|
This lesson demonstrates how to create transparent navigation buttons from scratch.
My lesson here demonstrates how to create solid navigation buttons from scratch.
My lesson here demonstrates how to create navigation buttons from Styles and filters.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards.
Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
1/ Preparing a gradient background - If you are utilising a start image, proceed Here.
Open a New document and set the following attributes - then extend the surrounding grey area by left-clicking and dragging out a corner of the document. Alternatively, open a start image of your choice onto Photoshop’s workspace.
2/
From the toolbar, activate the Gradient Tool.
Then activate your choice of gradient, and apply it to your New document.
Gradient Tool Tutorial - Chapter 6.
 
3/
Press your keyboard’s D key to set the default Black and White colour swatches.
4/
Then from the left-side toolbar, activate the Rounded Rectangle Tool - or a shape of your choice.
Enter the following attributes into its Option bar.
Then drag out a black (rounded rectangular) shape onto your document - or start image.
 
5/
Now, working on the Shape 1 layer, lower the Fill from 100% to 0% - by grabbing its
slider, and dragging it all the way to the left. Comprehensive Layers Tutorial.
 
6/
From the foot of the Layers palette, click the Add a layer style f (or fx) icon - then from the subsequent drop-down list, click Inner Shadow.
7/
In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, click to highlight the left-side Inner Shadow tab.
Note
You will be applying three different styles to your navigation button shape, Inner Shadow, Inner Glow and Bevel and Emboss, and it is important that you do not click OK, until all three styles have been applied.
Change the Inner Shadow’s Structure to the following; setting the Angle to the direction from where your light source is shining.
8/
Then from the left-side menu, click Inner Glow, and from within the Structure dialogue, change the glow’s colour by left-clicking the following Set colour of glow swatch.
This displays the Colour Picker dialogue box, and changes your cursor to an Eyedropper Tool. Now, hover your cursor over the gradient - or start image, then left-click. You have just sampled your background colour - subsequently changing the Set colour of glow swatch to correspond. From the Colour Picker dialogue box, click OK.
Now, change the remaining Inner Glow settings to the following - remembering Not to click OK.
9/
To apply highlights, click the Bevel and Emboss tab - and change the Structure to the following. Note: Play with different settings (and highlight colours) to create highlights that suit your requirements. For example, changing the Shadow Mode’s swatch from grey to Black, produces darker edges. Note: It is important to play with all of the Bevel and Emboss settings; thereby creating personal highlights.
When you are satisfied with your highlights; click OK. All three Layer Styles will now be permanent, and your navigation button (and Layers palette), will resemble the following.
 
10/
Activate the Move Tool.
Then drag your transparent navigation button to a different area. You will notice the button retains its transparency; displaying coloured pixels from beneath.
Tip
Prior to flattening the layers, you can edit a Layer Style - at any time. To do so,
double-left-click a Layer Style, (as illustrated below) and the Layer Style dialogue will display; allowing further editing.
Additionally, saving your image as a .psd file preserves the Layer Styles, making them editable after your file has been closed, and reopened in Photoshop.
11/
When you are completely happy with the Inner Shadow, Inner Glow and Bevel and Emboss settings, apply your Type, as demonstrated in my tutorial Here. Then from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Image.
12/ Optional
From the toolbar, activate the Dodge and Burn Tools. Dodge and Burn Tool Tutorial.
And utilising a very low Exposure setting, apply the Dodge Tool to further lighten
highlights, and utilise the Burn Tool to darken the button’s edges.
Tip
To create a straight Dodge or Burn application, hold down your Shift, then apply your choice of tool. Your highlight - or shadow, will then be applied in a straight line.
13/ Adding Colour
To add colour, add a fourth Layer Style, this time, choosing Colour Overlay. Change the Set colour overlay swatch to a colour of your choice, and alter the Opacity to create a depth of colour you like.
14/ Optional
To enhance the clarity of your button; apply a Sharpen filter; my Sharpening Images lesson can be viewed Here. If you find the Sharpen filter has over sharpened the white highlights, activate the Blur Tool, and with a very low Strength, gently soften them.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
|
|
