How to Quickly Make a Retro Text Layer Style in Photoshop

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.

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.

Step 3

With the text layer selected, go to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow.

Step 4

Click on the "+" sign of the Drop Shadow effect 5 times so we have 6 copies of it.

Step 5

In the first Drop Shadow, set the color to #f1ecde and apply the following setings.

Step 6

Select the second copy, set the color to #a03613 and apply the following setings.

Step 7

Now select the third copy, set the color to #cf621a and apply the following setings.

Step 8

Select the next copy, set the color to #ff8e1f and apply the following setings.

Step 9

Select the next copy of the Drop Shadow effect, set the color to #88d2ca and apply the following settings.

Step 10

Now select the last copy of the Drop Shadow effect, set the color to #191917 and apply the following settings.

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.

Step 12

Give your new style a name and click OK in the New Style window.

Step 13

Lastly, click OK in the Layer Style Panel.

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.