In this tutorial, we’re going to teach you how to replicate Apple’s iPod Nano. Not only will we recreate it’s signature body form, but also the headphones and put them in a unique setting that makes it pop. This an easy to follow step-by-step tutorial, and altering the final appearance should be a piece of cake, especially if you’re a Plus member! Changing the appearance is only a metter of picking a few different colors or adding your own textures as skins!

Final Image Preview

Let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join PSDTUTS PLUS for just $9/month.

Step 1

Create a new document with these settings like 1a. The first layer, call it “background” and fill any color. Then Open the Blending Options and settings (1b).

Step 2

Create a new folder, call it “ipod”. In this folder, create a new layer, call it “ipod” as well. Select the Rectangle Tool (U) to draw a rectangle shape like the one below (2a). Select the Pen Tool and click on the shape. After that, create four nodes of the shape as shown. At the top line, click to make a node between two top nodes. Then correct the top line of the curve by holding “Command” down, and clicking and dragging the node upward by a little (2b). Do the same with bottom line, but downward this time(2c). Then press Command + Enter to make the selection and fill that with color (2d).

Step 3

Open the Blending Options menu for “ipod” and adjust the settings like in image 3a. Create a new layer on top, call it “light ipod”. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) to make a rectangle selection and fill it with white (3b). Then reduce the Opacity to 30% (3c).

Step 4

Create a new layer on top, call it “screen bg”. Use Round Rectangle (set Radius: 5px) to draw a shape like one below and fill it black color (4a). Then open Blending Option and setting (4b).

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The world that surrounds the topic of Web Design is home to many debates and opinions on best practices or generally how things should and shouldn’t be done. While many of these opinions are accepted and taken on board by everyone, there are some that end up being split into two opposing camps. One camp will provide an expert opinion for one side of the argument, while the other contradicts with an equally valid argument. Let’s take a look at the five most popular debates; the ones that often end up developing into digital riots with opinions flying like arrows across the vast no-man’s land known as the comments section.

Should links open in a new window?

Camp one says:

Links to external sites should always open in new windows. There’s nothing more annoying than browsing a website, clicking a link and being whisked off to a totally new site, losing the page you wanted to revisit. Internal links should maintain the browser session in the current page, but anything that leaves the site should open in a new tab or window.

Camp two says:

As web designers we shouldn’t take the control away from the user. Whether a link needs opening in a new window is their choice. There’s nothing more annoying than a website taking control of my browser and opening a new tab or window for a link without my permission; if I wanted to open it in a new window, I’d do so! The problem only gets worse with inexperienced computer users, new windows break their trusty ‘back button’.

The mediator says:

In general, opening a new window should be avoided, but is recommended for some situations such as opening a help link in a shopping cart or opening a non-html document such as a PDF. To further aid the usability of your site, use a small icon to identify links that do open in a new window, or provide an options panel that’s configured with Javascript.

Further reading:

• Should Links Open In New Windows?
• Beware of Opening Links in a New Window”
• Open New Windows for PDF and other Non-Web Documents

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Design Instruct Week is a weeklong celebration of our newly launched site, Design Instruct. This week on Six Revisions will cover topics that deal with running websites and design, written by the founders/editors of Design Instruct and Six Revisions.

Be sure to check out the Design Instruct Week Twitter Giveaway, which gives out different prizes every day of Design Instruct Week.

Design Instruct Week Twitter Giveaway

We’ll start off Design Instruct week with an announcement: top notch companies that support the design industry have signed on to give away amazing products and services on our Twitter-based giveaway.

For 7 days—from March 1 through March 7, 2010—we’ll have different prizes to hand out. The best way to make sure that you don’t miss out is to follow Design Instruct on Twitter and to read this post on Design Instruct.

Prizes such as the Apple iPad, subscriptions to stock libraries, and more, will be given away.

You just have to stay tuned to find out what the prizes will be!

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The Internet world exploded with the news of the Apple tablet launch last week. Named the iPad, it’s set to bring yet another revolution to the way people access and browse the web. An iPad icon would be a sensible addition to any web designer’s resources toolbox, so let’s fire up Photoshop and create our very own detailed iPad icon graphic.

The icon we’ll be creating features the typical front view of the iPad. Using the Apple website for reference, let’s get started.

Create a new document, and use the Rounded Rectangle Tool to draw a portrait shape onto a new layer. Set the corner radius to 20px and the fill to white.

CMD-click on the layer thumbnail to load the selection, then go to Select > Modify > Contract and enter 3px. Create a new layer and fill this new selection with black.

Double click the first layer, with the white rectangle to open up the Layer Style options. Add a grey Inner Glow just 3px in size, with the blend mode of Normal.

Next, double click the black rectangle’s layer. This time add an Outer Glow using a lighter grey, also set to 3px in size and a blend mode of normal.

Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a thin 1px buttons on the top edge and side of the body to represent the lock and mute switches. Fill these with a subtle grey gradient.

To create the volume button, draw a thicker rectangle to begin with, then use the Elliptical Marquee Tool to delete out a central portion.

The main screen of the iPad often features a vibrant background wallpaper graphic. An amazing Creative Commons photo from Flickr user Arnar Valdimarsson fits pefectly. Use the marquee tool to crop down the photograph to the screen dimensions.

Drag a guide to identify the centre of the iPad body, then draw a circle with the Elliptical Marquee Tool. Fill this circle with a black to grey gradient to simulate the depth of the button.

On a new layer, use the Pencil tool in 1px size to draw a square, then delete out the four corners using the Eraser. Lower the opacity to around 25% to blend in the icon.

No Apple product would be complete without it’s reflections and light casts. CMD-click on the thumbnail of the main body to load the selection, then fill this with a white gradient spanning from the top right. Reduce the opacity of this layer to suit and move it to the top of the layer stack so that any underlying elements are affected by the light cast.

Onto the main iPad interface. Draw a thin selection across the top of the screen and fill with black to recreate the status bar. Lower the opacity to allow the background to show through.

Use the pencil tool to draw a simple battery icon, then add a simple selection of text elements.

Fill a rectangular selection with grey at the bottom of the screen, then press CMD-T to transform. Right click and select the Perspective option, then move the top corners inwards to create the basic shape of the iPad dock.

Double click the dock layer to add new Layer Styles. Add a gradient spanning from dark grey to light grey, then back to the dark grey. Set this to run horizontally across the dock.

Add an Inner Shadow to represent the tiny edge of the dock. Set the options to a light grey with the blend mode of normal. Use a -90 degree angle, a distance of 1px, a choke of around 27% and a size of 2px.

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In this tutorial, you’ll learn to design a realistic calligraphy pen from scratch. The tutorial involves a simple use of the Pen Tool and a few flexible Layer Styles. Lighting and reflection techniques are explained throughout the tutorial. This might be a quite useful for icon enthusiasts. Let’s dive in…

Final Image Preview

Take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below.

Tutorial Details

• Program: Photoshop
• Version: CS
• Difficulty: Easy
• Estimated Completion Time: 25-35 mins

Step 1

Create a new document with these settings:

Step 2

Create a new layer set and name it “Pen”. Select Pen Tool (P) and draw a shape like one below. Before making the shape, make sure to select “Shape Layers” option from Options bar. Name this shape as "base" and give it a Gradient Overlay of gray shades.

Step 3

Draw another shape using Pen Tool and name it “body”.

Step 4

You need to add some reflections to the body. Create a new layer and Command-click on “body” layer, fill the selection on the new layer with white. Press Ctrl+T and reduce the width of the new layer to 75%. Now go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur ,click OK after making the settings shown below. Finally, reduce opacity of the layer to 50% and give it a Gradient Overlay.

Step 5

Use Rectangle Tool (U) or Pen Tool (P) to make a shape like one below and name it “neck” for convenience. Give it Layer Styles as mentioned.

Step 6

Just like the body of the pen, add reflections to the neck but while doing so, change the opacity of first reflection layer to 75% and that of duplicate layer to 100%, keeping size reduction proportions same.

Step 7

Using Pen Tool (P), make a curved strip as shown.

The strip looks very smooth but actually it has got some aliasing which can create problems in the forthcoming steps. To fix this, right-click on the shape layer and select “Rastersize” from the menu. Now apply these filters to the layer:

Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur (Radius = 0.5 px)
Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen Edges

Next, give the strip these layer styles.

Step 8

Create a new layer (name it “shadow”) and place it below “strip” layer. Command-click on strip layer and go to Select > Modify > Expand, type 2 px and click OK. Now fill the selection with black on the “shadow” layer. Next, apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur (Radius = 0.5 px) to the layer.

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Learn how to create a simple three-dimensional icon of a paint bucket, complete with paint splotches, with this colorful tutorial. Harnessing the power of paths, layer effects and consistent lighting we’ll obtain an effective, shiny icon.

Final Image Preview

Take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below.

Tutorial Details

• Program: Adobe Photoshop CS4
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Estimated Completion Time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Open a new blank document and choose 512px for both width and height. This is the maximum size required for icons (Mac OS X Leopard). Create an ellipse above the center and to the left and name it “outer rim” (1a). Make two copies and scale them down (1b). Name the first “inside.” Move the other copy down, naming it “bottom” (1c).

Step 2

Create a new copy of the smaller ellipse and make it yellow, which will make the paint’s surface (2a). Position it inside the bucket, erasing the unnecessary pixels (2b). Name this layer “paint.” Now make a rectangular selection with the Marquee Tool (M) on the “bottom” layer and fill it to complete the bucket (2c). With the “bottom” layer selected hit Command + T to invoke the Free Transform Tool. Right-click and choose Perspective. Now drag the bottom corners towards the center to apply the correct perspective deformation (2d).

Step 3

Let’s shade the bucket. Light will come from the right side. Apply a Gradient Overlay (3a) and an Inner Glow (3b) layer effect to the “bottom.” The base color is a medium gray with lighter bands that simulate reflections, as shown below.

Step 4

Double-click the “outer rim” layer to open the Layer Style window and apply Inner Glow (4a). On a new layer below, paint a shadow for the rim using a big, soft brush. Choose black and paint lightly with one single stroke, following the rim’s curve. Shadow layers are always set in Multiply mode with their opacity turned down (4b). Name this layer “rim shadow.”

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The theme of retro futurism combines digitally created graphics and abstract shapes with distressed and aged textures, giving that cool mix of old and new. Let’s take a look at how to create our own bright and colourful retro futuristic poster in Photoshop, using dynamic lines, vibrant gradients and rough textures to build up the design layer after layer.

The design we’ll be building is made up of a range of abstract shards that spread across the page at 45 degree angles. As each layer is overlapped with various gradients and blending modes the design soon starts to develop a cool and vibrant futuristic theme as the colours interact with each other. Mixing this up with a couple of paper and cardboard textures then adds a twist to the digital design, making it feel more tactile and weathered.

Open up Photoshop and create a new document. Create the document at your desired dimensions, here I’m using a size of 297×420 (A3), with a resolution of 300dpi to give me the option of having the poster professionally printed if I so wished in the future.

Fill the background with a dark blue, such as #171a8b. This will act as the base colour that all proceeding layers will interact with.

Use a large soft brush to dab two spots of colour onto a new layer. I’ve chosen a bright pink and yellow. These two spots will also help act as a base for any future layers to interact with.

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to draw a diagonal rectangle across the width of the document. Hold the SHIFT key throughout to constrain the axis to 45 degrees. Fill this selection with a random purple.

Change this layer’s blending mode to Soft Light, then double click the layer to open up the Layer Styles. Add a Gradient Overlay with the blend mode of Overlay.

On a new layer, draw a couple more diagonal shards, this time make them slightly smaller in size and overlap them with the original rectangle. Fill these with a red hue.

Right click on the layer of the original rectangle and select Copy Layer Style. Right click on the new layer of shards and choose Paste Layer Style. Continue this process of drawing new shards spanning from the top left, and paste the layer style on each.

As the number of shards builds up, begin to add a couple that span from the bottom right to fill out any gaps in the design.

Begin adding some shards in the opposite direction, spanning downwards from the top right of the page. Keep the SHIFT key held throughout to maintain those angles.

Give each shard a different colour, choosing between blues, purples, reds and black. Each colour will give a different effect as it interacts with the underlying gradients.

As the design builds the overlapping shards will interact and create new highlights and hues within the design. Take a step back to review the design once you have a healthy number of layers.

The design is looking pretty cool so far, but it’s a little too ‘digital’. Find an old paper texture from SXC.hu that contains various imperfections and marks. Paste it into the document at the bottom of the layer stack and scale to fit, then drop the opacity to around 40%.

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Knowing how to animate objects in Photoshop can be very useful in web design, avatars , logos and much more. Here is a simple tutorial for beginners in the spirit of winter which will explain how to create an animation in Photoshop. Anyone can do this, so let’s begin!

Final Image Preview

Take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below.

• Program: Photoshop
• Version: CS3
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Estimated Completion Time: 1 h

Step 1

First of all, you’ll need this texture: inthename-stock. Now open a new document. I usually work on really big documents because i can work on the details better and you can always decrease the image size later . So, as you can see in the picture below, the background is blue and the color code is #89defd. Fill the layer with this color.

Step 2

Create a new layer. Select the Ellipse tool and create a big circle. Create a new layer and make a new circle, only smaller this time. The circles don’t need to be perfectly round . Fill them with white. Put the small circle on top of the big one.

Step 3

Create a new layer between the two existing ones with the circles. Select the Brush Tool, with sharp edges, and make a big circle like in the image below. This will be the head’s shadow. The code for the color is: #CCCCCC. Now go to the body’s layer, press Command + Click on the layer to select it and Command + J on the shadow’s layer . This new layer is the one we are going to use so you can delete the other one . Now go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and add some blur (3-4%) . Now you have the shadow of the head.

Step 4

Go to the body’s layer and select it. Pick the Gradient Tool (radial gradient) and drag from the center of the circle outward. Your image should look like in the small image . Now set the Opacity to about 20%. Now your image should look like in the large picture. Do the same for the small circle.

Step 5

The next step is to create a texture for the snowman. For this select the brush tool with sharp edges and make the following presets for the Shape Dynamics (all to 0% ) , Scattering (372% , 1%, 0% ) , Other Dynamics (100% , 0% ). Now fill the 2 circles with a small brush, add more points to the edges and fewer in the middle. Next you have to set the blending mode to Multiply and the Opacity to about 35-40%.

Step 6

Select the brush tool with sharp edges without the previous presets and draw two black eyes.
Go to the layer style and make the following presets:

Step 7

With the Pen Tool, draw a shape that looks like a carrot and fill it with orange. The color code is: # e37b19. Now let’s make some light with the Dodge Tool on the right part of the nose and some shadows on the left side of the carrot.

Step 8

In this step we’re going to do the shadow of the nose so pick a round basic brush with sharp edges and black color and make a circle like you see in the image, then press Command +J . Make a mask for this layer and with a smooth round brush, erase some parts of the mask. If it’s still too dark, you can change the layer’s opacity.

Step 9

Let’s make the mouth now. Select the Ellipse tool and create a circle on a new layer. Now stroke it. Make the presets like you see in the image and erase the top part of the mask. The small lines are created with a brush.

Step 10

With the Pen Tool make a shape like you se in the image. This shape should look like a fur from a hat. Fill it with white. Make the left part a bit darker with a brush.

Step 10

Next we’ll make the hat’s shape with the pen tool on a different layer, just below the one with the fur. Fill the shape with red .The code for this color is # a90505.
Now drag in the texture and place it on top of the hat . Set the blending mode to Luminosity and the Opacity to about 20-25%.

Step 12

Give it some depth with the Burn Tool for the shadows and Dodge Tool for the light.

Step 13

Let’s make the buttons . It’s the same technique as we used to make the eyes. Select the brush tool with rough edges and draw a few buttons . Make the adjustments on the layer style like in the image below

Step 14

Select the Ellipse tool and create a small circle under the hat. Fill it with white and give it some shadow. Now select the basic brush with the presets that we did for the snowman’s texture and paint some fur with white.

Step 15

This is the part were we create the scarf. Create a shape, like in this image, with the pen tool . Fill it with red (#8b0404).

With the pen tool make some shapes like I did in the image and fill them with green. The code for this color is #0b6a16. Use the Burn and Dodge Tool for the light and shadows.

Create a new layer under the scarf layer and, with a brush, add a shadow.

Step 16

Add as much snow as you like with a simple brush.

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In this tutorial, we will learn how to make a funny boy character in Adobe Photoshop. After drawing the sketch, we’ll use shapes, layer styles, the brush tool, and other effects to add some dimension to and life to our character.

Final Image Preview

Take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below.

Tutorial Details

• Program: Photoshop CS3
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Estimated Completion Time: About 40 minutes

Step 1

First create a new 2000 pixel by 2000 pixel document with a white background.

Step 2

Then lets make a quick sketch. Use the Brush tool and turn on the Shape Dynamics feature in the Brushes window.

Step 3

After that we are going to make a color sketch, so turn off Shape Dynamics for a harder Brush, and color the boy in the new “Colors” Layer.

Step 4

Now, let’s begin to add some details to our character, starting from the head. Make a circle with the Ellipse Tool, be sure to choose the Shape Layer feature. Then Command-click on the shape’s contour to make the object editable.

Choose the Pen Tool. Now you can add a new vertex by clicking anywhere on the contour. Command-click on a vertex if you want to move it or Alt-click on it if you want to change the sharpness of the angle. So let’s add the ears.

Step 5

Double-click on the right side of the Layer in the Layers window to open the Layer Styles window and add the following Layer Styles.

Step 6

Create a new layer and draw the blush areas using the Brush Tool. Then blur it with Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Step 7

Now we need to turn off layer visibility for a while, so we can draw the eyes. In order to do that just Click on the eye-icon near the layer shown below. Draw a circle and transform it with Edit > Free Transform (Command + T).

Step 8

Add the following Layer Styles.

Step 9

Draw the pupil and the shadow above the eye.

Step 10

Now select the three layers related to the eye in the Layer window and group them (Command + G). Then drag the group to the New Layer icon to copy the group and thus create a second eye. Use the Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal and move the second eye to the right position.

Step 11

To draw the glasses, start with a circle using the Ellipse Tool. Then select the Subtract from Shape Area (-) feature and draw another circle inside the first one. To change circle position Command-click on the contour and use Free Transform (Command + T).

Step 12

Copy this layer and place it above the second eye. Draw all the other elements with the Pen Tool.

Step 13

Merge all layers related to the glasses by selecting them and then pressing Command + E. Add the following Layer Styles.

Step 14

Draw the mouth with a Pen Tool and add an Inner Shadow to the layer.

Step 15

Now we are going to draw the teeth and add the Inner Shadow to them. To copy the Layer Style from one tooth to another drag the icon of the Layer Style while holding Alt + Command. Then clip the unwanted part of the teeth by selecting them in the Layers Window and pressing Alt + Command + G. This will create a Clipping Mask.

Step 16

Now draw the nose and add the following Layer Styles. Be sure to turn off the Use Global Light.

Step 17

Now add some freckles onto the face using the Ellipse Tool.

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From opening a 3D file to rotating, scaling and moving it, working with meshes, creating textures or even materials, adding lights, and more, this tutorial covers most of the secrets of the useful feature 3D Tools of Photoshop CS4 Extended. If you have it, why don’t you try? I can assure you that you will discover a brand new world of infinite possibilities.

Before Getting Started

We are living on the golden age of 3D technology, we can see art pieces, architectural models, biological simulations, fantasy creatures, futuristic machines, and almost realistic objects everywhere. Most of those graphics have been through Photoshop, from texture editing to final mock-ups; making it a must know tool for anyone interested in 3D design.

Photoshop CS3 Extended allowed users to open their 3D files and edit directly some features like textures and lights, but CS4 takes 3D editing into another level where you can actually work with the 3D file just like most of the commercial 3D editing software. Even though Photoshop can’t edit the model itself, it works absolutely well with textures, materials and lights allowing you to even paint directly over a surface using the Brush Tool. This is a very basic guide but some elemental knowledge of 3D geometry is needed.

Tutorial Details

• Program: Photoshop CS4 Extended
• Difficulty: Basic
• Estimated Completion Time: 2 – 3 Hours

You will need some 3D models to play with, I’m using a boat from telias.free.fr and a free-to-use model of a space shuttle that I’ve downloaded from the NASA website. Feel free to use any model that you want. Let’s get started!

Part I – Creating and Editing 3D Layers

Photoshop handle 3D files through 3D layers, which work just like Smart Objects. Each 3D layer contains a unique 3D scene that can be created five different ways: from a 3D file, from a layer working as a Postcard (Plane), from a layer making it a 3D basic Object, from a grayscale layer and as a Volume combining two or more layers.

This tutorial will cover the first four, since Volume based on layers is a little bit different than the others and we will leave it for another occasion.

New Layer from 3D File

The first way and maybe the most known way to work with a 3D layer in Photoshop is creating a 3D layer from an existing file. For this go to 3D > New Layer from 3D File, then chose a file on your file system and open it. Photoshop allows you to open .3DS, .DAE, .KMZ, .U3D and .OBJ files. A new Layer with the object’s name will appear in the Layers Panel. You can add as many 3D layers as you want.

Working with the Basic 3D Tools

In the Tools Panel click on the active 3D Tool (K) and then on top, in the Options Panel, you will see several different options for you to edit the 3D layer. At any time you can go back to the default values by clicking on the tiny House Icon in the Options Panel.

Rotate

The default tool and the first one in the list is Rotate, Click on the 3D model and Drag up or down to rotate it around its X axis, or side to side to rotate it around its Y axis. A diagonal Drag will rotate the model on both the X and Y axis. You can control the rotation by setting numerical values in the Orientation fields over the Options Panel, by default all of them are set to 0.

Roll

Drag side to side or up and down to Roll the model around its Z axis. You can do the same by using the previous tool, but holding the Option key on a Mac or the Alt key on the PC. You can control the rotation by setting numerical values on the Orientation fields.

Drag

This tool moves the model in the 3D space. Drag side to side to move the model horizontally, or up or down to move it vertically. Hold the Alt key to move it in the X/Z direction. This tool is very different than the standard Move Tool (V) because this works over a 3D environment meanwhile the Move Tool works only in 2D. You can control the position by setting numerical values on the Position fields over the Options Panel all values are set in 0 by default.

Slide

Drag side to side to move the model horizontally, or up or down to move it closer or farther away from your perspective. You can control the position by setting numerical values on the Position fields, which is 0 by default.

Scale

This change the model’s size. Drag up or down to scale the model larger or smaller. By setting the Scale values in a numeric format you can scale the model over any of its 3 axis, stretching it up or enlarging it. By default the numeric values are set to 1.

 

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