You should try and get off the mainly just filters when making your pics. I really only use 4 or so filters (gaussian blur, wave, macs white remover [only when im doing something with a model from a game], sometimes radial blur [not often anymore]) the reast is brusing. So my suggestion is try to work on some brushing (
www.deviantart.com is a great place to get brushes), maby get a few 3D apps (3d studio max, cinema 4d, somethin lik that if you got the 'money'). I prefer my text to not stand out (unless thats what im amining for, not often anymore) so i dont really like it for that reason. Though the text does look much better from previous pics. My ~4 cents.