Photoshop users can save time during the design process by making use of layer styles. Whether you are saving your own custom style to be used multiple times throughout your design or using pre-made styles created by other designers, taking advantage of this feature in Photoshop can greatly speed up your workflow.
Layer styles can help you to customize the whole appearance quickly and introduce drastic effects. Layer styles are customizations that can be applied to text, buttons, shapes, and other types of layers. Adobe Photoshop provides you a variety of layer styles or you can create your own layer style by using different presets.
Related: 4,500+ Free Photoshop Gradients for Designers
Layer styles refer to different effects that are applied to the specific layer instantly. If you’re creating your own styles, you’ll create the effect once, save the style, and then apply it to other layers for an instant effect. If you’re using pre-made styles, you never have to create the effect manually.
UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS: 50+ Million Add-Ons & Design Assets
The Best Free Photoshop Layer Styles
In this post, we’ll link out to hundreds of useful Photoshop layer styles that can be downloaded for free. Many of them have been created especially for text, others for buttons, and some are more general. Download the styles and apply them to your layers for instant results.
Midas Text Effect
Midas could turn anything to gold, and with the help of this free Photoshop layer style, you’ll be able to instantly turn any text to gold.
8-Bit Photoshop Styles
These text layer styles were inspired by vintage (80s era) video games. There are five styles included in the pack.
Filmatic Photoshop Styles
These rough and textured layer styles are perfect for text (you’ll need heavy, fat fonts), but they can also be useful for other types of layers.
Sci-Fi Photoshop Styles
These styles were inspired by sci-fi films. The futuristic text effects can prove to be very useful in your own designs.
Halloween Text Effects
This set of five layer styles makes it easy to create Halloween-inspired text. These are awesome effects that are perfect for your Halloween design projects.
Drinks Styles
This creative set of layer styles was inspired by different types of drinks. As you can see, the styles work well with text, but they can also be useful for other types of layers.
Birthday Photoshop Styles
This fun and colorful set is sure to make your text stand out.
Letterpress Style
Easily and quickly replicate the letterpress look with the help of this free download.
Metal Text Style
This 3D metal effect works well for creating a nice text effect whenever the situation calls for it.
Chrome
This big pack gives you a wide variety of options for creating text with a chrome look.
Chrome
This is another option for beautiful 3D chrome-like text.
Glow
Create fun glowing and shiny text that will definitely get noticed.
Party Text Styles
If you like colorful text effects, you’ll definitely want to download this pack of free Photoshop styles.
Metal Text Styles
There are a lot of situations where metallic text can fit well within your designs. In those situations, this pack of three styles will prove to be very handy.
Gold and Glass Text Effects
You’ll love what you can create with this pack of two styles.
Gel Style
This layer style will give your text a jelly type of look. It works best with fonts that rounded and uneven edges rather than perfectly straight lines.
Chrome Text Style
This is another type of metallic style that can prove to be very useful.
3D Text Styles
The styles in this pack are fairly simple, and that makes them usable for a wide variety of situations. You’ll be able to easily create 3D text that is more subtle than extreme.
Grunge Layer Styles
Here’s another option for creating metallic text, but this time with a rusty look. This grungy effect is sure to make your text stand out and can be very useful in the right situation.
Glass Layer Style
This clear glass style is interesting and different.
Sticker Style
Use this free Photoshop layer style to give the appearance of a sticker, thanks to the stroke and drop shadow. It’s useful for text and other types of layers.
Stickers
This is another set of styles that gives your elements a loot that resembles a sticker.
Christmas Text Styles
These text effects were inspired by Christmas, so they are perfect for using with your holiday-themed design.
Christmas Styles
Here’s another pack of Christmas and winter inspired text styles that we think you’ll love.
Metal Lightning Text Styles
We’ve showcased a few different metal options so far, but this one is different. It combines a metallic look with lighting to create text that is sure to stand out.
Glass Style
This is another option for creating glass-like text, although this one creates a much different look than the previous one.
TRON Style
This TRON-inspired style is similar to what you might see from a neon sign.
Sweety Photoshop Styles
This big pack of playful layer styles is colorful and sure to make an impact in your designs.
Cinematic Text Effects
These intense effects were inspired by cinema and will certainly help your text to get noticed.
Lovelicious Photoshop Styles
This collection of 8 styles includes more subtle effects rather than extreme looks.
Glossy Buttons Styles
This set of four layer styles was created with buttons in mind. Simple apply the style to a rectangle or rounded rectangle and you’ll have a styled button in no time.
Color Candy
These colorful styles are perfect for buttons, but you can use them with other elements as well, including text.
Chameleon Style No. 1
This is a HUGE pack that gives you many styles for creating a variety of types of buttons and other elements within your designs.
Full Style
This is another big pack that includes colorful styles in different varieties like glossy, glowing, and more.
Vol. 1 Styles
This set includes a few different styles that can be useful for buttons and other elements.
Vol. 2 Styles
This is the 2nd volume that is basically a continuation of the pack that was listed previously.
Soft Styles
These soft colors and subtle gradients are ideal for buttons but could also be useful for a lot of other elements too.
Simple Styles
This set of 12 styles includes some unique patterns that are much different from any of the other options featured on this page.
Styles Serious
These styles include subtle patterns of diagonal lines.
Graphicstore
Simple dotted styles that can be useful in different situations.
Crystal Styles
These soft crystal styles could be useful for buttons or shapes, like you’re seeing with the stars in the image above.
Polaroid Layer Styles
Recreate or mimic the look of a Polaroid picture with the help of these free Photoshop styles.
Premium Photoshop Styles
Although we’re featuring free styles in this post, there are also some amazing styles that can be purchased. If you’re looking for high-quality options, here are some that you shouldn’t miss.
This huge bundle includes well over 2,000 different styles at an incredible price. It also comes with free updates and additions.
If you like 3D text effects, you’ll love this bundle that includes 150 different options.
This pack includes 55 layer styles for creating a variety of different neon effects.
Easily mimic the look of a neon sign with these styles. It comes with five style categories and 60+ color variations.
20 Pressed and Embossed Styles
Instantly create awesome pressed or embossed text or buttons with the help of this pack that includes 20 different layer styles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Photoshop Styles
What Are Photoshop Styles?
A layer style is an effect or combination of effects applied to a specific layer or group of layers. Styles can be saved and applied to other layers or layer groups. There are a lot of ways to use styles, like creating specific text effects, creating and styling buttons, or designing other elements with a style that you’ll want to be able to repeat.
How Do I Install Styles in Photoshop?
First, you need to download the styles. If the styles are stored in a zip file, you’ll need to unzip it. You should see a .asl file, which is the file that includes the styles. The fastest and easiest way to install styles is to drag the .asl file into your Photoshop window.
How Do I Use Photoshop Styles?
To open the styles panel, go to Window > Styles. In the styles panel, you’ll see all of the styles that are installed (Photoshop comes with some default styles). Make sure the layer that you want to modify is selected, and then click the style that you want to apply.
Where is the Styles Panel in Photoshop?
The styles panel can be moved around, so it is not always in one constant location. If you’re not seeing it, go to Window > Styles and it will become active.
Photoshop users can save time during the design process by making use of layer styles. Whether you are saving your own custom style to be used multiple times throughout your design or using pre-made styles created by other designers, taking advantage of this feature in Photoshop can greatly speed up your workflow.
Layer styles can help you to customize the whole appearance quickly and introduce drastic effects. Layer styles are customizations that can be applied to text, buttons, shapes, and other types of layers. Adobe Photoshop provides you a variety of layer styles or you can create your own layer style by using different presets.
Related: 4,500+ Free Photoshop Gradients for Designers
Layer styles refer to different effects that are applied to the specific layer instantly. If you’re creating your own styles, you’ll create the effect once, save the style, and then apply it to other layers for an instant effect. If you’re using pre-made styles, you never have to create the effect manually.
UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS: 50+ Million Add-Ons & Design Assets
The Best Free Photoshop Layer Styles
In this post, we’ll link out to hundreds of useful Photoshop layer styles that can be downloaded for free. Many of them have been created especially for text, others for buttons, and some are more general. Download the styles and apply them to your layers for instant results.
Midas Text Effect
Midas could turn anything to gold, and with the help of this free Photoshop layer style, you’ll be able to instantly turn any text to gold.
8-Bit Photoshop Styles
These text layer styles were inspired by vintage (80s era) video games. There are five styles included in the pack.
Filmatic Photoshop Styles
These rough and textured layer styles are perfect for text (you’ll need heavy, fat fonts), but they can also be useful for other types of layers.
Sci-Fi Photoshop Styles
These styles were inspired by sci-fi films. The futuristic text effects can prove to be very useful in your own designs.
Halloween Text Effects
This set of five layer styles makes it easy to create Halloween-inspired text. These are awesome effects that are perfect for your Halloween design projects.
Drinks Styles
This creative set of layer styles was inspired by different types of drinks. As you can see, the styles work well with text, but they can also be useful for other types of layers.
Birthday Photoshop Styles
This fun and colorful set is sure to make your text stand out.
Letterpress Style
Easily and quickly replicate the letterpress look with the help of this free download.
Metal Text Style
This 3D metal effect works well for creating a nice text effect whenever the situation calls for it.
Chrome
This big pack gives you a wide variety of options for creating text with a chrome look.
Chrome
This is another option for beautiful 3D chrome-like text.
Glow
Create fun glowing and shiny text that will definitely get noticed.
Party Text Styles
If you like colorful text effects, you’ll definitely want to download this pack of free Photoshop styles.
Metal Text Styles
There are a lot of situations where metallic text can fit well within your designs. In those situations, this pack of three styles will prove to be very handy.
Gold and Glass Text Effects
You’ll love what you can create with this pack of two styles.
Gel Style
This layer style will give your text a jelly type of look. It works best with fonts that rounded and uneven edges rather than perfectly straight lines.
Chrome Text Style
This is another type of metallic style that can prove to be very useful.
3D Text Styles
The styles in this pack are fairly simple, and that makes them usable for a wide variety of situations. You’ll be able to easily create 3D text that is more subtle than extreme.
Grunge Layer Styles
Here’s another option for creating metallic text, but this time with a rusty look. This grungy effect is sure to make your text stand out and can be very useful in the right situation.
Glass Layer Style
This clear glass style is interesting and different.
Sticker Style
Use this free Photoshop layer style to give the appearance of a sticker, thanks to the stroke and drop shadow. It’s useful for text and other types of layers.
Stickers
This is another set of styles that gives your elements a loot that resembles a sticker.
Christmas Text Styles
These text effects were inspired by Christmas, so they are perfect for using with your holiday-themed design.
Christmas Styles
Here’s another pack of Christmas and winter inspired text styles that we think you’ll love.
Metal Lightning Text Styles
We’ve showcased a few different metal options so far, but this one is different. It combines a metallic look with lighting to create text that is sure to stand out.
Glass Style
This is another option for creating glass-like text, although this one creates a much different look than the previous one.
TRON Style
This TRON-inspired style is similar to what you might see from a neon sign.
Sweety Photoshop Styles
This big pack of playful layer styles is colorful and sure to make an impact in your designs.
Cinematic Text Effects
These intense effects were inspired by cinema and will certainly help your text to get noticed.
Lovelicious Photoshop Styles
This collection of 8 styles includes more subtle effects rather than extreme looks.
Glossy Buttons Styles
This set of four layer styles was created with buttons in mind. Simple apply the style to a rectangle or rounded rectangle and you’ll have a styled button in no time.
Color Candy
These colorful styles are perfect for buttons, but you can use them with other elements as well, including text.
Chameleon Style No. 1
This is a HUGE pack that gives you many styles for creating a variety of types of buttons and other elements within your designs.
Full Style
This is another big pack that includes colorful styles in different varieties like glossy, glowing, and more.
Vol. 1 Styles
This set includes a few different styles that can be useful for buttons and other elements.
Vol. 2 Styles
This is the 2nd volume that is basically a continuation of the pack that was listed previously.
Soft Styles
These soft colors and subtle gradients are ideal for buttons but could also be useful for a lot of other elements too.
Simple Styles
This set of 12 styles includes some unique patterns that are much different from any of the other options featured on this page.
Styles Serious
These styles include subtle patterns of diagonal lines.
Graphicstore
Simple dotted styles that can be useful in different situations.
Crystal Styles
These soft crystal styles could be useful for buttons or shapes, like you’re seeing with the stars in the image above.
Polaroid Layer Styles
Recreate or mimic the look of a Polaroid picture with the help of these free Photoshop styles.
Premium Photoshop Styles
Although we’re featuring free styles in this post, there are also some amazing styles that can be purchased. If you’re looking for high-quality options, here are some that you shouldn’t miss.
Alaina’s Adobe Layer Styles Bundle
This huge bundle includes well over 2,000 different styles at an incredible price. It also comes with free updates and additions.
150 3D Text Effects Bundle
If you like 3D text effects, you’ll love this bundle that includes 150 different options.
Neon Layer Styles
This pack includes 55 layer styles for creating a variety of different neon effects.
Neon Layer Styles
Easily mimic the look of a neon sign with these styles. It comes with five style categories and 60+ color variations.
20 Pressed and Embossed Styles
Instantly create awesome pressed or embossed text or buttons with the help of this pack that includes 20 different layer styles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Photoshop Styles
What Are Photoshop Styles?
A layer style is an effect or combination of effects applied to a specific layer or group of layers. Styles can be saved and applied to other layers or layer groups. There are a lot of ways to use styles, like creating specific text effects, creating and styling buttons, or designing other elements with a style that you’ll want to be able to repeat.
How Do I Install Styles in Photoshop?
First, you need to download the styles. If the styles are stored in a zip file, you’ll need to unzip it. You should see a .asl file, which is the file that includes the styles. The fastest and easiest way to install styles is to drag the .asl file into your Photoshop window.
How Do I Use Photoshop Styles?
To open the styles panel, go to Window > Styles. In the styles panel, you’ll see all of the styles that are installed (Photoshop comes with some default styles). Make sure the layer that you want to modify is selected, and then click the style that you want to apply.
Where is the Styles Panel in Photoshop?
The styles panel can be moved around, so it is not always in one constant location. If you’re not seeing it, go to Window > Styles and it will become active.
Related posts:
psdland