How to Create a Folded Paper Text Effect in Photoshop

Want to give your text a unique, handcrafted feel? This tutorial shows how to create a compelling folded paper text effect in Photoshop.

Learn to make letters appear as if they are peeling up from the page, adding depth and visual interest to your designs.

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Practical Tips for Creating Folded Paper Text Effects

Achieving a convincing folded paper effect involves careful manipulation of text, shadows, and textures. Here are some key tips from the tutorial to help you master this technique:

• Convert your text layer to a shape, then duplicate it for each letter, ensuring each character can be independently edited.
• Create a black duplicate layer beneath each white letter to serve as the shadow, converting both to Smart Objects for non-destructive editing.
• Define a paper texture as a pattern in Photoshop, then apply it via a Pattern Overlay layer style to give your letters a realistic paper texture.
• Use the Warp transform tool on both the white letter and its black shadow layer to create the illusion of paper peeling and folding.
• Soften the black shadow layers with a subtle Gaussian Blur and set their blend mode to Color Burn with a low fill percentage for realistic depth.
• Customize the Gradient Overlay for each white letter, adjusting its angle and position to match the direction of the fold for natural shading.

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