How to Quickly Make a Retro Text Layer Style in Photoshop
Photoshop Layer Styles
Layer Styles are often the best method we can use to make text effects. Of course sometimes more than a single text layer is used for certain effects, but in the recent Photoshop versions we can use more than 1 effect of the same kind for a single layer. The main advantage is that we can now use 1 single text layer to emulate 3D effects and use it to make some fantastic retro layer styles quick and easy. So today, I will show you how you can make a retro layer style that you can use an unlimited number of times using only a few copies of the Drop Shadow effect in the Layer Style panel.
Step 1
Open Photoshop and make a new file at any size you want. In this case, I will make mine at 1600 x 1000 px with the background color set to #c0b8a1.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/01.jpg?mtime=20211216101801)
Step 2
Select the Horizontal Type Tool (T) and using any font you want type your text. Here I will be using "Funkydori" at 380 pt with the color set to #ebdfad.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/02.jpg?mtime=20211216101803)
Step 3
With the text layer selected, go to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/03.jpg?mtime=20211216101804)
Step 4
Click on the "+" sign of the Drop Shadow effect 5 times so we have 6 copies of it.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/04.jpg?mtime=20211216101805)
Step 5
In the first Drop Shadow, set the color to #f1ecde and apply the following setings.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/05.jpg?mtime=20211216101807)
Step 6
Select the second copy, set the color to #a03613 and apply the following setings.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/06.jpg?mtime=20211216101808)
Step 7
Now select the third copy, set the color to #cf621a and apply the following setings.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/07.jpg?mtime=20211216101810)
Step 8
Select the next copy, set the color to #ff8e1f and apply the following setings.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/08.jpg?mtime=20211216101811)
Step 9
Select the next copy of the Drop Shadow effect, set the color to #88d2ca and apply the following settings.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/09.jpg?mtime=20211216101812)
Step 10
Now select the last copy of the Drop Shadow effect, set the color to #191917 and apply the following settings.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/10.jpg?mtime=20211216101813)
Step 11
Before we apply the style to our text, click on the "New Style" button in the Layer Style Panel to save this style in our Styles Panel.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/11.jpg?mtime=20211216101814)
Step 12
Give your new style a name and click OK in the New Style window.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/12.jpg?mtime=20211216101815)
Step 13
Lastly, click OK in the Layer Style Panel.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/13.jpg?mtime=20211216101816)
A Final Tip
The next time you want to use this style, simply type your text and from the Styles Panel (Window > Styles) click on our recently made style to give the text the style we just created.
![](https://s3.medialoot.com/blog-images/How-to-Quickly-Make-a-Retro-Text-Layer-Style-in-Photoshop/14.jpg?mtime=20211216101817)