I wanted to create very natural Ice text separately and later add it to iceberg image. In this tutorial we will learn to use different filter settings, create 3D text effect, different layer styles and much more! I hope it’s not too complex, I tried to keep it as simple as possible.
Scroll down the page to see finished result we will accomplish!
And just be sure to check out this tutorial and join me to these simple steps !!!

This is one of the things we will create here:

Step 1
1.1.Create a new document. I created 800×800px document, I suggest You to do the same if You want to get the same look as mine.
1.2. Hit D button to reset foreground/background color, press ALT+DELETE to fill in black color, so we can more easily work and see workflow.
1.3. Choose some font You want to use and type some text – I typed “COLD” and used Arial, Bold, 200pt wide, color #999999

Step 2
Lets add some blending options to the text.
2.1. Double click on the text layer to popup blending options menu:

2.2. Now press CTRL+SHIFT+N to create new layer, hold SHIFT to select both layers and then right click and choose “Merge layers” to merge them into one.

Step 3
This is where fun part starts! :)
3.1. Go to Filter –> Sketch –> Stamp, add those settings:

3.2. While still in filter panel create new layer and  add Sketch–> Chrome with those settings and then press ok:

You must be the same output as me, if You don’t, read again everything carefully.

Step 4
4.1. Lets add some layer style to get more realistic shadows – do the same settings as the picture below, shadow color is #999999:

4.2. Now We will use one of the ways, how to create 3D text look.
Press CTRL+ALT+Arrow Down, many times – I did it 15 times.

Select first layer, hold SHIFT and press on the 14. layer, right click and select MERGE LAYERS. Name that layer – “shadow”.
4.3. Lets add some more effect on that shadow – Filter–>Distort–>Glass and add the same settings:

I have this result for now:

4.4. Let’s add some color now:
CTRL+CLICK on the shadow layer to make selection and  click Image–>Adjustments–>Hue/Saturation or CTRL+U.
Use settings like this to get pale blue color:

4.5. If You want to finish, just add gradient to background color, and select radial gradient:
#cccccc
#999999

4.6. Add Filter–>Distort–>Glass to background to get more realistic frozen ice effect:

Two more works from this effect, just play with the same settings:


Natural Ice Text Image Effect
Let’s go a little deeper to get natural image effect:

So let’s download a picture from sxc.hu – here and use text effect we created above.
1. Drag and position a text into a picture You just downloaded:

2. Create new layer above image and text effect, like this:

3. Now select “background image” layer and press S to select clone stamp tool.
4. Change brush size with  [ or ] brackets.
5. Move brush somewhere where snow is and click ALT + CLICK to take a sample from it.
6. Select snow effect layer and draw with stamp tool, to add a look that letters are in the snow.

7. Repeat steps 3-6 to add this effect to all of the letters:

8. Add some more color adjustments, to make look more realistic.
I used Hue/Saturation with those settings:

Okay, now we are finished! I hope You will learn something from this tutorial too!
However if You couldn’t complete something, just ask – I am here to help!