In today’s tutorial we’re going to teach you how to make a modern, sleek and creative navigation menu.
There’s a lot of things going on in here. You will learn how to add depth into text and other small shapes, create a 3D shape the easy way and apply gradients to get a realistic lightning.
The techniques learned throughout this tutorial can be applied in many more ways and are definitely worth learning.
So let’s get started right away.

Result Preview:

Step1

Create a new file of 1000px wide and 400px wide

Step2

Select the ellipse tool

And draw a flat ellipse like so:

If you’re unsure about what size you’re going with, try making it about 22.5 wide and 3.7 high. You can see this by opening the Info menu located under Window>Info or by pressing F8

Step3

Double click this layer with the shape in order to get the Layer Style window.
Add a Drop Shadow:
Blend mode: Normal
Color: White
Opacity 75%
Angle 90° – Deselect “Use Global Light”
Distance: 0px
Spread: 0px
Size: 5px

Add an Inner Shadow:
Blend mode: multiply
Color: black
Opacity: 100%
Angle: 90° – Deselect “Use Global Light”
Distance: 0px
Spread: 0px
Size 61px

And finally add an Inner glow:
Blend mode: normal
Opacity: 75%
Noise: 0%
Color: White
Choke: 9%
Size: 90px

Step4

To prevent ourselves from any clutter, we’re going to rename the layer we just edited. Double click on the name and rename it to “Top”.

Step5

Make sure the layer is selected and press ctrl+J (Windows) or cmd+J if you’re on a Mac.
This will duplicate the layer, now make sure the new layer is selected and press V to access the resize tool.
Hold Alt+Shift and drag one of the corners until you get something like this:

You might want to make the height a little bit smaller by holding Alt and dragging the upper or lower nod up or down, just a few pixels.

Step6

Rename this new layer to “Dark Center”

Step7

Double click the Dark Center layer and add the following styles:
Drop Shadow:
Blend mode: Normal
Color: white
Opacity: 75%
Angle: 90° – Deselect “Use Global Light”
Distance: 1px
Spread: 0%
Size: 2px
Inner Shadow:
Blend Mode: Multiply
Color: Black
Opacity: 75%
Angle: 90% – deselect “Use Global Light”
Distance: 1px
Choke: 0%
Size: 2px
Gradient Overlay:
Select “Reverse”
Style: Reflected
Angle 96°
Color: from #3d3d3d to #5b5b5a

Step8

Now we’re going to create the bottom part of the navigation, you could do it with the pen tool, that’s the hard way. But let’s just duplicate the Top layer so often that it becomes the same shape.
So select the Top layer, hold Alt and press the down arrow about 25 to 30 times. (I prefer 26)
Select all these layers that you just produced by clicking the one at the top, scrolling down in the layer menu and hold down shift and then click the first copied one (NOT the original). Then press ctrl+E to merge all those newly created layers.
Now you should have 2 layers, drag the “Top” layer above the copied one.

Step9

Now for our own ease, we need to remove the part we don’t see.
To make things less confusing, name the new layer to “Nav Bar”.
Then click Ctrl+click (cmd+click on Mac) the grey image of the “Top” shape layer.
It looks like this:

The ellipse will be selected, now go to the “Nav Bar” layer and hit Delete or Backspace to erase that area on just this layer. You can double check if it worked by hidding the “Top” layer (just click the little eye icon next to it).

Step10

On the “Nav Bar” layer we’re going to add a layer style.
Gradient Overlay:
Color: From #414141 (at Location 0%) to
#737474 (at Location 15%) to
#adadad (at Location 50%) to
#737474 (at Location 85%) to
#414141 (at Location 0%) to

Step11

Now duplicate the “Top” layer once again, but just 1 time by pressing Ctrl(or cmd for Mac)+J.
Move this layer all the way down, just above your background layer.
Move it down by pressing V for the right tool and then holding Shift and pressing the down arrow 8 to 9 times (I prefer 8).

Step12

Remove all the Layer Styles of the copied layer and only add a Color Overlay that’s totally black.

Rename the layer to “Shadow”.

Step13

Make sure your Shadow layer is still selected and go to the Filter menu>Blur>Motion Blur.

A window will pop up asking you if you want to rasterize the layer, press OK.
A new window with the settings will come up, change the Distance to 123 pixels.

You should have something close to this now:

As you might have noticed, the shadow is till a bit hard, especially at the bottom.
We start making it better by turning the Opacity of the Shadow layer to 75%

Step14

Pick the Blur Tool

and use the following Brush Settings (right click):

Make sure the “Shadow” layer is still selected and wipe over the bottom area about 5 times up to 10. The edge should look slightly softer now.

Step15

Create a new layer above all the other ones and select the Text Tool (T)
Type in the name you want and place it in the center of the black ellipse.
Avoid lowercase typing, because letters like g p and so on will break the effect.

Step16

We’re going to add a few layer styles to the text.
Gradient Overlay:
Angle: 90°
Color: From #afb0ad to #e2e4dd

Stroke:
Size: 1px
Opacity: 82%
Color: White
It should look something like this:

Step17

Select the text layer, duplicate it by pressing Ctrl+J (or cmd+J) and drag the new layer below the original one.
Remove all the effects and make sure the text is black.

Step18

Move the text down 1 time with Shift+Down Arrow.
Add Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur with 4pixels radius.

Make the layer’s opacity 75% for a smoother look.

Step19

Nobs will show up and you can now position the rectangle to the center. Now hold Alt and drag at the left or right nob to get a selection about twice as big as we just started with.
Hit Enter and make sure the “Selection” layer is selected. Now press Ctrl+Shift+I to invert the selection and press Delete or Backspace to remove it.
It will look weird and confusing for a second, but just go on and let’s restyle the layer:
Gradient Overlay:
From #87c540 to #c9da2b

Apply Stroke
Stroke: 1px
Opacity: 16%
Color: Black

Step20

Create a new layer above the “Selection” layer.
Pick the Rectangle Tool (U)

And draw a tiny rectangle like this:

Step21

Now let’s add some Layers Styles again:
Drop Shadow:
Blend mode: Multiply
Color: Black
Opacity: 55%
Angle: 90° – deselect “Use Global Light”
Distance: 0px
Spread: 0%
Size: 5px
Gradient Overlay:
From #2f2f2f to #868686

Step22

Create a new layer on top of the rectangle one and pick the Text tool.
Search a bit what font size you need, many fonts require a different size to fit the “Selection” box.
To this text we’ll add some effects once again.
Drop Shadow:
Blend mode: Normal
Color: White
Opacity: 75%
Angle: 90° – deselect “Use Global Light”
Distance: 1px
Spread 0%
Size: 1px
Color Overlay:
Color: Black
Now the finishing touches.
That is it!

Result:

Making a 3D New Year Wallpaper in Photoshop

As twenty-ten draws to an end we look forward to the new year and all the fun celebrations, so I thought I’d get those creative minds working in time for the festive season. This tutorial will require Illustrator as well as Photoshop, but don’t worry if you do not have Illustrator you can easily download the PSD for that step!

Here are the few steps to making 3D text in Illustrator:
1. New Document

Open Illustrator, the menu will appear, select Basic RGB Document…
Settings of your document are as shown: Size 1024 x 768, Raster Effects: High

2. Add Text on separate layers

Using the Text Tool (T) write your words as shown: Happy, New Year, 2011
All on individual layers, create new layers (on the layer toolbar 2nd from right):
To see the layers toolbar go, View –> Layers (F7)
Make sure that for your text colour you use the second/third whitest in the toolbar, as shown in the top left:
I am using Museo 500 at 210 pt:

3. Extrude & Bevel

Select all layers (the little circle on each layer), hold down Cmd/Ctrl to select all at once:
Now go, Effect –> 3D –> Extrude & Bevel…
Settings as shown: -18, -26, 8 Perspective: 45, Extrude Depth: 50 pt (no Bevel):
Once you have finished go, File –> Export… as a .psd!

Now for the Photoshop part, if you’d like to download the 3D Text click here!
1. New…

Open Photoshop and make a new document, File –> New…
Settings as shown, or use your own desktop resolution:
Mine: 1600 x 1200, 300 ppi:

2. Background

Using the Gradient Tool (G) with settings: Radial, Violet-Orange, Reverse:
Stroke from the centre outwards past the edge of your document:
Now, using the Custom Shapes Tool (U) – select ‘Customs Shapes’ with Registration Target 2 stretch this out over your background, make sure your foreground colour is White first:
Set that layer ‘Shape 1′ to Soft light, Opacity 30%
Note: If you cannot see Registration Target 2 go to the Shape drop-out and on the side there is an arrow *Click* and select Symbols!

3. Open 3D Text in Photoshop

Open the PSD in Photoshop:
Scale it for your wallpaper size go, Image –> Image Size (Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + I): I scaled down to 1200 x 1027 for my 1440 x 980 screen:
Now, Duplicate the layers to your psd that you’re working on, Layer –> Duplicate Layers… (select all layers – hold Cmd/Ctrl when selecting):

4. Blending Options

Now in your main document on the text layers that you just duplicated across:
*Right Click* > Blending Options… on any of your text layers:
Settings as shown:
Now, *Right Click* > Copy Layer Style and paste it on the other text layers by *Right Click* > Paste Layer Style, if they did not go on all layers:

Gradient Overlay

5. Fireworks + Pen Tool

This is quite time consuming so you may download the PSD here or the PNG here! Or if you like a good challenge carry on!
Create a new layer ‘Trail‘ and group as I did to contain all the layers, ‘Fireworks‘:
Using the Pen Tool (P) draw an arching trail along the side, *Click* for the foundation then *Click* + Hold to adjust the curve:
Now select the Brush Tool (B) and settings,Window –> Brushes (F5) with the settings as shown: Fade: 800 (only the first Control: you see)

Go back to the Pen Tool (P) and *Right Click* > Stroke Path - anywhere on your document:
Select Brush, press ESC twice to exit the Pen Tool path!
Make sure your Foreground colour is White first!

Blending Options for the ‘Trail‘

6. Making the Outer Spark

Create a new layer ‘Outer‘
Using the Pen Tool with the same brush settings as before but make Fade: 150:
Make a straight line with the Pen Tool and as before *Right Click* > Stroke Path…

Now duplicate that 8 times!
Rotate and Flip them so they fit equal in a circle, go Edit –> Transform and Rotate/Flip… (will be 45° increments)
Once finished select all the layers and *Right Click* > Merge Layers!

7. Making the Inner Spark

Duplicate the ‘Outer‘ layer that you just merged:
Now we have to scale it down go, Edit –> Transform –> Scale (hold Shift to retain the aspect ratio)
Simply rotate it to fill in the gaps in between the bigger ‘Outer’ sparks: Edit –> Transform –> Rotate:

8. Layer Styling

*Right Click* > Blending Options…
Settings as shown for Outer and Inner:
Drop Shadow is the same!

9. Sparklings

Using the Brush Tool with the settings as shown:
With the same bright yellow as with the Inner Spark: fcff00 set that as your foreground colour!
Simply make short strokes around and in between the sparks:

10. Glow Effect

Create a new layer below all your other Fireworks layers called ‘Glow‘:
Using the Gradient Tool (G) with a only Foreground dark yellow: f2b20a, Radial:
Make a stroke from the centre to just to the Outer spark edge:
Repeat twice if needed!

11. Duplicate Fireworks to make a Mini copy

Duplicate the entire Fireworks Group and rename it ‘Mini‘:
Change the Layer Styling in the Blending Options to opposite colours, like blue and green!
I changed the Color Overlay to de00ff for the outer spark!

12. Cloud of Smoke (optional)

Create two new layers
You can make a small cloud of smoke like a real launch or a rocket using the Brush Tool:
With a grey (808080) colour, Size: 50 px, Hardness; 100%
Just dot around making a cloud like structure, and split half onto the other layer!
Set both layer styles to have the standard drop shadow:
Note: I have my two layers at 80% and 75% Opacity! And you may want to erase the ‘Trail‘ slightly with the Eraser (on ‘Trail’ layer)!

13. Fireworks Two or Your Choice

You may choose a nice little icon from IconArchive to place in the empty spot or make your own secondary Firework!
Create a new layer ‘Firework Two’
As with the ‘Trail‘ layer step we will use the Pen Tool to make a series of curves:
Settings vary, but generally it will be these as shown: Brush Size: 9 px Fade: ~200
Make multiple strokes all from a single origin, as shown:

Layer Styling

14. Glowing Centre

Create a new layer above all the layers of your Fireworks Two:
Set the Blending Mode to Overlay:
Have your Foreground as White, and using the Gradient Tool FG only make a small white dot in the middle
Duplicate this layer multiple times until it is a glowing centre:
As before in step 9. Sparklings, scatter some light around the centre on a new layer ‘Sparks‘!

That’s it!

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Design a creative modern menu – Photoshop Tutorial

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