Gradient speed text effect in Photoshop

Published on May 21, 2023

Create a gradient speed text effect

In this blog I will show you how to create a text with a gradient speed effect in Adobe Photoshop!

Rather watch the video with instructions? Then click here or scroll down to the end of this page.

Step 1: Create file and text

First create a new file. My file is 1920 x 1080 pixels. I make the background black, but you can also pick a different color.

Then select the horizontal type tool. Pick a font and text color and type your text. Then press CTRL+A to select the entire text. Increase the tracking so the letters are not too close to each other. I increase the tracking to 25.

Click on the ✓ when you’re done with the text.

Press CTRL+T to activate free transform. You can now resize and/or move the text.

Step 2: Speed text effect

Press CTRL+J to duplicate the text layer. Then select the bottom text layer.

Navigate to ‘Filter > Stylize > Wind‘. If you get a notification, select ‘convert to smart object’.

You can find the settings I used in the image below. Copy these settings.

Then go to ‘Filter > Wind‘ (or press ALT+CTRL+F) to repeat this. Use the same settings. Repeat it until the speed effect is long enough. I’ve created 4 wind layers in total.

Step 3: Gradient effect

Make sure the layer with the speed effect (the wind layers) is selected. Then click on the fx icon and select ‘gradient overlay‘.

I have created a red to orange gradient, but you can also use different colors. You can see the rest of the settings I used in the image below.

If you want to move and/or resize the text, select both the text layer and the layer with the effects. Then press CTRL+T to activate free transform. You can now adjust the size and position of the text with the speed effect.

And that’s how you create this gradient speed text effect in Adobe Photoshop!