Figure 1		 Not all of us have those great plug-in filters, and here I'll show you how to make some realistic chrome effect. Ready?

First of all you'll have to start off by making a new image. I made a new file, 350 x 350 pixels (we'll minimize the image at the end...), transparent backround, RGB mode.

With this tutorial it's very important to make the letters really big, and then minimize the text when you are finished to get the full effect!


   

Figure 2

Start by typing your text.
On the text layer press down the Ctrl-key and click on the text layer to select it.


Create a new layer.
Fill your selection with grey #5959595.

 


  


Figure 3

Now make a darker grey your foreground color (#262626) and keep your selection.

Now go to Edit - Stroke - 
Witdh: 5 pixels
Location: Inside
Opacity: 100%
Mode: Normal.

Still keep your selection.


  

Figure 4

Make a new layer - call it white shadow. Now go to Select - Modify - Contract - 15 pixels.
Fill the selection with white color.
Deselct.

Now we'll have to blur the white shadow layer a little bit:
Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur - 5 pixels.
Then change the layer mode from Normal to Overlay.

Go back to the stroked layer (fig. 3) and drag the layer down to the New Layer tab to duplicate the layer. Call this layer Chrome.
Press down Ctrl and left-click the "Chrome" layer to select it.

 


Figure 5

Now go to channels and click the "Save selection as channel" button (Alpha 1).
Now drag the Alpha 1 layer down to the Create new layer button to duplicate it (Alpha 2).
Now select the Alpha 2 layer and be sure you keep your selection.

Now we are going to run a Gaussian Blur 4 times with different settings:
Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur - 9 pixels.
Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur - 6 pixels.
Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur - 3 pixels.
Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur - 1 pixel.

Your image should now look like fig. 5.

Keep your selection.

 


Figure 6

 

Now go back to layers and select the "Chrome" layer.

Now do a Filter - Render - Lightning Effect with the settings shown in fig. 6.

 

Figure 7

 

Your image should now look like figure 7 and still be selected.

As you can see the edges are a little bit "jaggy", so now it's time to get rid of those...

Figure 8		 Still at the "Chrome" layer hit Ctrl + Shift + I to inverse the selection.
Now go to Select - Modify - Expand - 1 pixel.

Hit the Delete key and deselect. 

Resize your image to 200 x 200 pixels.

Now all the fun begins :=) 
It's time to "curve" things up! 

 

 


Figure 9		 Go to Layer - New - Adjustment Layer.
Type: Curves.

Be sure to check the Group With Previous Layer box.

 


Figure 10		 Now it's important that you enter exactly the same value as shown in fig. 10 to get the right result!

If you want your text to look like really shiny plastic you can now go here.

If you want to continue this tutorial just read on :=)

 


Figure 11		 We are going to make the text shine even more, so we'll add a new adjustment layer.

Select the "Chrome" layer again and go to Layer - New - Adjustment Layer - Curves + Group with previous layer.

Now enter the values shown in fig. 11 to get the right effect.

 


Final result !		 Now your text is finished and should look like fig. 1 !

To my image I added a rusty texture as background

and added some Hue/Saturation to the Chrome layer with these settings:
(Layer - New - Adjustment Layer - Hue/Saturation + Group with previous layer)

Check the "Colorize" option
Hue: 33
Saturation: 50
Lightness: 0