Paper-cut lettering lives or dies on two things: thickness and the cut edge. This guide works in two passes — first duplicate the type layer, offset the copies and fill each one to stack up the paper's thickness, then use Stroke and Inner Shadow to imitate the cut lines. The Bevel & Emboss settings for the finishing touch are at the end, and you can get the same depth in Online PS.
Build the "paper thickness" layers (the 3D part)
1.1 Duplicate the type layer and offset it
- Select the type layer → Ctrl+J (duplicate).
- Select the copy (named
Letter_1by default) and press Ctrl+T to bring up Free Transform. - In the options bar, enter
+15px, +15pxfor the horizontal / vertical offset (dx, dy) — adjust to taste. This step stands in for the "hidden paper" behind the letter. - Duplicate
Letter_1again to getLetter_2, then offset it further up and to the left by-15px, -15px(or the opposite direction). The two staggered shadow layers are what read as the paper's thickness.
Suggestion: For a finer gradation, keep duplicating and offset each copy by 5–8 px, building up 5–7 layers so the thickness increases step by step.
1.2 Fill each layer with color
| Layer | Color | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Letter_1 (back layer) |
#2A2A2A (dark gray / black) | Shadow on the back of the paper |
Letter_2 (front layer) |
#F2EAE0 (light gray / off-white) | Main body of the paper's front face |
| Original type layer (top) | #D96459 (main color) | Color on the paper surface — the visual focal point |
Tip: use a fill layer (Layer → New Fill Layer → Solid Color) instead of recoloring the type directly. That way, if you want a different color later, you only change the fill layer — the letterforms stay exactly the same.
Add the "paper cut" details
2.1 Use Stroke to imitate the cut line
- Select the original type layer → Layer Style (fx) → Stroke.
- Settings:
- Position: Outside
- Size: 3–5 px (depending on the canvas size)
- Color: 20% darker than the base color (e.g. #B0453C)
- Blend Mode: Normal
- Enable Inner Stroke and add one more 0.5 px stroke on top of it to create the fine cut texture.
2.2 Use Inner Shadow to deepen the cut
| Parameter | Example value |
|---|---|
| Angle | 135° |
| Distance | 0 px |
| Size | 4 px |
| Color | 50% black (#00000080) |
| Blend Mode | Multiply |
Why it works: the inner shadow creates a slight recess inside the letterform, which is exactly how a real knife cut catches the light.
2.3 Add Bevel & Emboss (optional)
If you want the paper to feel thicker and more dimensional, open Bevel & Emboss on each paper layer (Letter_1, Letter_2) in turn:
| Setting | Recommended value |
|---|---|
| Style | Inner Bevel (Inner Bevel) |
| Technique | Smooth (Smooth) |
| Depth | 100% |
| Direction | Up (Up) |
| Size | 5–8 px (tweak per layer thickness) |
| Highlight color | White, Screen, 30% opacity |
| Shadow color | Dark gray, Multiply, 40% opacity |
Notes:
- Bevel adds a halo around the letter edges, so it's best to keep anti-aliasing enabled while you use it.
- When you're done, run Smart Sharpen on the type layer once (
Filter → Sharpen → Smart Sharpen) to clean up the faint halo.
References
- Adobe Photoshop official documentation
- HTML5 and the principles of modern front-end image processing
- Online PS