How to create cloud text effect in Photoshop with SaDesign

To create a cloud text effect in Photoshop, we need to go through many steps with a combination of many tools. 

1. Create Cloud Background

Step 1: First we need to create a new document with the appropriate size. 

Step 2: Create a new layer and add the sky image. Note, choose a blue sky background image with a few clouds in the center because we will create a cloud text effect in Photoshop in the center. Name this layer Cloud Background.

Step 3: Double-click on Cloud Background; the Layer Style dialog box will appear. Select Color Overlay. Set Opacity to 70% and select the color code #3dacfa.

Step 4: To brighten the cloud background, click on Create new fill or Adjustment layer (the split circle icon in the bottom corner of the layer panel). Then select Level.

In the Level panel, adjust the mid tone and shadow parameters in the output a bit to brighten the image.

Now we will have a cloudy background as shown.

2. Create Cloud Brush

To create a cloud text effect in Photoshop, we first need to create a cloud brush using a Soft Round Brush. You can create a cloud brush through the following steps:

Step 1: On the toolbar, select the Brush Tool. Open the Brush panel and select Soft Round Brush from the list of brushes. On the Brush panel that appears, click on Brush Tip Shape and set the parameters as shown.

On the Brush panel that appears, click Shape Dynamics and set the parameters Size Jitter, Angle Jitter, Roundness Jitter and Minimin Roundness as shown.

On the Brush panel that appears, click on Scattering and set the parameters Scatter, Count Jitter and check Both Axes as shown.

Step 2: To save the brush, click on the top right corner menu of the brush panel and select New Brush Preset.

Name this new brush Clouds brush

then press OK.

3. Create Cloud Text

To create a cloud text effect in Photoshop, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add a new layer and write the text you want to create a cloud text effect in Photoshop. Then fill the text with the color code #000000.

Fill text with color code #000000.

Step 2: On the toolbar, select Filter => Distort => Ripple.

In the Ripple panel that appears, set the Amount to around 55% then press OK. 

Step 3: Press Shift+Ctrl+N to create a new layer. Name this layer Cloud Effect. 

On the toolbar select Brush, then select the Clouds brush to add a cloud text effect in Photoshop around the text. Choose the color for the brush as #000000, set different Opacities (around 30%) and paint over the same area multiple times.

Use the brush to paint around the edges of the letters. We will get the result as shown.

Step 4: Select the Faker text layer and the Cloud effect layer. Then right-click and select Convert to Smart Object.

Set the blend mode of this Cloud effect smart object to Overlay and the Opacity to 90%.

Step 5: Double-click on the Cloud effect smart object to open the Layer style. Then add the parameters Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Outer Glow, Inner Glow, Bevel and Emboss and Satin as shown below.

Drop Shadow

Inner Shadow

Outer Glow

Inner Glow

Bevel and Emboss 

Satin

4. Create Cloud Texture

Step 1: Create a new layer and name it Clouds. Fill its background color with #ffffff.

Step 2: Set Foreground Color to #ffffff and Background Color to #000000. Proceed to create cloud texture by selecting Filter => Render => Clouds.

Step 3: Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the Cloud layer and hide the newly copied layer.

Right-click on the Cloud layer and select Create Clipping Mask. Set the Cloud blend mode to a Lighter Color. 

Step 4: On the menu bar, select Image => Adjustments => Levels and customize to your liking then press OK.

Step 5: Open the copied Cloud layer and then set the blend mode to Screen. The result is as shown.

Step 6: To adjust the contrast of the copied Cloud layer. Go to Image => Adjustments => Levels. Then adjust the appropriate parameters.

So we have created a cloud text effect in Photoshop.

5. Adjust Contrast and Sharpness

Step 1: At the bottom corner of the layer panel, select the split circle icon - Create new fill or Adjustment layer. Select Solid Color… Then select the color #0096ec. Set the blend mode to Color, and set the Opacity to 48%.

Step 2: Select Create new fill or Adjustment layer then select Hue/Saturation if you want to change the blue tone, reduce color saturation,... Adjust the parameters as desired until you find it suitable.

Step 3: To increase contrast, select Create new fill or Adjustment layer then select Level, then adjust the appropriate parameters.

Step 4: To finish the photo, you can add a sharpening effect. Press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+E to create a copy of all the merged visible layers. On this newly created layer, select Filter => Other => High Pass.

In the High Pass dialog box, set the Radius to 2 pixels and click OK.

Step 5: Set the blend mode of this layer to Overlay. Now we will get the result as shown.

Above is a summary of how to create cloud text effects in Photoshop. Hopefully, the above sharing can help you create unique text effects.