How to Create 3D Text Effects in Photoshop with the “Transform Again” Technique

The “Transform Again” command in Photoshop that repeats the previous adjustment with every press of the shortcut has many uses, but one of my favourites is to create faux 3D text effects. By layering up several copies of a text element with a basic Bevel and Emboss layer style, you can simulate a simple three-dimensional appearance complete with shading effects. Apply some additional layer styles and you can soon transform a basic piece of text into colourful artwork that leaps from the screen.

The artwork I'll be creating in this tutorial features a simple colour scheme with subtle gradients and shading effects. This example uses just one colour for the 3D portion, but you could create segments of several colours, or alternate to create a striped effect. There's no end of possibilities with various fonts, colours and layer style options.