Sunday, 18 November 2012

Glassy & Vibrant Rss feed icon Tutorial – Vista Style.

Hey guys – want to see how I made this? Well its pretty easy…just takes some time…and easy to follow steps which is what I typed out for you guys!
feed_me11.jpg
Lets begin the tutorial: Start by opening a new document – any size you want is fine. 500px x 500px is good and big.
In the tools panel go select the custom shape tool. Than we go to the top of the screen and select the shape we want to use in our case it is like a yield sign triangle shape with rounded edges. Make sure all your shape properties look like this.
shape_tool_select_triangle.gif
Once you have that shape selected we can start by selecting a foreground color for our shape:
set_foreground_color.gif
set_froeground_green.gif
Go to the center of your document (I will call it the work stage) Hold down on CTRL (cmnd with mac) and drag out the mouse in any direction and release it when you have reached the size you want. This will create the shape on a new layer. Rename that layer”Triangle”. The triangle is upside down now – that’s ok. Just go to EDIT>TRANSFORM>FLIP VERTICAL and viola. That should do it.
Now go to the layers panel and right click while over the triangle layer and click on “blending option” .This will pop up the blending options box. Select Inner Shadow and check the box. Give it the following values:
Blend mode: multiply
Color: Black
Angle :120
Distance: 2
Choke: 9
Size 35
as screenshot.
trianlge_blending_opts.gif
Click OK. Good.
Now take your cursor and place it over the triangle icon and hold down on CTRL (mac=cmnd) and CLICK.
shape_selection.gif
This will give you a triangle selection on your work stage. Now add a new layer in your layers panel: new_layer.gif
Rename that layer ” Border”. and drag it down to below your triangle layer. Make sure your “border” layer is the one selected and now go to top of screen and SELECT>MODIFY>EXPAND>and type in 10-12 px and click ok. (The more pixels you choose the thicker your border will be) you will see what I mean soon. Now hold down on alt and at the same time press Backspace. This will fill your new selection. While still on the border layer right click and click on blending options. In the blending options box check off and select the “gradient overlay ” Blend mode shouold be set to normal and opacity to 100. now click on the gradient strip to open the gradient editor options .
From the presets at the top select a three striped one like so:
gradient_editor_byb1.gif
It doesn’t matter which you choose because we will change the colors now. Select one of the “stops” just below the gradient strip . Than click on the color box at the very bottom left
gradient_editor_bottom_left1.gif
and it will open a color selection box which you will enter the follwong values #b7b7b7gradient_editor_b7b7b71.gif
Press ok. Do the exact same to the other stops within the gradient editor until you have this.
gradient_editor_complete1.gif
Than press ok again. On your stage you should be seeing this.
triangle_with_border.gif
Your layers panel should look like this:
layers_pallette1.gif
Now we are going to add a cool shine to the triangle using the gradient tool. first add a new layer -same way as done previously.
new_layer.gif
Rename that layer “Shine” . With the shine layer being slected roll your mouse over the triangle icon once more and Click the mouse while holding down on ctrl. This will again give you the triangle selection . Now go to SELECT> MODIFY>CONTRACT and type in 3 pixels and click ok.
contract_values1.gif
Still on the shine layer – go select the gradient tool from the Main tool bar.
gradient_tool.gif
Go to the top of page and put in the correct properties for the gradient we want to use. To edit gradient we go here:
edit_gradient_style1.gif
a new box pops open and than select the “foreground to Transparent”
gradient_editor_stop_yellow.gif
Than go change the color of the one “stop” box . This time make the color a light yellowy green (#FFFC24)
click ok. NOw take your mouse over to your work stage. place your mouse just below the triangle and hold down on ctrl and drag upward to about half way through the triangle.
drag_gradient1.gif
Like so. and release. this will create a nice shine. Now in your layers panel add a new layer and rename it “RSS ICON” – I will not start explaining how to do this shape….as it can get complicated . SO please download this RSS ICON here – and just drag it from within photoshop to your “rss icon” layer. Resize it accordingly.
You should now see this :
almost_done1.gif
NOw again in your layers panel create a new layer and Rename it Glass. We are now going to give it a nice new glassy effect. With this layer selected bring your mouse over the triangle Icon again and hold down on ctrl and click
shape_selection.gif
This will select it..again. Go to SELECT>MODIFY>CONTRACT and type in 3 pixels – click ok.
go to the main toolbar and select the “ELIPTIC MARQUEE TOOL”
elip_marquee_tool1.gif
Go to the work stage and hold down on alt. Your cursor should transform from an arrow to a crosshairs with a minus sign attached.alt_crosshairs1.gif
It should be placed approximately here – about in the vertical middle of the shape , to the left side – as seen in the above screenshot. With alt still being held down…..now drag it to the right side of shape all the way across. and release
selection_top_triangle.jpg
your selection should look like this. now go select the Gradient tool from the main tool bar again. Make the foreground color white. You can set the foreground from within the main tool bar. (This gradient style should be like the last one we did – Foreground to transparent – since it was the last one you used – your properties should still be set to it – so have no worries) NOw bring your mouse to the work stage and place it just above the triangle shape and selection and drag downward to about middle of shape. The tutorial ends here…you should see this.
done1.gif
I really hope you all can benefit from this tutorial..as i put some serious thought and time into it.

Cool Junk for web designers. Random graphics. Free PSD download.


Hey guys..I hope you’re liking the logo contests. We have had some really nice entries. Keep them coming! If anyone is wants some cool graphics for free…check these out…Some random stuff I have designed for fun.
random_elements.jpg
download
If you use any of these your site or blog -  Please add a link back to my site (-:

source:  http://photoshopcandy.com/2008/01/17/cool-junk-for-web-designers-random-graphics/

The Big Phat Outline effect – so cool and easy.

po_phatoutline.jpg
You like this cool outline effect? So do I – and the fun part is that it takes about 2 seconds to do!
We will do it in 3 easy steps:

Step 1:

Using the Type tool – write whatever you want using a nice full font. ( no serifs please)

Step 2:

Double click on that layer to open up the Blending options. Select Stroke and do this:
po_outline.jpg

Step 3:

Now go select drop shadow and do this:
po_dropshadow.jpg

Look at what you did !

Way to go.
I hope you liked it.

Vector graphics vs Bitmap

What is vector?

There may be more to it, but I will say what I have learned over time…
in short there are two types of graphics – bitmap or vector. Bitmap is made up of dots and vector is made up of mathematical calculations which form shapes. Are you lost? Well, I am not going to go into so much detail but the main idea I want to get across is the practical quality difference is found when scaling the graphic. Since when you scale  graphic object made of dots, the computer has to guess how to re-place all those dots over a larger or smaller area of the screen and when doing so it messes up slightly and usually comes out blotchy.

But when creating a vector graphic, the computer just re-uses that same mathematical calculation system to create the same shape exactly but in a different size.

Vector graphics are generally used for print. To retain the sharp crisp quality and re-sizing abilities.
Photoshop is not a vector program – When you  create a shape using the shape tool or design a custom shape with the pen tool . You shouldmake sure not to rasterize it. Rasterizing it will flatten it out to a bitmap graphic. If you keep it as is..it will remain just like a vector graphic.

Adobe illustrator is a vector program and logos should generally be done in this program as opposed to photoshop.

If you love photoshop and dont know illustrator…you should know..ITS EASY and its very similar and worth it for all those print projects and logo projects.

Design the Mobile Phone of 2020!

Creative designers out there? $15000 Budget, Bootb is running a unique design contest. Go check it out! If you need to get inspired you can check out some “real life” cellphone designs that rock. 
nokia888.jpg  
If I have time to put something together, I’ll let you all know.Enjoy! 

Make your own handwritten font, very cool.

Very cool idea, you can now create your own “handwritten” font for use on your computer. No software required, simply print out, complete, and scan the font template…something like that!Go check out: http://www.fontcapture.com/

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Colorful Lighting effect in photoshop, super, simple and exciting.

Lets Begin.

STEP 1:
Go to FILE>OPEN and search your computer for a nice photo that you can work on. I purchased this one from Istockphoto: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10148575-fiber-optical.php

Any photo that you choose will be ok.  Here are a couple photos I suggest trying this effect on:
  • A photo with lights on a dark background
  • A photo with White smoke on a dark background.
STEP 2:
make-bg-grd.jpg
Go to LAYER>NEW FILL LAYER>and select GRADIENT.
STEP 3:
make-bg-grd2.jpg
  • Give this layer a name. I used the name “color”.
  • Put a check in the “Use previous layer to Create Clipping Mask” checkbox.
  • change the “Mode” to ”color”
  • click OK.
STEP4:
make-bg-grd3.jpg
Keep all properties the same as you see them in the image above.  Click once on the “Gradient” Bar for the next window to pop up.

STEP 5:

make-bg-grd4.jpg
From top to bottom:
  • Choose the “Foreground to Transparent” Preset. Remember you can chose anyone one really. I chose the transparent so one side would be a very subtle effect. 
  • Gradient Type: Solid
  • Smoothness: 100%
  • Click once on the left “stop”box located right below the Gradient Strip. (In my image it is yellow. You can use whatever color you want.)
  • Be Creative (-:
  • Now you can move lower to the “Stops” section and click on the box next to where it says: “Color:”this will bring up the window for you to choose your desired color.
SOME INTERESTING POINTS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW:
  • To add “stops” along the strip you simply click right below the gradient strip with your mouse and it will add one for you.
  • To get rid of an extra color “stop” you simply grab on to one box and drag it downward.  Poof it’s gone!
So once you chose your colors and are happy with the gradient colors, CLICK OK.
And you’re done. You should have something looking like this. Super simple. But super cool too. ENJOY!
color-lighting-effect.jpg