Step 1

Create a document of the size you want, staying near to 1600 pixels by 1200 pixels, 300 dpi resolution (if you are going to print it) or 72 dpi if you’re going to publish it on the Web. We can use 72 dpi to keep our document tidy and work faster. Set the Foreground color to black #000000 and then press Alt + Delete to fill the “Background” layer with a black color. Our “Background” layer become black with a touch!

Now choose #ff0000 as our Foreground color and type some text with the Horizontal Type Tool (T) using the settings shown below and the font we previously downloaded. We’re using a red color just to create some contrast with the black background and the white effects that will come next.

Step 2

Now double-click on the Layer thumbnail (or go to Layer > Layer Style > Stroke…) and choose #ff0000 for the color and set the Stroke at 15 pixels. This way we’re making the text more rounded and fatty to avoid rough edges.

Step 3

Create a New Layer by clicking Command + Shift + N, then pick the Brush Tool (B), right-click with your mouse and finally load the new sets of Brushes by clicking on the little black arrow (look below). After choosing Load Brushes… browse to your Presets folder and then to the Brushes folder to load the Brushes. Load all the three sets we previously downloaded, as we’re going to need some variety to create the ice effect.

Step 4

Before beginning the work with Brushes, let’s see how to modify the Angle of the Brush selected because it’s essential for the next steps. Press F5 to open the Brushes Window: using the Angle option you can rotate the Brush you’re using. Allow the Smoothing option for a softer Brush.

Step 5

Now click near the red area of the letters, everything which happens outside of that area is not important, and we can erase it later. Use your creativity to make something which should look like cracks in the ice – you have a lot of Brushes available to work with.

Step 6

The Angle and Size settings allow you to set and rotate the Brushes; uncheck the Spacing box to have more control when you’re painting the ice cracks. For every letter create a new Layer hiding the one you’ve already made, so it’s easier to look at what’s happening in the red area.

Step 7

Always give a name to layers, as it’s easier to keep them organized. During the making of the ice effect it’s important to use more linear Brushes to create the main shape of the letters and some bigger ones for the deeper cracks.

Step 8

Convert the “ICE” Layer (the red one) into a Smart Object (Right-click > Convert to Smart Object). Then Command-click on this Layer’s thumbnail to select it completely and apply a Layer Mask to the other Layers.

Step 9

Create a New Layer, call it “extra” and with a tree brush draw some extra ice into the red letters using the settings below (F5).

Step 10

Use the Brushes near the borders to make it look more three-dimensional. Help yourself by selecting the three letters so you can paint directly where you need to.

Step 11

Now go to the Blending Options of every ice layer (the white ones) and apply the settings shown below. These features are very useful also to colorize layers. We’ll use a very light blue color (#c9eaf1) in the Outer Glow options to create some halo around the letters and inside to make it look frozen.

Step 12

Using the Inner Glow option we’ll create a glow effect. Apply a value around 10% of noise to make it look more crispy.

Step 13

Select the “I” letter of the “ICE” layer, then go to Select > Modify > Contract… > 25 pixels. Then click OK. Create a new layer (“Layer 1″) and press Alt + Delete to fill the selected area; use full black (#000000). Then Deselect and go to Filter > Blur >> Gaussian Blur… 15 pixels. Do the same for the other letters applying always the same Blur.

Step 14

Name these black Layers with “black E, C, I” and set their Opacity to 40%. Then create a New Adjustments Layer and go to Levels. Applying the settings shown below, from here they will influence the whole image.

Step 15

Command-click on the “ICE” layer to select it and then create a new layer and call it “gradient.” With a white to transparent gradient draw the bottom to the top. We’re drawing some light from the bottom. Set the Opacity to 40%.

Step 16

Hide the “Background” layer (which is black) and select one letter with the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Go to Edit > Copy Merged then Press Command + V. Do the same also for the other two letters and name the layers with the corresponding letter. Then you can hide all the other layers because from now on we’ll work on these new ones, but keep the old ones because they can always be useful.