Learn the Free Transform Tool to Create a 3-D Image in Photoshop

The Free Transform tool will allow you to create a 3-dimensional object using the render light tool to fool the eye in regards to depth. The Free Transform tool is accessed using CTRL+T and has sub-menus when you use SHIFT, CTRL, or ALT

This tool, like many others in Adobe Photoshop, allows the professional image editor ready access to the ability to manipulate any layer in a document. Combining this with the Render Light tool allows the image editor to be able to create a sense of depth in an image.

This tutorial is accompanied by a series of images that you can use to follow along.

Create a new image in Photoshop (image 1)

Click on the Text Tool and type TEXT on your document (image 2)

Note that when you click on the canvas with your Text Tool, it automatically creates a new text layer

Use the Free Transform tool by using CTRL+T to enable the bounding boxes around your text

Hold down SHIFT and left click and hold on the one of the corner bounding boxes and drag to resize your text

Hit ENTER to enable your editing

Right click on the TEXT layer on the layer palette and left click on Blending Options (image 3)

In the Blending Options, select the words "Drop Shadow" (very important to left click on the words and not just put a tick in the box)

Make your settings match these (image 4)

Click OK to apply

Right click on the Fx on the Text Layer on the layer palette, left click on Create Layers, say OK to the warning box (image 5)

Left click on the layer named TEXT's drop shadow

Use CTRL+T to enable the Free Transform tool

Left click and hold on the top middle bounding box and drag equal distance to the other side of the bottom middle bounding box, release the mouse when it's positioned (image 6)

Hold down CTRL and left click on the bottom left bounding box and drag it to the left and up (image 7)

Hit ENTER when finished

Left click on the layer named BACKGROUND to select it

Fill the Background with Black using Alt+Backspace if your foreground colour is black or you can use your paintbucket

The whole canvas should go black but do not panic

Click on Filter -> Render ->Lens Flare

Raise the 50mm value to 154% and click OK on the popup box (image 8)

Take a moment to appreciate your coolness

Save your work