CLASSY GLASS BUTTONS PAGE 1 / 2
note With the exception of a couple of Blend Modes used, this tutorial should be possible with any version of Photoshop. If it's not, please let me know -- so I can eat crow.
Later on, we'll go through some ways of using the button differently, as well as ways of expanding the look of the effect.
Note to Mac users
The PC key Ctrl = the Mac key Cmd.
And the PC key Alt = the Mac key Option
Step 1 |
Pick the Gradient tool, and choose the Radial style from the Options bar. For this specific example, choose the same colors I used: Foreground=(R255 G211 B38) and Background=(R57 G0 B0). (We'll use these for our button as well.) On the Background layer, start the tool as close to center as you can, and drag the tool outward toward the corner of the canvas. Release the mouse when you get to the edge. Open the FILTER menu and choose 'Noise'. Amount 3, Gaussian, Monochromatic. Then apply the Paint Daubs filter ( FILTER>Artistic>Paint Daubs ) with the settings of 10/20/Simple. Then apply the Unsharp Mask at 100%/0.5/0.
Your results should appear very similar to the background in the header image above.
Step 2 |
Now select ALL, and cut and paste the sphere back into it's layer. This centers it perfectly.
Step 3 |
Duplicate 'Layer 1'. Duplicate 'Layer 1'.
Move this to the top of the palette. Set it to Lighten and lower the Opacity to 50%. Name it 'lighten'.
Duplicate the 'lighten' layer.
Set the layer on Color Burn blend mode. Name it 'burn'.
T I P Apply this to 'Layer 1'. You can smooth/blend the edges of the overall sphere a little better, if you activate and Ctrl-click 'Layer 1'; invert the selection; feather the selection by 1 pixel; and hit the Delete key 2x. Then Deselect.
Step 4 |
New Layer, make sure it's at the top of the Layer Palette. Make your Foreground color white. Grab a 65 pixel soft-edged brush. Use white, and give a quick click of the brush on the bottom center of the sphere -- right between the bottom and the center of the sphere. ( image on the left ) We're creating a fuller looking hot-spot. Lower the Opacity to 65%. ( this is actually the spot where the light source is refracting inside the glass )
Ctrl-click 'Layer 1' to create a selection of it; but stay on your current layer. Pick any selection tool, then hold down the Shift key and tap the up arrow key 3x. Press Ctrl+J. Pick the MOVE tool, then hold Shift again and hit the down arrow key 1x. Apply the FILTER>Blur>Blur More filter. Lower the Opacity to 55%. ( image on the right )
Step 5 |
New Layer. Ctrl-click 'Layer 1' to make a selection of the sphere, then Feather the selection 1 pixel. Grab that same brush as used above, with white again, and make a quick pass along the top half of the sphere/selection. Just be sure to brush over the top edge of the sphere. Set this layer on Soft Light mode. Deselect.
Step 6 |
Step 7 |
New Layer; should be on the top of the palette.Step 8 |
Click on the 'burn' layer to activate it.NOTE If you want to experiment, try inverting the colors of the previous layer by pressing Ctrl+I. You may like the look of the effect better this way. If not, change it back
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Copyright © Mark Anthony Larmand