Bright, pastel, or richly volumetric (3D) typography has been one of the most fascinating trends both in the past and current years. Moreover, the style of three-dimensional letters is so fun and unique that designers try to incorporate it into projects of all kinds. You can no longer say that 3D is only for kids’ content or tech-related topics — because with the right execution, even a serious website can successfully use 3D for headlines, logos, or homepage design.

Yes, in most cases, volumetric elements — and it's not just letters that can be three-dimensional — are rarely used throughout an entire site. Typically, this technique is seen on a site’s “cover” or as part of animated web design. Either way, 3D letters or elements are often used sparingly, side by side with flat styles, parallax effects, pastels, and so on.

But here’s where it gets interesting for web designers. Creating 3D letters (and we’ll explain why we’re mainly talking about letters later) isn’t difficult, even in Photoshop, and doesn’t require mastering complex tools like Cinema 4D or Illustrator. Photoshop has built-in 3D tools for this. We briefly touched on them before when we turned a regular 2D image into a 3D object.

Now, here’s the catch. To work with full 3D features, you need a decently powerful computer or laptop. Ideally 6–8 GB of RAM or more (4 GB being the bare minimum), and a decent graphics card, since it’s responsible for handling 3D processing. But many designers just want to create — build websites, draw, bring things to life. So what can they do?

Today, we’ll walk through one simple method of creating 3D-style text in Photoshop — without using the built-in 3D tools. This kind of text can be used in backgrounds, logos, headers, or homepage titles. Sure, working with true 3D is faster and more flexible, especially when it comes to light and shadow. And yes, if you're making complex shapes like cubes or spheres, you’ll eventually need real 3D. But text? Not necessarily.

First, let’s look at some websites that use volumetric elements and typography: Oh-My , 2 CAD – 50 years , westsidevirtual , happierlivingtoshiba , bycom , 2018.makemepulse , veolia , ego , oddboy , beobank . More often, designers simply add shadows beneath letters to give them a sense of depth — but there’s one caveat.

3D snakes versus minimalism

To create “snaky” 3D text effects, all you really need is the mixer brush and some basic knowledge of gradients and brush settings (we’ve covered that here too ). For example, like this .

But the mixer brush won’t help in more complex cases like BR-Fitness or MCHICKEN . Those require proper 3D tools. But what if you don’t have access to them?

Creating 3D Text in Photoshop Without 3D

Start by creating a new document. Just below the center (or right in the center—whatever feels right), type out the desired word or phrase. Duplicate the layer, hide the copy, and work with the original.

Convert the text layer into a smart object and choose “Free Transform” (Ctrl+T). Then right-click the selected text and choose Distort . While holding Shift, pull the bottom corner points together and slightly push the top ones outward. This creates the illusion that you're viewing the text from above. We'll talk about lighting later. If your composition is different, of course your distortion will differ.

Important: the key limitation of working without 3D tools is that you have to create the entire text in flat form first, distort each letter individually, position them correctly, rotate as needed — and only then add volume.

In this example, we’re working with the entire word at once, but if you want to modify each letter, it’s better to draw them on separate layers and group them accordingly.

Yes, this method is more tedious, but sometimes it’s worth it.

Now rasterize the text layer and duplicate it. On the copy, choose “Free Transform” again and—since we’re viewing the text from above—the volume should appear on top. So, press the Up arrow key once to nudge the layer upward. Just once. Then press Enter or click the checkmark.

Since everything is still the same color, it’s barely visible right now. So now press Alt+Ctrl+Shift+T to duplicate the transformed layer, preserving the movement. If you use Ctrl+J instead, the copies will stack without offset.

In total, you should end up with 15 copies. Group layers 2 through 15 and name the group “3D Depth.” Move your original front-facing text layer above the group.

Apply a Color Fill adjustment layer to the group, using it as a clipping mask (so it doesn’t affect the entire canvas). Choose whatever color you like.

Now, create a shadow. To do this, duplicate the group with the “depth” layers. Right-click on it and select “Merge Group.” Move the merged layer under the main group. Then use “Free Transform” and stretch it slightly in the direction of the imaginary light source. Move it down or sideways depending on the desired angle. After that, apply Gaussian Blur with a radius of 10–15 pixels and reduce the layer opacity to 30–40%.

At this stage, the text already looks pretty volumetric. But the illusion is not complete without some shadows and highlights.

Double-click the top layer (the front of the text), go to “Blending Options,” and apply “Inner Shadow.” Choose a dark color, set the opacity to 50%, distance around 3–5 px, and size 6–10 px. You’ll see how the volume becomes more readable. You can also enable “Bevel & Emboss” to add subtle depth to the front face.

To add a light effect, create a new layer above all others and, using a soft brush with white color and low opacity (10–15%), gently paint over the top edges of the letters. This simulates lighting from above.

If you want to add a background, use gradients. For example, a radial gradient with a lighter center and darker edges creates the effect of focus. You can also add textures (concrete, paper, etc.) and adjust the blending modes for a richer result.

Recap: this entire volumetric effect was created manually, without using the 3D tools in Photoshop. Yes, it’s a bit slower. But the visual result is almost the same — and in some cases, even more customizable. You can precisely control color, shape, lighting, and position. And the best part is: this technique works on almost any machine.

If you want to explore more styles or inspirations, check out: Purple Magic Typography , Typographic Posters Vol.2 , 3D Type Design Collection , 3D Typography Style .

We hope this article helped you understand that working with depth and shape doesn’t always require professional 3D software. Sometimes all it takes is the simplest tool — Photoshop, plus a bit of time and patience.

Good luck!

Conclusion

Creating 3D typography in Photoshop without built-in 3D tools is not only possible — it's accessible to nearly every designer. Yes, it requires a bit more manual effort and precision, but the outcome is entirely controllable and adaptable to your style. You don’t need powerful hardware, expensive software, or hours of rendering — just patience, basic Photoshop tools, and a bit of vision.

Use this technique to add personality to your project: be it a landing page title, a hero section, a logo, or social media visuals. Volume always draws attention — and if used in the right spot, it adds a lot of emotional weight to your message.

Good luck and smooth layers!