Generating an image with a "Gold-plated" text effect using PHP/GD

Question

I'm dynamically generating a PNG image using PHP 7.3/GD based on a text provided by the user.

Everything works as expected, but I'd like to apply some kind of filter/effect to obtain a Gold-plated style, such as below:

Any idea how to achieve this? I've found solutions to apply blur/glow/shadow or to solve this via HTML5/CSS3 but I must use GD/PHP for this project.

Here's my current code:

<?php

putenv('GDFONTPATH='.realpath('.'));
header('Content-Type: image/png');
$im = imagecreatetruecolor(300, 200);
$bg = imagecolorallocate($im, 255, 255, 255);
imagefill($im, 0, 0, $bg);
$gold = imagecolorallocate($im, 255, 215, 0);
imagettftext($im, 28, 0, 76, 110, $gold, 'HirukoBlackAlternate.ttf', 'Stack');
imagepng($im);
imagedestroy($im);

Should the chains and the connections, from your example, be included? That's probably the hardest bit to create. — KIKO Software, Apr 13 '19 at 19:55
@KIKOSoftware No, don't worry about this, I simply need the Gold-plated effect — Bruno Leveque, Apr 13 '19 at 19:56
OK, well, the drop-shadow is not difficult, just write the text in a dark color, with a slight offset, and then the gold over it. Getting the golden glow right will be harder. — KIKO Software, Apr 13 '19 at 19:58
@KIKOSoftware, Exactly, getting the Golden glow is the point here — Bruno Leveque, Apr 13 '19 at 20:00
Perhaps something with [imagelayereffect()](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.imagelayereffect.php)? I've never used that myself though. — KIKO Software, Apr 13 '19 at 20:10

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 13 '19 at 20:56

Well, I played around with this a bit, and got this:

It's not exactly like the example image, but it is getting somewhat close. You'll have to fiddle it a bit more to get exactly what you want.

I did use imagelayereffect() like this:

// start with your code
putenv('GDFONTPATH='.realpath('.'));
header('Content-Type: image/png');
$im = imagecreatetruecolor(300, 200);
$bg = imagecolorallocate($im, 255, 255, 255);
imagefill($im, 0, 0, $bg);

// first the back drop 
$gray = imagecolorallocate($im, 80, 80, 80);
imagettftext($im, 28, 0, 76+3, 110+2, $gray, 'HirukoBlackAlternate.ttf', 'Stack');

// then the gold
$gold = imagecolorallocate($im, 180, 180, 150);
imagettftext($im, 28, 0, 76, 110, $gold, 'HirukoBlackAlternate.ttf', 'Stack');

// get a pattern image
$pattern = imagecreatefromjpeg('http://i.pinimg.com/736x/96/36/3c/96363c9337b2d1aad24323b1d9efda72--texture-metal-gold-texture.jpg');

// copy it in with a layer effect
imagelayereffect($im, IMG_EFFECT_OVERLAY);
imagecopyresampled($im, $pattern, 0, 0, 0, 0, 300, 200, 736, 552);

// output and forget
imagepng($im);
imagedestroy($im);
imagedestroy($pattern);

So I basically used an image to get the golden shine. Seems to work, but I think this can be improved upon.

Thanks a lot for this. Indeed there's still some difference but I agree with you I can start from here and tweak the filters/texture, it should do the job! — Bruno Leveque, Apr 13 '19 at 21:26

Generating an image with a "Gold-plated" text effect using PHP/GD

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