Chrome Effect
Photoshop Tutorial
The essential chrome effect, don't leave home without it. This works on any object, not just text.
INGREDIENTS
by Colin Smith
- Type
- Gradients
- Layer Styles
- Layers
- Filters
- Curves
- Difficulty 5/10
1
Create your type layer,
or import your shape that you want to turn into shiny chrome Render type:
right click/mac Cmd click the name on the layer and select "render type".
This converts your text to an object, so you can apply all the filters
to it.
2
select
a dark gray for your foreground color and a light gray for your background. 
3
Select the gradient tool (Linear, fore to background) and drag from the
top to the bottom of the image. Tip: Hold down the
shift key to constrain to 90 degrees.
4
Add a bevel to the
type using the Layer style - Bevel and emboss. Your type should look like
this now.
Fig. 1
5
Now we want to remove
the layer style, but we want to keep the bevel (Merge the effect into
the layer).
We do this by adding a new layer and dragging it directly underneath the layer with the effect ("Chrome" layer). See fig. 1.
Now select the "Chrome" layer thumbnail and press Cmd/Ctrl+E This merges the selected layer with the one directly under it and "renders all effects" See fig. 2
6
Apply the
plastic wrap filter. This is found under Effects>Artistic
7
Making the Chrome
This is where it all happens: Open Image>Adjust>Curves Cmd/Ctrl+M and make a curve like the one in the example.
Or you can click here to upload the curve if you wish 
8
Click ok.
The image shows the results of the curve applied to the image.
9
Repeat the same settings, by holding down the Alt/Option key as you open
the dialog box Image>Adjust>Curves or Option+Cmd/Alt+Ctrl+M
The result as shown here
If you want, Colorize the image with the hue/saturation.
This is how it looks
after applying a black background color.
NOTE: In Photoshop CS and CS2 you can make chrome by choosing the double ring setting in the Layers Styles (Bevel -Gloss Contour)
For more cool techniques like this on an easy to follow video format check out Photoshop Secrets Special FX photoshopCD.com