How to Create a Muddy Boot Print Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

This tutorial will show you how to use Adobe Photoshop’s transform modes, shape tools, brushes, layer styles, and filters, along with some textures, to create a muddy boot print text effect. Let’s get started!

This text effect was inspired by the many Layer Styles available on GraphicRiver.

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:

• Rockin Record__G font
• SoilSand0058 – Image 1 Small (1024 x 1024)
• SoilMud0109 Medium (1600 x 1066)
• water texture 02 by Pagan-Stock

1. How to Define a Pattern

Step 1

Open the SoilSand0058 – Image 1 image, and go to Image > Image Rotation > 90° Counter Clockwise.

Step 2

Go to Edit > Define Pattern, and then click OK and close the file.

2. How to Create a Background and Text Smart Objects

Step 1

Open the SoilMud0109 image, and then right-click the Background layer, and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Step 2

Create the text using the font Rockin Record__G, and then set the Size to 100 pt and the Kerning to Optical.

Step 3

Right-click the text layer, and choose Convert to Smart Object.

3. How to Warp Text

Step 1

With the text layer selected, press Command-T to enter Free Transform Mode.

Step 2

Click the Warp icon in the Options bar, and then choose the Fish preset from the Warp drop-down menu.

You can then click-drag the control point to adjust the shape of the text, in order to get a basic boot print shape.

Step 3

Hit the Return key once to get out of Warp Mode and back into Free Transform Mode, and then scale the text as needed.

You can keep switching between both Transform Modes until you get a result you like.

Once you’re done, hit the Return key until you get out of all Transform Modes and accept the changes.

4. How to Draw Shapes Using the Pen Tool

Step 1

Pick the Pen Tool and choose the Shape option in the Options bar.

Next, you’ll be adding some shapes to fill in the empty areas between the letters you have.

Step 2

You can click to add points, and click-drag to create curves.

Step 3

You can also use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to modify the anchor points, and/or their handles, so that you get a shape that fits perfectly.

Step 4

Create shapes wherever you think there should be ones, and don’t forget the beginning and the end of the text.

This will help create the inner part of the print you’re creating.

5. How to Add an Inner Stroke

Step 1

Double-click the text layer to apply a Stroke effect with these settings:

• Size: 12
• Position: Inside
• Color: Black

You might need to use a different Size value based on the text you have. Just make sure it’s not overlapping or filling the text.

Step 2

Right-click the styled layer, and choose Copy Layer Style.

Step 3

Select any big shape layers you have, right-click any of them, and choose Paste Layer Style.

6. How to Add an Inner Stroke With Different Width Values

Step 1

Double-click the smallest shape layer you have to apply a Stroke effect with these settings:

• Size: 10
• Position: Inside
• Color: Black

Step 2

Make sure that the stroke looks good, and then copy the layer style.

Step 3

Paste the layer style to the remaining shape layers you have.

You can double-click any of the shape layers to adjust its Stroke Size value separately if needed.

7. How to Combine Layers in a Smart Object

Step 1

Select the text and shape layers you have, and then right-click any of them and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Rename the smart object layer to Inner Shapes.

Step 2

Change the Inner Shapes layer’s Fill value to 0, and then duplicate it.

8. How to Style the Inner Shapes Layer

Double-click the Inner Shapes layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Style: Outer Bevel
• Technique: Chisel Hard
• Size: 5
• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Color: #b5b4b3
  • Opacity: 35%
• Shadow Mode: Color Burn
  • Color: #8e877f
  • Opacity: 50%

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Check the Anti-aliased box.

Step 3

Add a Texture with these settings:

• Pattern: SoilSand0058
• Scale: 25%
• Depth: 200%

Step 4

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 15%
• Pattern: SoilSand0058
• Scale: 25%

Step 5

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Opacity: 35%
• Distance: 8
• Spread: 50
• Size: 10

This will add depth to the first layer of the inner part.

9. How to Style the Inner Shapes Copy Layer

Double-click the Inner Shapes copy layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Color: #b5b4b3
  • Opacity: 35%
• Shadow Mode: Color Burn
  • Color: #8e877f
  • Opacity: 50%

Step 2

Add a Texture with these settings:

• Pattern: SoilSand0058
• Scale: 15%
• Depth: 200%

This will add texture to the inner parts.

10. How to Create an Outline Shape

Step 1

Use the Pen Tool to create the boot print’s outline shape, keeping a bit of distance between the outer and inner parts.

Rename the shape layer to Outer Shape.

Step 2

Change the Outer Shape layer’s Fill value to 0, place it on top of all layers, and duplicate it twice.

11. How to Style the Outer Shape Layer

Double-click the Outer Shape layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Color Overlay with these settings:

• Color: #dfdbd5
• Blend Mode: Multiply

Step 2

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Hard Light
• Opacity: 25%
• Pattern: SoilSand0058
• Scale: 25%

This will create the dark textured part.

12. How to Create a Debossed Effect

Double-click the Outer Shape copy layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 36
• Soften: 12
• Gloss Contour: Gaussian
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Color: #adacac
  • Opacity: 70%
• Shadow Mode:
  • Color: #2b2926

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Cone
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

This will create the main debossed effect.

The text might need to be repositioned, but we’ll fix that later.

13. How to Intensify a Debossed Effect

Double-click the Outer Shape copy 2 layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 50
• Soften: 2
• Uncheck the Use Global Light box
• Angle: 111
• Altitude: 42
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Opacity: 0%
• Shadow Mode:
  • Opacity: 35%

If needed, you can choose another Highlight Mode Opacity value.

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Cone – Asymmetrical
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

This will intensify the debossed effect.

14. How to Group Layers

Step 1

Select all the Inner Shape layers, and then press Command-G to group them, and rename the group to Inner Shapes.

Repeat that to place the Outer Shape layers in an Outer Shapes group.

Step 2

Select the Inner Shapes group, and use the Move Tool to reposition it inside the styled outer shape.

15. How to Retouch a Texture

Step 1

What we’ll do next is get rid of any small unwanted areas in the mud texture, including the little stones and pebbles that can be seen through the beveled parts.

So create a new layer on top of the Background layer, and call it Texture SH.

Step 2

Pick the Healing Brush Tool, and set the Sample in the Options bar to Current & Below. Hold the Option key and click over an empty area in the texture to sample it.

Step 3

Now release the Option key, and paint over the area you want to hide.

Step 4

Keep sampling different points and painting over unwanted areas.

16. How to Use a Work Path

Step 1

Select one of the Outer Shape layers, and then pick the Direct Selection Tool, and click-drag to select the path’s anchor points.

Press Command-C to copy the selected work path.

Step 2

Click the Create new path icon at the bottom of the Paths panel, and then press Command-V to paste the work path.

Step 3

Duplicate the Background layer, drag the copy on top of all layers, and rename it to Edges.

Right-click the Edges layer and choose Rasterize Layer.

Step 4

Hold the Option key, and click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Step 5

Duplicate the Edges layer twice, and change the second copy’s Fill value to 0.

17. How to Modify a Brush Tip: Brush 1

Step 1

Open the Brush panel, and then choose the Chalk 23 pixels tip under the Brush Tip Shape tab, and change the rest of the settings as below:

Shape Dynamics

Scattering

Dual Brush:

Use the Chalk 23 pixels tip.

Transfer

Step 2

Make sure that the Foreground Color is set to White, and that the Edges layer mask thumbnail is active, and then hit the Return key once to stroke the path with the modified brush.

18. How to Modify a Brush Tip: Brush 2

Step 1

Pick the Chalk 23 pixels tip again, and change the rest of the settings as shown below:

Brush Tip Shape

Shape Dynamics

Scattering

Step 2

Select the Edges copy layer mask thumbnail, and stroke the path.

19. How to Modify a Brush Tip: Brush 3

Step 1

Pick a hard round brush tip, and modify its settings as below:

Brush Tip Shape

Shape Dynamics

Scattering

Step 2

Select the Edges copy 2 layer mask thumbnail, and stroke the path.

20. How to Style the Edges

Double-click the Edges copy 2 layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 7
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Color: #a5a09e
  • Opacity: 70%
• Shadow Mode:
  • Color: #2b2926

Step 2

Add a Texture with these settings:

• Pattern: SoilSand0058
• Scale: 25%
• Depth: 50%

Step 3

Change the Edges copy 2 layer’s Blend Mode to Lighten.

21. How to Style the Edges Further

Double-click the Edges copy layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 3
• Gloss Contour: Ring – Double
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Color: #c5c5c5
  • Opacity: 35%
• Shadow Mode:
  • Opacity: 20%

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Contour: Cone
• Check the Anti-aliased box.

Step 3

Change the Edges copy layer’s Blend Mode to Soft Light.

Step 4

Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose Hue/Saturation.

Step 5

Clip the Hue/Saturation layer to the Edges copy layer, and then change the Saturation value to -60.

22. How to Style the Edges More

Double-click the Edges layer to apply the following layer style:

Step 1

Add a Bevel and Emboss with these settings:

• Size: 5
• Gloss Contour: Sawtooth 1
• Check the Anti-aliased box
• Highlight Mode: Soft Light
  • Opacity: 35%
• Shadow Mode:
  • Opacity: 20%

Step 2

Add a Contour with these settings:

• Check the Anti-aliased box.

Step 3

Add a Texture with these settings:

• Pattern: SoilSand0058
• Scale: 25%

Step 4

Add a Color Overlay with these settings:

• Color: #cfc6c1
• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 50%

This will style the last layer of the outer edges.

23. How to Adjust the Coloring of a Texture

Step 1

Group the Background and Texture SH layers in a group and call it Background.

Step 2

Double-click the Background group to apply a Color Overlay effect with these settings:

• Color: #eadfd9
• Blend Mode: Color Burn
• Opacity: 50%

Step 3

You can try different colors and Blend Modes until you get a result you like.

24. How to Adjust the Coloring and Add a Vignette Effect

Step 1

Add a Selective Color adjustment layer on top of all layers, and use these Neutrals and Blacks settings:

Neutrals

• Cyan: -5
• Magenta: -1
• Yellow: 0
• Black: -1

Blacks

• Cyan: -3
• Magenta: 0
• Yellow: 5
• Black: 0

Step 2

Change the Selective Color layer’s Blend Mode to Color and its Opacity to 50%.

Step 3

Add a Gradient fill layer, and create a Transparent to Fill Color gradient fill using the color #24242a to the left and right.

Change the Style to Radial and the Scale to 250.

Step 4

Change the Gradient layer’s Blend Mode to Hard Light and its Opacity to 60%.

25. How to Apply Lighting Effects

Step 1

Create a new layer on top of all layers, call it Lighting, and press the Option-Command-Shift-E keys to create a stamp of all the layers you have.

Convert the Lighting layer into a Smart Object.

Step 2

Go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects, and use the settings below, or any other settings to create an effect you like.

The Color is set to (250, 250, 248), and the Colorize is set to (245, 248, 248).

26. How to Add a Texture Overlay

Step 1

Place the water texture 02 image on top of all layers, rename its layer to Texture Overlay, and resize it as needed.

Change the Texture Overlay layer’s Blend Mode to Luminosity and its Opacity to 7%.

Step 2

Double-click the Texture Overlay layer to change the Blending Options.

Under Blend If, hold the Option key, and then click-drag the Underlying Layer‘s black slider to split it.

Next, drag each slider’s end to get a result you like. What this does is protect the shadows from being affected by the texture overlay.

Step 3

Finally, save a JPG image of the final result, and then open the image, go to Image > Image Size, and enter 1200 for the Width value.

You can use any other dimensions you like as well.

Congratulations! You’re Done

In this tutorial we created some text, warped it, and transformed it to get a basic boot print shape.

Then, we used the Pen Tool to add some more shapes, as well as create the main outline. We also used a couple of brushes, layer styles, and textures to build the muddy effect.

Finally, we used a lighting filter and a texture overlay to finish everything off.

Please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions, and outcomes below.