Retro Text Effect in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a retro text effect in Affinity Photo. We’ll be creating a text effect look that’s from the 1960s.

Before you begin, go to the following link to download the font and the textured image used in this tutorial.

Pricedown font

Texture

Step 1

First, go to File > New. The document size doesn’t matter. I set the document to 1920 px by 1080 px. Set the DPI to 72.

Step 2

Next, grab the Artistic Text Tool from the Tools Panel. Click on the document and type out your text. I’m going to use the word Retro. With the Move Tool, place the text in the center of the document. Turn Snapping on to do this.

Step 3

Select the text. Then, go to the Font Family and choose the font you want to use. The font I used is called Pricedown. Go to the Swatches Panel and set the fill color to #FBE248.

Step 4

Now, grab the Rectangle Tool from the Tools Panel. Draw a rectangle that covers the document. Drag the rectangle beneath the text in the Layers Panel.

Step 5

With the rectangle selected, go to the Swatches Panel. Double click on the fill color to bring up the Color Chooser. I set the rectangle to the following hex code #C3A79A.

Step 6

After that, select the retro text. Then, press CTRL + J three times to make 3 duplicates of the text.

Step 7

Select the first text layer and label it Green. In the Layers Panel, click the fx icon. Check the Outline box and select it. Go to Color and select the RGB Hex Sliders. Set the Color to the following hex code #00BD75. Next, set the Radius to 5 px. By default, the Blend Mode should be Normal, Opacity 100%, Alignment Outside, and Fill Style is Solid Color. Also, make sure you check the Scale with Object box.

Step 8

Now, select the text layer right beneath the Green layer. Label it Pink. Click the fx icon and check/select the Outline box. Set the Color to #DD367C. Then, set the Radius to 10 px. Check the Scale with Object box.

Step 9

Next, select the text layer beneath the Pink layer. Label it Orange. Now, check the fx icon and check Outline. Set the Color to #F9AB3E. Then, set the Radius to 15 px. Check the Scale with Object box.

Step 10

After that, select the text layer below the Orange layer and label it Blue. Click the fx icon and check Outline. Set the Color to #2D758D and the Radius to 30 px. Then, check Scale with Object.

Step 11

Now, select everything. Next, go to the Layers Panel and right-click on the selected layers. Click Merge Visible. Turn off all the other layers.

Step 12

Select the merged layer. Go to the Filters menu. Click on Noise > Add Noise. Ser the Radius to 30 px. Select Gaussian and check the Monochromatic box.

Step 13

Once you’ve done that, go to File > Open and drag the texture image you downloaded onto the document. Make sure it’s at the top of everything. Go to the Transform Panel and turn on the Lock Aspect Ratio. Then, resize the image.

Step 14

With the texture layer selected, go to the Filters menu. Then, go to Noise > Add Noise and set the Radius to 50%. In the Layers Panel, set the Blend Mode of the layer to Multiply and lower the Opacity to 50%.

Congratulations, the tutorial is complete! You now know how to create a retro text effect in Affinity Photo.