Hello.

Today I want to show you, how to create the Letterpress effect. It’s a very cool looking effect and it’s used on lots of new designed websites, because it’s also a design trend for 2009. A list of more cool design trends for 2009 can be visited on http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/14/web-design-trends-for-2009/

So, let’s start

Step 1

First create a new document with a size of 800×600px and fill it with a gradient from #b8b8b8 to #f0f0f0

Step 2

Grab the text tool and write some words. I wrote my name “Bernd Artmüller” but you can write anything you want.

Step 3

Now we’re making the cool Letterpress effect with some simple layer styles. Double click on the layer with the text to open the Layer styles panel. Apply a Inner shadow effect with opacity of 60%, distance 1px, choke 0px and size of 4px

Now fill it with a gradient from #6f6f6f to #b0b0b0

That’s it. You created the Letterpress effect.

Now you can play with it and apply this style to other shapes like i did.

Download the .psd for practicing