Photoshop
Making a web 2.0 logo in Photoshop
This Photoshop tutorial will explain how to make a web 2.0 glossy logo or icon if you like. I tried to keep it as simple as possible. If you have any questions post them in the comments below.
I am starting with a 400×300 px white canvas. Draw your basic shape. I have started with a custom shape from Photoshop’s presets.
Step 1
Fill the shape with a nice orange color (I am using #ff6600)
Step 2
Apply Bevel and Emboss to the layer using the following values :
Structure
- Style : Inner Bevel
- Technique : Smooth
- Depth : 100%
- Direction : Up
- Size : 200px
- Soften : 0px
Shading
- Angle : 120 (use global light checked)
- Altitude : 30
- Highlight mode : Screen, Opacity : 75%
- Shadow mode : Multiply (color : #ff0000), opacity 75%.
Step 3
Stoke the layer with an orange color 3 pixels in size (I am using the same orange as the fill : #ff6600)
Step 4
Apply an inner glow, size 40px.
Step 5
Create a new top layer and using the Elliptical Marquee Tool create an oval over the top of the original shape layer. Fill this layer with gradient from white to transparent (white at the bottom, transparent at the top). Give this layer a 50% opacity. You may rotate this layer so it will look cooler.
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Making a navigation menu in Photoshop
1. Creating the main navigation bar.
Ok, let us get started. Create a new image using the dimension 800 x 600. Set the background color to white. You can change the background depending on you web site color. Create a new layer, Layer > New > Layer… (Shift+Ctrl+N). Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool 
create a rectangle using the dimensions below. Change the foreground color to #525253.
With that, you should have the effect below.
2. Using the pen tool to create the rectangle shape.
Click on the Pen Tool 
using the options below.
Create the Anchor point as shown in the image below.
Complete the selection, Using the Pen Tool Right click on the selection as shown below and click Make Selection. The Make Selection rendering should be set at Feather Radius: 0 With you path converted to a selection press the delete key. The outcome is shown below.
3. Applying the gradient and blending option.
Click on the Gradient Tool 
using this settings below.
Apply the gradient to the rectangle from top to bottom, make sure the rectangle is selected before applying the gradient. This will give you the effect below.
Right click on the rectangle layer and click Blending Options. Now add the Blending Optionssetting below.
Click ok to apply the settings.
4. Creating the Tab buttons.
create a rectangle using the dimensions below. Change the foreground color to #9ad346
With that, you should have the effect below.
This layer should be under the main layer with the navigation bar. Just position it to get the effect below.
Tutorial by Pixel Digest
PhotoshopCAFE 8th annual design contest
PhotoshopCAFE has just announced its 8th annual design contest with prizes of over 10000 $.
Last year the challenge was to design a billboard devoted to Photoshop. The winning design as well the runner-ups are shown here.
This year the challenge is to design a video game cover with a Photoshop theme. In fact the name of the game must be the same as a Photoshop tool of your choosing. The prizes are valued at over 10000$ and are offered by sponsors like Adobe, Wacom and Lensbabies. All entries must be posted before January 31, 2008.
More information is available on the PhotoshopCAFE website.
Filter Forge Releases Free Metal Textures Plugin
The first free texture pack for Filter Forge (Filter Forge Freepack 1 - Metals) has been released.
On the surface, Filter Forge is just a Photoshop plugin, a pack of filters that generate textures, create visual effects, enhance photos, process images. However, there are 3 things that make Filter Forge unique:
- You can create your own filters
- You get free access to user-created filters
- Contributors get Filter Forge for free
Filter Forge Freepack 1 - Metals is a set of seven photorealistic metal textures and effects. Metallizing effects, alien-looking or industrial metallic surfaces, rust or aluminum foil, and more – all filters are fully adjustable and support seamless tiling.More free texture packs are coming soon. We’ll keep you up-to-date.
Download Filter Forge Freepack 1 - Metals
Alien Skin Software Releases Image Doctor 2 Plugin
The new version of Image Doctor offers improvements in rendering speed and quality, plus a new range of skin retouching capabilities.
Image Doctor offers a series of image-retouching filters for Photoshop and other similar applications that allow the user to easily restore old photos, retouch photos, remove unwanted objects and repair low quality images.
If you’re learning how to use software, check out this school software and our many online degree programs today.
Here’s an example of what it can do :
Image Doctor renders seamless removals of unsightly blemishes and objects. It enables photo editors to de-clutter bad photographic compositions with just a few clicks of a mouse. Web designers, service bureaus, and hobbyists can restore and repurpose badly compressed JPEGs, including cell phone photos. Portrait photographers can use Image Doctor as digital makeup, removing pimples, moles, scars, and tattoos in one click. Photographers can then soften skin areas where these blemishes were or fix oily patches of skin. Hobbyists and professionals can use Image Doctor to restore old photos by removing dust and scratches.
Image Doctor 2 offers a number of improvements to the original release. Chief among these improvements is Image Doctor 2’s rendering speed and quality.
Image Doctor 2 now offers more seamless integration of replacement pixels with the existing background so that the edges of repaired areas now more smoothly blend with the balance of the photo. The software also is improved in its ability to match the patterns of the existing background. Image Doctor 2’s JPEG Repair offers higher quality fixes of JPEG compression.
Find out more on the Alien Skin website.
