and foreground color #676767. Create a shape by setting the anchor points according to the sequence shown below. Then set the Blend mode of this shape layer to Overlay.

Repeat the same steps to cover the entire polygon. Then group all of them into a Group folder. Rename this folder as Diamond. Hide the Diamond folder temporary.

Step 2

Pick the Text tool and set the font to Myriad Pro. Type a letter at the center of the document. Right-click on the text layer and choose Blending Options. Select Gradient Overlay, set the Angle to 90 and Gradient to the colors shown below.

Step 3

CTRL+left click on the text layer to load a selection of it. Go to Select > Modify > Contract. Set the Radius to 4 pixels. Create a new layer and fill this selection with any color.

Step 4

Right-click on the new layer and choose Blending Options. Select Gradient Overlay, set its Angle to 90 and Gradient to the colors shown below.

Repeat a similar step as the earlier but with a contraction of 10 pixels this time. Use the gradient colors as shown.

Repeat a similar step as the earlier but with a contraction of 4 pixels this time. Use the gradient colors as shown.

Step 5

Unhide the Diamond folder. Right-click on the folder layer and choose Merge Group. Go to Edit > Transform > Free Transform to scale down the diamond so its diameter is close to the width of the gold border. Right-click on the Diamond layer and choose Blending Options. Select Drop Shadow, set the Angle to -50, Distance to 2, Size to 1 and leave the rest as default settings.

Now you need to place more diamonds so it fill up along the gold border of the letter. TIPS: Select the Diamond layer and pick Move tool. Press and hold ALT key then start to drag the diamond away from its original position. You will realise a new diamond layer is created. This is a much faster way to duplicated layers.

Step 6

Use the Pen tool to create a shape with white color like I did below.

Duplicate the shape and go to Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 CW. Merge these two shapes as a single layer.

Duplicate the cross shape layer, scale it down slightly and rotate it by 45 degrees. Position the smaller cross to the center of bigger one. Merge these two crosses as a single layer. Rename this layer as Glitter.

Step 7

Resize the Glitter so it fits nicely to size of the diamond. Right-click on the Glitter layer and choose Blending Option. Select Outer Glow and key in the settings shown below.

Repeat the same step for more glitter layers and place them around the letter border. Now you have got the first letter of gold and diamond.

Repeat the same for more letterings. After you are done, merge all the letters as a single layer. Right-click on the Letters layer and choose Blending Options. Select Outer Glow and fill in the settings as shown below.

Step 8

Download the Glitter Background from ShutterStock:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-43474438/stock-photo-glitter-background.html

Place the image as background behind all layers. Create a Level Adjustment layer and key in the settings as shown.