I need to know what are these. Help Please!

[Fornicras]

Hey, I downloaded a PSD from an unknown artist. I opened the PSD file and there was so many layers, I really figured out some layers and their roles in the work.

For example:



and



These were in the work and their blending mode was color dodge. It's does a really cool lighting for the some parts of the work, but I want to know what are these and how can I create them or use them correctly.

There's the original work.

 

[iDad]

You answered your own question within your first statement, " so many layers"

 

[Fornicras]

I mean It's a texture or something else?

 

[iDad]

There are many ways to do what I see in the image that could be a texture looks like a lot of different transparency or opacity levels. To me it looks like a picture of clouds with some text, text has embossing filter(to what degree I don't know) there could be a texture of lines on there , layer of transparent circles. It all boils down to separate layers, the mode they are in, the opacity or transparency.

 

[IamSam]

The first example you posted is just a gradient made with the Gradient Tool.

Here's one way you can make the second example.

Use your Type Tool to create the X and the O. Use the color you wish the type to be.
Create and Highlight a new layer below the type layer.
Make a selection of the type layer by hitting Command + Click on the types thumbnail.
Go to SELECT > MODIFY > EXPAND


Then enter 12 to 16 pixels.


Fill this selection with white. Color does not matter. Name this layer Expanded Text.
Turn off the Original Type layer and the Expanded text layer.

Create and Highlight a new Layer. Name it Highlights.
Command + click the Expanded text layers thumbnail first.
Option + Command + click the Original Type layers thumbnail second.

Your selection should look like this:


Select your Brush Tool. Use a soft brush larger than 12 to 16 pixels.
Brush over the selected areas you would like the highlight to appear.


Then hit Command + D to deselect.


You can then blur, etc.

 

[Fornicras]

Thank you so much, Gradient Tool and this text Expanding thing actually worked!

iDad, Thank you too for your replies.