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I will start with a disclaimer.
I am no pro in Photoshop and all that I am sharing now are the results of reading hundreds of tutorials (thanks to all that created them).
I decided that instead of linking members to other sites that we should have our own here.
Before starting, I am making a request to the skilled MMC members to share their tutorials here too.
Just take a look at this picture above, (nice huh?) but I'm sure that you could do one the same maybe even better.
All you need is a legal copy of Photoshop and some patience to read this tutorial.
Step 1
Open a new file, I prefer 500x100 and white background when doing this panes because they can be easily resized.
Step 2
Go to Layer>New layer or simply push the button in layers window.
I choose to make this panes rounded rectangles for the simply reason that I love Vista (looks way to cool).
So lets choose rounded rectangular tool from the tools window, or by pressing U on the keyboard.
One thing that have learned is that keyboard shortcuts makes the work a lot easier.
Before starting to make the shape, there are few settings to make.
The original background (that will be deleted after all it's finished) is white so we will have to choose a different color, I choose red.
Choosing the rounded rectangular tool opens us a few options
First one would be Fill Pixels,the second Radius (rounded circle value) and opacity.
You can play how much you want with radius and opacity but for this project fill pixels is a MUST
so lets draw our shape.
I prefer to go as close as possible to the edges but still not altering the rounded corners.
Make a few tries, if you don't like it you can always undo it with Edit>Undo.
Step 3
Make a new layer (that would be number 3 by now).
I told you that I love Vista and Vista has that glossy effect on all the buttons so I wouldn't miss not doing something similar to this pane.
Choose your Rectangular Marque Tool from tools window or by pressing M.
Very important when using the RMT for gloss effect is that feather must be set to 0.
Increasing the value makes the edges more softer and we don't want that now.
Make a selection form the top of the image to almost half of it.
Like that.
Choose gradient tool from window tool or by pressing G..
Make sure that you have default foreground color is white, this is very important being the only color that can achieve you the glossy effect.
Take gradient tool and drag from the top to the end of the shape you have drawn with marque tool.
Go to select>deselect and the result should be smooth like this.
Step 4
Read very carefully here, this being the trickiest part with this glossy effect.
Click on layer 2 (the one with red shape) press CTRL and while holding it click again on it.
It will make a selection like this one.
Go to Select>modify>contract and enter 2 (try first with 1 maybe you like it more).
Now click on layer 3 (the one with gloss effect)
Go to Select>inverse
After, hold CTRL and hit delete few time to get rid of the white.
It will end up looking like this.
Normally that should be all for today but this is too simple, so I thought I would add more color to it.
Choose layer 2 and double click on it.
A new window appears with blending options.
Do not touch nothing and go to gradient overlay.
Choose your gradient, give it a few tries. You will find one you like. If not, go hunting over the net
There a lot of gradients, brushes and styles out there (may Google may be with you
)
Better now.
Step 5
Simon always loved the shapes that I have in my panes so I won't end without adding one.
Add a new layer.
Choose brush tool by pressing B and choose one from the right window (told you that you will need a lot of those
) and use it.After that, double click on the new added layer and repeat the settings for layer 2 (with gradient only that this time you will untickle the reverse box for colors to be opposed).
Click on layer 4 and simply drag it under layer 3 (this way gloss effect covers it).
That's all folks for tonight.
And remember there is nothing hard to do.
