How To Create Retro Text FX
Before you can create new stuff, you have to know how to create the old stuff. Here is a tutorial for creating old stuff with fresh new method in Fireworks. I’m going to show a simple design process creating a oldskool 70s/80s Retrologo text FX.
Step 1 – The background
Create a new document and use the rectangle tool (U) to create a 540×260 size rectangle.
Change the fill-type of the rectangle to Bars. The default gradient angle is horizontal, so grab the gradient handle and rotate it down to vertical.
Change the colors of the gradient from #66FFFF to #000066 and add bonus color #3399ff somewhere 1/3rd after the starting color. Add some texture, like 50% of Line Horiz 2.
TIP: For using color like #66FFFF, you can shorthand the color as #6FF (just like in CSS)
Step 2 - Enter text
Grab the Gabo Drive font or use any other big boldy font.
Type a word TURBO with Gabo Drive. Why? The word Turbo was used only 3 times in the 2000′s, so this word definitely needs a sparkling comeback.
While using the text tool, grab the side(s) of the text-object to scale the width same size as the rectangle (or turn on the smart guides from View/Smart Guides/ and manually put the text centered with rectangle).
Adjust the font-size to 200 (you have to type it, scroll goes only to 96px size). Switch the text aligment to CENTER. Diminish the kerning to -50. The kerning is still not quite perfect, but then again this tutorial is not about kerning.
Step 3 – Convert Text to Vectors
Since we are working with FX, I recommend to switch to vectors. Right-click the text-object and select “Convert To Paths” (Ctrl+Shift+P).
Open Paths Panel (via Window/Other/Path)
In Paths Panel, select Union Paths.
Right-click on the TURBO and select Ungroup (Ctrl+Shift+G).
Step 4 – Add Gradient
Select the TURBO and change fill to Linear gradient.
Next we need to do complex gradient. I sketched out the gradient with huge amount intuition which is quite hard to replicate. So instead of insane tweaking, just download this FW source PNG-file:
Open it in Fw and click the rectangle and hit COPY (ctrl+c).
Switch to Turbo. Click on Turbo-object and hit Edit/Paste Attributes (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+V). Now you should have the same gradient with additional 66% of Line horiz 2 texture .
Step 5 – Add Stroke
Add 2px stroke to TURBO. Select a preset Soft/Soft Rounded and add 30% grain-texture.
Proceed with Edit Stroke for couple advanced tweaks.
Hit the Shape-tab and adjust the stroke-particle Aspect to 50.
Hit the Sensitivity-tab and locate Angle from the dropdown. Set the Random-parameter to full 100.
Step 5 – Add Filters
Now for the magic tricks.
Lets start highlights. Add Shadow and Glow / Inner Shadow.
Set the color of small (4px /blur 1px) white shining (50% opacity) from somewhere downright (Angle 235)
Add another Inner Shadow for another highlight. Use 5px of Red with 12px blur coming softly (opacity 40%) from downleft (angle 315).
Add Shadow and Glow / Drop Shadow for the dark higlights. Quit visible (75% opacity) Black 1px size with 2px blur from direct down (angle 270) with give some nice edge.
Notice that the Inner Shadow and Drop Shadow angles are different – the inner/outer angles have a different starting location place.
To give some depth and faux-3D, add Shadow and Glow / Solid Shadow -Filter. Size 10px with Angle 270 (direct down) will take the blackness from previously entered DropShadow the Solid Shadow more stronger and darker.
The Turbo needs more edge and contrast, so add Adjust Color / Curves – Filter. Tweak the curve to add more power to the darker colors and make thing pop up. Little overburn is totally ok, this is not about HIFI graphics.
Almost there. Add some Noise (Amount 2 with Noise/Add Noise) and sharpen (Sharpen/Sharpen) the object and you are DONE!
Here is an example FW-PNG-file created with this tutorial (with some additional tweaking).
Additional Tips
- Want to use this effect on text or any other object? Since the effect is achieved by using only one layer, you can save the effect as style!
- Click on Turbo and hit Ctrl+C (Copy). Next type any text or draw any shape and hit Paste Attributes (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V) to duplicate the the effect.
- Try switching the fill-texture from Line Horiz to something other or use totally different gradient colors. The results can be quite stunning.
