How to Create a Photoshop Peeling Sticker Text Effect

How to Create a Photoshop Peeling Sticker Text Effect

What You'll Be Creating

This quick tip tutorial will teach you how to create a sticker peeling effect mockup, using simple steps to transform texts into a realistic sticker effect using Adobe Photoshop. The effect uses Smart Objects, Transform, Layer Styles, and Blending Options.

Let's begin!

What You Will Learn in This Peeling Sticker Text Effect Tutorial

• how to transform text into a mockup
• how to apply texture and create a sticker fold effect 
• how to add highlight and create a glossy sticker effect
• how to apply realistic shadows

Tutorial Assets

To complete the tutorial, you will need to download any stock image of a cardboard texture from Envato Elements:

• Cardboard Texture
• Alfa Slab One Font 

1. How to Set Up Your File & Background Image

Step 1

Launch Photoshop, press Command-N to create a New Document, and apply the following settings: 

• Name the file 'Text_Sticker_Peeling_Effect'
• Width: 21 cm
• Height: 14 cm
• Resolution: 300 dpi
• Color Mode: RGB color

Step 2

Open the Layers panel (Window > Layers).

Then, Open (File > Open) the chosen cardboard texture that you want to use as a backdrop. Select the cardboard texture layer, which is usually the 'Background' layer in the Layers panel. 

Drag and drop the 'Background' layer onto the 'Text_Sticker_Peeling_Effect' artboard file. Position it onto the artboard to fit correctly

2. How to Transform Text Into a Sticker Text Mockup

Step 1

We are going to kick off the sticker by first creating a Photoshop peeling sticker text mockup.

Select the Horizontal Type Tool (T) from the Tools menu. 

I'll be using the 'Alfa Slab One' font (Regular). 

From the top workspace menu, set: 

• Font Size: 94 pt
• Center Text Alignment
• Color Fill: Black 
• Type in our sticker text, 'BANANA', or the text of your choice.

Step 2

Next, to create a sticker text effect, we will need to add a Stroke to the border of the text sticker, which is common in sticker designs.

To give the text a Stroke, click the menu on the right of the Layers panel, and select Blending Options...

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Stroke, and set the Stroke to the following:

• Size: 62 px
• Position: Outside
• Fill Type: Color
• Color Fill: #ff512 Yellow

Step 3

Rename 'Layer 1' to ' BANANA'.

Next, we shall convert our text to a Smart Object.

Right-click on the 'BANANA' layer and select Convert to Smart Object.

Step 4

Now, let's slightly rotate the text sticker, so it looks a bit displaced and not so rigid.

Transform (Command-T) and Rotate the artwork bounding box by about -4º (counter clockwise).

3. How to Apply a Texture & Create a Peeling Effect

Step 1

Now that out text is set, let's learn how to make a peeling sticker effect.

First, let's apply some texture effects to the text sticker.

Head over to Blending Options... from the Layers menu. Give the 'BANANA' layer a Pattern Overlay effect with the following specs:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 42%
• Pattern: Kraft Waffle
• Scale: 75%
• Check Link With Layer
• OK

Step 2

Right-click on the 'BANANA' layer in the Layers panel, and select Rasterize Layer Style.

The next thing we want to do is learn how to create a peeling sticker effect in Photoshop. Grab the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) from the Tools menu and highlight a triangular section on the bottom right of the text sticker. 

We will cut the selection and flip it, to create a fold. Right-click on the selection and select Layer via Cut.

Step 3

Once the selection is cut, a new layer with the selection will be created in the Layers panel.

Select the new layer, 'Layer 1', and rename it 'FOLD'.

Then Transform (Command-T).

Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal, to flip the selection 180°. 

Grab the bounding box and rotate the selection around so it appears as if it is folded over.

Step 4

Now, right-click on the 'FOLD' layer, and select Blending Options... 

Give the layer a Color Overlay, so it will look like a plain backfold.

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Fill: White
• Opacity: 100%
• OK

So now we've got a very basic Photoshop peeling sticker effect. Let's make it look more realistic.

4. How to Apply Highlights and a Glossy Effect to the Text Sticker

Step 1

We need to apply some effects to the text sticker, so that we can make a realistic peeling sticker effect.

First, we are going to give the 'FOLD' a Satin Effect layer style.

Right-click on the 'FOLD' layer, and select Blending Options... 

Check Satin from the Layer Style panel.

Apply the following Satin settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Fill: Black
• Opacity: 50%
• Angle: 47°
• Distance: 117 px
• Size: 142 px
• Contour: Linear
• OK

Step 2

Next, we will add a shine effect to the sticker so it appears glossy.

Right-click on the 'BANANA' layer, and select Blending Options... 

Check Gradient Overlay from the Layer Style panel. Apply the following Gradient Overlay settings:

• Blend Mode: Screen
• Opacity: 40%
• Gradient: Linear (As Shown in Image: black-grey-black-black-white-black)
• Angle: 120°
• Distance: 117 px
• Scale: 67%

Step 3

Now, check the Pattern Overlay style and apply the following specs:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 20%
• Pattern: Kraft Waffle
• Scale: 49%
• Check Link With Layer

5. How to Apply Realistic Shadows to the Sticker Text Effect

Moving on, let's add some realistic shadowing to the text sticker to give it a lift effect.

While still on the Layer Style panel, select Drop Shadow, and apply the following specs:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Fill: Black
• Angle: 90°
• Distance: 3px
• Spread: 27%
• Size: 9 px
• Contour: Linear
• OK

Select the 'FOLD' layer from the Layers panel, and right-click to select the Blending Options...

Select Drop Shadow, and apply:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Opacity: 31%
• Fill: Black
• Angle: 90°
• Distance: 8 px
• Spread: 0%
• Size: 24px
• Contour: Linear
• OK

6. How to Create a Realistic Sticker Peeling Effect 

Step 1

For the final bits, we will manually add shadow effects to the sticker and sticker fold, using a soft brush from the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes)

Grab the Magic Wand Tool (W), and click it on the artboard of the 'FOLD' layer. Select > Inverse to select within the triangular fold.

On the Layers panel, Create New Layer, above the 'FOLD' layer, and rename it 'Fold Shade'.

Apply a Multiply Blend Mode from the Layers panel.

Step 2

Open the Brushes panel: Window > Brushes.

Grab the Brush Tool (B), and select a Soft Round brush of about 80 px, usually found in the Default brushes set. 

Select a grey color Fill of #8d8d8d and lightly brush around the edges of the fold to darken the edges.

Step 3

Now let's add a shadow under the sticker fold.

From the Layers panel, and under the 'FOLD' layer, Create New Layer. Name the new layer 'Inner Drop Shadow'. 

Set the layer Blend Mode to Multiply.

Step 4

Select > Inverse to select around the triangular fold.

Select an 80 px Soft Brush from the Brushes panel.

Select a color Fill of #c7c5c1 , and apply a shadow under the fold, as shown.

Step 5

For the final step, head over to the Layers panel.

Create New Layer under the 'BANANA' layer, and name it 'Cardboard Shading'. Set the layer Blending Mode to Multiply.

From the Brushes panel, select a 100 px Soft Brush, with a color Fill of #e4d1c1. Apply a shadow along the bottom of the text sticker, so it looks as if it's slightly lifted.

Now, That's an A-Peeling Sticker Effect!

I hope you enjoyed this quick mockup tutorial on how to create a peeling sticker effect using Adobe Photoshop.

We learned the simple steps of designing the sticker text and transforming it to make a glossy and realistic sticker peeling effect.

Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions, and SHARE your text stickers below. 

Enjoy!

Now that you have learned how to make a sticker peeling in Photoshop, why not try out some more Photoshop text effect tutorials? Check these awesome tutorials:

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