Create simple shinny Vector Logo

Shiny glass logos are all the rage right now and it seems everyone these days (including us) is doing it. So here is a dead easy tutorial on how to create a shiny glass logo in Photoshop.

Step 1: Create some Text

First, create a new file (File > New) with dimensions of 300x300 pixels. Select the Text Tool in your tool panel, click on the canvas and type in some text in a nice thick styled font. I'm using a font called Planet Kosmos which I picked up from dafont.com.

Step2: Add Gradient

Next, in the Layers window, right-click on the text layer and select Blending Options. IN the Layer Style window click on Gradient Overlay. Create a gradient with a dark colour at the top and a lighter colour at the bottom. Here are the settings I have used:

Left Gradient Stop: #50A8E0
Right Gradient Stop: #074189

The key is for the top colour to be rather dark and the bottom to look like its almost a fluorescent colour (or lit up).

Step 3: Create Selection

Now, this step is what makes the shiny glass effect work and may take a few tries before you get it right. Create a new layer above your text layer. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool (square selection tool). and create a selection over the top half of the text.

Step 4: Fill Selection

Now select the paint bucket tool and fill in your selection. Don't worry about the colour, we are about to get rid of it.

Step 5: Apply Shine Gradient to Fill

Now, in the layers window, right-click on the filled layer and select Blending Options. Now, drag the 'Fill' slider all the way over the 0. This will make your layer appear to have no fill at all. Next, go down to Gradient Overlay and open of the gradient (click on it). Make both stops solid which (#ffffff). Then also change the opacity stoppers so the the left one is nearly 0 and the right one is 100 (see screenshot)

Step 6: Select Text

We are nearly done. If you still have a selection...selected, press (ctrl-D) to deselect. Now, we are going to select the shape of the text. To do this hold down ctrl and click on the text layer. You should then see the selection in the shap of your text.

Step 7: Subtract Text from Shine Gradient

Now we want to inverse the selection. Shft-Ctrl-I will do this for you. Now, make sure your still on the top layer (the one with the white faded gradient) and hit Delete. This will delete all the gradient outside the shape of the text. If you are using a white background, you won't see the different, but if your not, you will because your white gradient will be in the shape of your text. Here is what is happening on a non-white background:

Final Results

That's it. You now have a shiny glass logo. You can go further and add a stroke and drop shadow to the text like I have done to get the finished product below. Experiment with different colours and gradient settings.