Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
The header is an important feature of any interface, because it contains most of the links and buttons to navigation. In this step-by-step tutorial, we will learn how to create a modernized header layout for your website design or graphic user interfaces.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Start by creating a rectangle using rectangular shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Ctrl+Click to get the selection. Contract the selection by 6 pixels. Create a new layer. Apply Black to white gradient. Change layer mode to “Lighten” for this layer.

Ctrl+Click to get the selection. Contract the selection by 6 pixels. Create a new layer. Apply Black to white gradient. Change layer mode to “Exclusion” for this layer.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Select and duplicate all the layers. Press Ctrl+E to merge. Scale down vertically.

Change the layer mode to “Linear Light”. Place it on the top. Duplicate and place it on the bottom.

Select and duplicate the layers again. Press Ctrl+E to merge. Press Ctrl+T. Right Click and select distort. Adjust the nodes to get the shape as shown.

Change the layer mode to “Screen”.

Duplicate, rotate and place on each corner.

Select and merge all the layers. Duplicate the layer. Squeeze it vertically and move the layer below all the layers in layer order in layer palette.

Type ” % ” repeatedly. Scale down horizontally.

Move this layer below all the layers in layer order in layer palette. Place it on the top. Duplicate and place in the bottom too.

Create a circle using elliptical shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Select and merge all the layers. Duplicate the layer and scale down a bit. Press Ctrl+U to open hue/saturation window. Apply settings as shown.

Change the layer mode to “Hard Light”.

Similarly create buttons for the navigation links and place as shown. Also create connectors in similar fashion.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
If you are a game designer or want to create a nice button for your interface, then here is a useful tutorial. We will walk through the design of a stylized and modern gaming button. The design is especially nice for themes that revolve around futuristic settings.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a pentagon using polygon shape tool.

Press Ctrl+T. Right Click and select Warp. Select “Shell Lower” style from the preset warp shapes. Apply settings as shown. Change the warp orientation by click over the red area.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the layer and move few pixels to right. Apply gradient overlay layer style.

Duplicate the layer several times. Scale down and place as shown.

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Copy the distorted layer path. Select the rounded rectangle layer. Enable “subtract from shape area” at the top bar. Press Ctrl+V to paste the path. Duplicate the path. Press Ctrl+T. Right click and select Flip Horizontal and place on the other side.

Create some horizontal and vertical lines using line shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Ctrl+Click the layer thumbnail to get the selection. Create a new layer. Apply Black to white gradient. Change layer mode to screen for this layer.

Create some small lines and place as shown.

Select and merge all the layers. Duplicate the layer. Change the layer mode to “Vivid light” and opacity to 50%.

Using pencil tool create some white dots on the edges to enhance the effect.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the steps of creating a stylized content box. These boxes are useful when designing for web or for print media. They also help isolate content from other surrounding content, which helps give order to the layout.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a rectangle using rectangular shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create a tentacle shape using pen tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+T. Right click and select Flip Horizontal and place on the other side.

Duplicate both the layers, rotate and place on each side.

Create a rectangle using rectangular shape tool. Apply same layer style we used for the tentacles.

Create a shape as shown using pen tool. Apply same layer style.

Duplicate the layer several times and place on the each corner.

Create four circles using elliptical shape tool. Place it on all the four corners. Apply same layer style we used for the first rectangle layer.

Create some “circular frame” shapes using custom shape tool.

Select and merge all the layers. Duplicate the layer and scale down a bit.

Change the layer mode to “Linear Light”.

Create some ring shapes connecting each other.

Similarly create more connecting chains and place as shown.

Select and merge all the layers. Press Ctrl+U to open hue/saturation window. Apply settings as shown.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
A lot of times, it is useful to have a photograph within your buttons to give a clearer picture of where the button will take the user. If you have a photograph of money, for example, then it tells the user that the button is a financial section. In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to create a nice photo button for your websites and graphic projects.

Step-By-Step Instructions:
1. Create New RGB document. Click on the swatch of the main fill and choose red color. Press to fill document with red. Use Elliptical Marquee (Shift+M) and draw a circle, while holding down Shift:

2. Open the photograph that you are planning to use on the button. Press (Ctrl+A) to select the whole photograph, then (Ctrl+C) to copy. Return to the document with red circle.

3. Go to Edit>Paste Into to paste the picture inside the selected circle. Don’t worry about placement and size of the photo – we’ll work on it in later steps:

4. Press Ctrl key and click in palette Layers on mask icon (it’s located next to the layer’s name) to select the area outside of the circle (as shown on image):

5. Click on the icon “Create a New Layer” on the bottom of the Layers palette to create a new layer. Press (Alt+Backspace) to fill the selected area with red fill. Press Ctrl+J to create a copy of this layer. As a result you’ll have two identical layers located directly above each other:

6. On the bottom of Layers palette click on the icon Effects and choose Bevel and Emboss from drop down menu. Set Depth to 291 and Size and Soften to 14. In Shading set Angle to 135°, Altitude -37°, increase Opacity for highlights to 100% and for shadows – decrease to 40% as shown on the picture:

7. After applying this effect to the layer, your circle will look like 3d round button, with shadows and highlights applied. Press-and-hold and click on top layer to select the button:

8. Go to Select>Modify>Contract. Enter value 12 in popup dialog to contract the selection by 12 pixels (if you are working with high resolutions, for example 300ppi, set value to 44 pixels):

9. Press (Shift+M) until you have selected Rectangular Marquee tool. Hold down and draw a rectangular selection – about ¾ from the circle. Release ALT key and you’ll have a selection as shown on the image:

10. Return to Layers palette and click on the layer located directly underneath the round button we have just worked with. Press the Backspace key, than (Ctrl+D) to deselect. You can’t see the photo yet but click on the top layer and decrease Fill to 0% – and photo will appear in the top circle area:

11. Select the top layer in Layers palette. Click on icon “Add a layer style” on the bottom of palette and choose Drop Shadow from drop-down menu. Increase Opacity to 100%, uncheck Use Global Light, set 90°, and increase Distance value to 14 and Size to 18.

12. Click OK and you’ll see a soft black shadow underneath your button. Select the layer with photograph and press to select Transform tool. Use it to modify location and size of your photograph:

13. Now we need to add text and other effects:

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Here is a useful tutorial on creating a modern style footer for your website. The nice thing about this footer is that it is also a self contained content area, so it is easier to have as its own element in a website layout.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a rectangle using rectangular shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool. Enable “subtract from shape area” at the top bar. Create a rectangle using rectangular shape tool.

Change the layer mode to “Multiply” and opacity to 50%.

Create a shape as shown using pen tool. Apply same layer style we used before.

Create a horizontal line using line tool. Apply same layer style.

Similarly create more shapes.

Create two more shapes. Fill it with red color and place as shown.

Create a shape as shown using pen tool and place it the bottom.

Add more shapes to add details.

Duplicate all the left edge shapes. Rotate and place it on the bottom.

Similarly add details to the other side too. Type copyright information and link names.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Here is a tutorial that you can use to create a place holder for your website or GUI. The style is metallic and futuristic in its theme and is great for modern style websites.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a rectangle using rectangular shape tool.

Duplicate the layer and scale vertically a bit. Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create two rectangles on the top and bottom. Apply gradient overlay layer style.

Similarly create more rectangles.

Create two rounded rectangles using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create a rectangle using rectangular shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the rectangle twice and scale down.

Create a horizontal rectangular shape using rectangular shape tool. Press Ctrl+T. Right Click and select perspective. Adjust the nodes to get the shape as shown.

Create a shape as shown using pen tool. Duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+T. Right click and select Flip Horizontal and place on the other side.

Add more details using basic shapes and previously applied layer style.

Select and merge all the layers. From “Filter” menu select “Stylize>>Emboss”. Apply settings as shown.

Change the layer mode to “Hard Light”.

Duplicate the layer. Click add layer mask button from the bottom of the layer palette. Apply a black to white gradient in linear mode. Change the layer mode to “Vivid Light”.

From layer menu select “new adjustment layers>>hue/saturation”. apply settings as shown.

Populate your place holder by placing your ad in center area.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Let’s go through the steps to creating a stylish and slick looking website footer. Many of the techniques used in this tutorial are great for creating any kind of content box or container as well.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Type “O” several times. Press Ctrl+T and squeeze it horizontally.

Apply same layer style we used for the first rectangle layer.

Duplicate all the layers and merge. Press Ctrl+T. Right Click and select Warp. Select “Shell Lower” style from the preset warp shapes. Apply settings as shown.

Scale down to create a small shape as shown below. Press Ctrl+Shift+U to desaturate.

Duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+T. Right click and select Flip Vertical and place on the other side.

Duplicate all the layers again and merge. Press Ctrl+T. Right Click and select Warp. Select “Squeeze” style from the preset warp shapes. Apply settings as shown.

Place it as shown.

Duplicate the layer several times. Rotate, scale and place as shown.

Select and merge all the layer. Duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+T. Right Click and select Warp. Select “Fish” style from the preset warp shapes. Apply settings as shown.

Rotate and place as shown. Move this layer below all the layers in layer order in layer palette.

Similarly create more duplicate, rotate and place as shown.

Duplicate all the layers and merge. Press Ctrl+U to open hue/saturation window. Apply settings as shown.

Change the layer mode to “Linear Light” and opacity to 70%.

Type text links and /or Copyright information over it.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Here we learn how to create a rusty style button panel for website layouts. The decay looking style is great for websites that want to create a used-future look to their sites. In this tutorial, we’ll examine some of the basics of creating rust on metal.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Start by creating a shape as shown using pen tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Similarly create more shapes and place as shown.

Duplicate all the layers. Press Ctrl+T. Right click and select Flip Vertical and place on the other side.

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool. Apply same layer style. Move this layer below all the layers in layer order in layer palette.

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Enable “subtract from shape area” at the top bar. Create some rounded rectangles for the buttons using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create some tiny circles using elliptical shape tool. Apply inner shadow layer style.

Select and merge all the layers. Duplicate the layer several times. Scale down and place on the each side as shown in the image below.

Duplicate the layer again. Scale down and rotate 90°. Place as shown.

Press Ctrl+U to open hue/saturation window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+U to open hue/saturation window. Apply settings as shown.

Change the layer mode to “Multiply”.

Select Eraser tool. Right click and select the brush with the following settings.

Start erasing randomly.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Here is a tutorial that shows how to make a sleek and modern looking sidepanel. The sidepanel is also self-contained, so it is easy to put whereever you want in a website or graphic layout.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Enable “subtract from shape area” at the top bar and create two rounded rectangles as shown in the image below.

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool. Apply same layer style. Move this layer below rounded rectangle layer in layer order in layer palette.

Similarly create rectangle for the other side.

Duplicate the layer twice. Squeeze it horizontally and place it as shown.

Select all the layers. Press Ctrl+G to group. Duplicate the group several times and place it below each other.

Create some horizontal and vertical lines using line shape tool.

Type ” ) ” and place as shown. Apply same layer style.

Duplicate and place as shown.

Create two ellipses using elliptical shape tool.

Duplicate these layers and place as shown.

Select and merge all the layers. Press Ctrl+U to open hue/saturation window. Apply settings as shown.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Learn to create a stylized logo holder with button layout using Photoshop. This tutorial is useful for web designers looking to create an interesting graphical user interface.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a circle using elliptical shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the layer and scale down. Double click the layer to open layer style window. Change gradient overlay style to radial.

Similarly create more circles in decreasing order with different gradients.

Create a circle using elliptical shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create an elliptical selection using elliptical marquee tool. Create a new layer. Apply Black to white gradient. Change layer mode to screen and opacity to 50% for this layer.

Create a small rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the layer several times. Rotate and place as shown in the image below.

Using basic shapes create a complex shape. Apply same layer style.

Select and merge all these shape layers. Duplicate the layer, rotate and place on the each corner.

Select all the layers and press Ctrl+G to group. Hide the group .Duplicate the group and press Ctrl+E to merge. Now duplicate the layer and change the layer mode to “color dodge”.

Duplicate both the layers several times. Scale down to button size and place them as shown.

Duplicate, scale and rotate the merged shape layer to create connecting chains between button and panel.

Photoshop Tutorial

Summary:
Here is a tutorial for creating an X-style playhead controller. This is great for any type of interface that requires fastforward, rewind, and play buttons. This could be anything from a video player to an mp3 player.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Create some diagonal lines using line tool. Apply same layer style.

Type ” ( ) ” using a big font. Rotate it 90° and place as shown. Apply same layer style.

Type “X” using a bold font. Create a circle using elliptical shape tool. Select and merge both the layers. Apply same layer style.

Select and merge all the layers,. Duplicate the layer and scale down. Change the layer mode to “Exclusion”.

Duplicate the layer. From “Filter” menu select “Artistic>>Plastic wrap”. Apply settings as shown.

Change the layer mode to “Darken”.

Duplicate the layer. From “Filter” menu select “Blur>>Motion Blur “. Apply settings as shown.

Ctrl+Click the original panel layer thumbnail to get the selection. Press Ctrl+Shift+I to inverse the selection. Press Delete. Change the layer mode to “Difference”.

Create a circle using elliptical shape tool.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Ctrl+Click to get the selection. Contract the selection by 2 pixels. Create a new layer. Apply Black to white gradient. Change layer mode to screen for this layer.

Create “triangular” shape using custom shape tool.

Similarly create other controls.