This tutorial details a quick method to give your text an explosion or blast effect. The software used was Adobe Photoshop CS5, but this text effect tutorial should work on older versions as well. A basic knowledge of Photoshop is recommended for completing this tutorial.
1. Create a new document in Photoshop. File > New (CNTRL+N); 500 width x 500 height in pixels; 72 pixels/inch; RGB; Transparent background.
2. Fill the background with black. Edit > Fill > Use Black.
3. Make sure your Foreground/Background colors are using the default black/white settings by hitting the "D" key on your keyboard. Hit X on your keyboard to reverse the default colors to white/black.
4. Using the text tool, type your word in the center of the document. The text should be white. The font I used was Establo; if you substitute a font, select one that is a bit heavy.
5. Duplicate your text layer by hitting CNTRL+J on your keyboard. Hide your first text layer in the layers palette by clicking the eye icon to the left of it.

6. Right click the visible text layer and select Rasterize Type. Go to Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates. Select Polar to Rectangular and then select OK. Your result should look similar to this:

7. Go to Filter > Stylize > Wind. Method: Wind; Direction: From the right. Press CNTRL+F to repeat the filter again.

8. Go to Filter > Stylize > Wind. Method: Wind; Direction: From the left. Press CNTRL+F to repeat the filter again.
9. Go to Image > Image Rotation > 90 degrees clockwise.
10. Go to Filter > Stylize > Wind. Method: Wind; Direction: From the right. Press CNTRL+F to repeat the filter again.

11. Go to Image > Image Rotation > 90 degrees counterclockwise.
12. Go to Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates. Select Rectangular to Polar and then select OK.
13. Choose #990000 as your foreground color. Click the Create New Layer icon at the bottom of your layers palette. Edit > Fill > Use: Foreground Color. Set this filled layer's blend mode to Overlay.

Photoshop Explosion Text Effect tutorial is © Copyright 2011 webtemplateszone.com