Grunge Yellow Warning Striped Icon & Text Effect
Posted on 06. Apr, 2009
by Tutorials Etc in Text Effects
In this Etc Tutorial we will be creating a grunge yellow warning strip text effect. This text effect is vary versatile and looks good on a variety of fonts and Photoshop shapes.
Here we’re going to create an industrial grunge warning stripe text effect based on the style of the Free Yellow Black Striped Grunge Construction Icon set found on IconsETC.

Step #1
First you will need to download the striped pattern below and convert it into a photoshop pattern for later. To do this simply open each image then go to EDIT >> DEFINE PATTERN in the menu. Alternatively, if you’ve downloaded the source files at the end of this post, simply install the (.pat) pattern set by double clicking on it.)
![]() | Grunge Yellow Warning Stripes |
Step #2
Create a new transparent document 658px * 474px at 72dpi as seen below.

STEP #3
Activate the shape tool by typeing U make sure the rectangular shape is selected and that the color is set to #414141, then draw a rectangle similar to the one below leaving a few pixels on all sides. Name the rectangular shape layer “Frame Bottom”.

STEP #4
Duplicate the rectangle shape layer you just created by going to LAYER >> DUPLICATE LAYER and name the duplicate “Frame Top”. Activate the layer styles pallet on “Frame Top” layer by going to LAYER >> LAYER STYLE >> BLENDING OPTIONS in the menu and enter the settings you see below.

STEP #5
Activate the layer styles dialog box on the “Frame Bottom” layer now and enter the settings you see below.

STEP #6
In between the two frame layers now create a group by going to LAYER >> NEW >> GROUP in the menu and name it “Content”. Then within that group create a new color fill layer by going to LAYER >> NEW FILL LAYER >> COLOR in the menu with the color #414141 as seen below.

STEP #7
To create the stage area set the foreground color to #202020 then with the rectangular shape tool still selected draw a rectangle similar to the one below.

STEP #8
Activate the layer styles on the rectangular layer you just created and enter the settings you see below.

STEP #9
Create a new Brightness/Contrast layer by going to LAYER >> NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER >> BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST in the menu and adjust the settings to your liking or use the ones below.

STEP #10
To add a spotlight effect create a new gradient fill layer by going to LAYER >> NEW FILL LAYER >> GRADIENT in the menu and enter settings like the ones below.

STEP #11
Activate the text tool by typeing T and using Arial Black at 300pt type in some text as seen below.

STEP #12
Duplicate the text layer you just created by going to LAYER >> DUPLICATE LAYER . Select the top text layer then activate the layer styles dialog box and apply the styles shown below.

STEP #13
Now Select the bottom text layer layer and apply the following layer styles:

STEP #14
Duplicate both text layers then merge the resulting layers together by going to LAYERS >> MERGE LAYERS in the menu and name the merged layer “Reflection”. Now flip the reflection layer vertically by going to EDIT >> TRANSFORM >> FLIP VERTICAL in the menu. Then activate the move tool by typeing V and drag the reflection layer down until it lines up with the base of your text as seen below. Bring the layer opacity down to 35% as seen below.

STEP #15
Create a layer mask to the reflection layer by going to LAYER >> LAYER MASK >> REVEAL ALL in the menu. Activate the gradient tool by typeing G, make sure the default black to white gradient is selected and that the gradient tool in in linear gradient mode, then drag the mouse as seen below to make the reflection fade out gently.

STEP #16
Above the Reflection layer create an new layer and name it “Shadow”. Then activate the brush tool by typeing B , selct a basic round brush with opacity 35% and size 20px then draw along the base of each letter as seen below.

STEP #17
To clean up the shadow use the motion blur filter by going to FILTER >> BLUR >> MOTION BLUR in the menu and enter the settings below.

STEP #18
Duplicate the entire “Content” folder by dragging it to the new layer icon as shown below. Then name the duplicate layer Backup and hide it by clicking the eyeball icon.

STEP #19
Merge the “Content” folder by going to LAYERS >> MERGE GROUP the right click on the merged layer and choose “Create Clipping Mask”.

Thats all!
You should now have something like what you see below.

Didn’t get the exact same results? Want to save some time? Download the source files below.
What’s Included in the Download:
• Fully layered source PSD
• .ASL file containing the layer styles for the text effect layers
• .PAT file with any patterns needed for the tutorial – ready to install!
• .JPG files of any patterns used
BONUS: 36 fully layered popular icons in this style as seen in the preview.



























Andre
04. Jun, 2009
I love this tutorial, Very good job, but can you do a totorial on the picture ETC? With the mirror reflex and all that, Thx
Pamela
26. Aug, 2009
We’ve added it!
budijoi
07. Jun, 2009
COOOLLL!!!!!…..
Roger
11. Jun, 2009
@budijoi
Thanks, glad you like our tutorial! ! !
Pamela
11. Jun, 2009
@Andre ~ Yes we will do that soon!
harry
25. Aug, 2009
what pattern is used at step 4??
Pamela
26. Aug, 2009
It’s a default photoshop pattern called “Waxed Crayon on Sketch Pad”. You can download the PSD for free above and take a closer look!
Anne
05. Apr, 2010
this is a good tutorial.
Lita
05. Apr, 2010
thank you
Jeremy
25. Oct, 2010
Is there any way to do this in GIMPshop? I tried it and can’t figure out how.
Lita
25. Oct, 2010
Hi Jeremy, sorry we are not familiar with GIMPshop.
Dropshippers
19. Apr, 2011
Just what I need for an upcoming project, just hope can pull it off.
Thanks!
Kila Sprout
21. Jun, 2011
This is a great tutorial. Do you have a site that teaches more of them? Thank you!
Sally
24. Jun, 2011
Great tutorial! Thanks for this
Drew
10. Jul, 2011
This is AWESOMENESS!!!! Thank you SOOOOOO much. I would also be interested in more tutorials.
Shingo
05. Oct, 2011
Thank you for this awesome tutorial Pamela! I find your use of Photoshop effects exceptional. Are you available for some work? If you have a website please share the URL with me… Thanks!
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