This tutorial will teach you how to make Exploding text like this:

Create a new document and add your text. Center it:

Apply a mezzotint filter (Filter > Pixelate > Mezzotint). Apply this “2-5” times depending on how grungy you want your final product.

Now we will add some depth by pinching the text using the pinch filter (Filter > Distort > Pinch). And apply these settings:

We should get this:

Duplicate this layer 4 times. Hide the top two copies and continue to work on the bottom most layer. I’ve named my layers back1, back2, text, and lightthrough to help me in the next steps. Now apply a motion blur to the bottom two layers. One at “45” and one at “-45“, each with “100” strength. Merge the layers together. It should resemble this:

Apply a Gaussian Blur of about “3“, then use Filter>Stylize>Find Edges… The find edges will emphasize the center area, which will emphasize the center explosion.

Now we will use a levels adjustment layer (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels) to bring out the basic shape and color of the explosion. Put this layer above all layers.

You are going to adjust multiple channels, including the overall RGB channel.

First adjust the RGB channel middle input level so its skewed right.

On the Red Channel, bring the left adjustment slightly to the right, drastically bring the right handle left, and skew the center handle towards the right.

On the green channel, bring the left handle to about the center, drag the right handle to about 3/4 and skew the center handle towards the left.

Again, this is done to taste and will depend on how you have set up your own image. Consider the values shown in the images as a good start for a red-orange explosion.

Remember, make sure the adjustment layer is positioned above all other layers.

Here are the images to help:

Now unhide the text layer. Invert it and set its mode to “Multiply“.

Unhide the ‘lightthrough‘ layer. Invert it and set its mode to “Screen“.

With the lightthrough layer selected, apply a radial blur at full strength. Filter>Blur>Radial Blur… Zoom mode at “100“, best quality. Repeat the radial blur “2-5” times. Duplicate the layer to further pronounce the light through the holes of the text blast effect.

And there you have it, the final version is easily cropped out. You may want to try blurring the layer a little, though I like the sharp rays in this case.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial as well as your graphic.