Tutorial Gumshoe

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In this tutorial, I will teach you how to make a glossy, white Nintendo Wii style button. By following the steps, you will also learn to modify text to create smooth, rounded fonts. Note that you can click on the images to see them larger. If you would like to download the PSD file, it can be found at the bottom of the tutorial.

Step 1

Starting with a 500 pixel by 500 pixel canvas, fill the background with a medium grey color, and select a very light bluish-grey color as the foreground color, as shown below.

Step 2

Select the rounded rectangle tool with a radius of 50px. Draw a shape 100px tall and 350px wide.

Step 3

At this point, I like the use guides to define the borders and vertical and horizontal centers of my shape. This isn’t necessary, but it helps me to line everything up. To create the guides, click on the rulers, and drag them into place. They should snap to the edges and center of the shape. If they don’t, makes sure that the Layers -> Snap menu item is checked. If you don’t see rulers, ensure that the View -> Rulers menu item is checked.

Step 4

Apply layer styles as shown below to give the shape a subtle, rounded appearance.

Step 5

To create the shine across the top of the button, set your foreground color to white, and select the rounded rectangle tool with a radius of 15px. This time, create a shape that is 30px tall and 280px wide. Center this shape horizontally within the button, and 3px down from the top of the button.

Step 6

Use the elliptical marquee tool to create a circle with a diameter of 94px and position the selection as shown below. Create a new layer, and fill the selection with white.

Step 7

Again, use the elliptical marquee tool and create a slightly smaller circle that extends from the bottom of the white rounded-rectangle to the bottom of the bottom. Move the circle into a position as shown in the image below, and delete the selection.

Step 8

Next, use the rectangular marquee tool to select the extra portion of the circle, and delete it.

Step 9

Now we want to create that blue glow around the button. First, create a new layer beneath the button layer. Next, select the button area by command-clicking the button layer (ctrl-click on Windows). Finally, select the Select -> Modify -> Expand menu item, and enter a value of 4px.

Step 10

With your area selected, choose the two blue colors shown below as your foreground and background colors.

Step 11

Select the gradient tool with the settings shown below. Next, drag a vertical line from the top of the selected area to the bottom to fill the selection with a blue gradient.

Step 12

The trickiest part of creating a Wii button is getting the text to look right. I couldn’t find a font that worked perfectly. So instead, we’ll use Century Gothic, and customize it a bit. Select the type tool, and use the settings shown in the image below. Type the words “Wii Button”, and center your text within the button.

Step 13

Now we get to customize the text. Command-click the text layer that you just created (ctrl-click on Windows). Switch to the Channels Palette, and create a new alpha channel. Fill the selection with white.

Step 14

We’re going to use an old Photoshop trick make the text a bit rounder, and a bit bolder. First, de-select the text, and click on the Filter -> Gaussian Blur menu item, and enter a value of 1px. The text now looks rounder, but it’s obviously blurry. We need to sharpen it up.

Step 15

To do so, select the Image -> Adjustments -> Levels… menu item. I used the settings below, but you can move the black and white sliders to get the text to look right. We want it sharp, but not overly sharp so that it looks jaggy.

Step 16

To select our newly rounded text, command-click on the channel (ctrl-click on Windows). Flip back to the Layers Palette and create a new layer on top of everything. Fill the selection with black. At this point, you can either delete or hide the original, unrounded text layer.

Step 17

And, we’re finished! I’ve added a striped background and a slight shadow to complete the effect.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the comments. Also, you can download the PSD file, if you’d like to check it out.

Photoshop is an excellent tool for creating icons of all types and sizes. From application icons, to icons to customize the appearance of your desktop, to mini-icons for your website, the tutorials below will provide you with the knowledge to create the icons you want.

As always, these tutorials can be found by using our custom Photoshop search engine.

• 
  
  
  This tutorial is a super introduction to designing and painting a keyfob icon. The tutorial takes you through the entire process from pencil sketch to completed icon in multiple resolutions.
• 
  
  
  Learn to create a home button icon. Use layer styles to create a glossy home icon for your site.
• 
  
  
  Create an iTunes-esque music player icon. Again, use layer styles and the path tool to create a glossy music icon much like the iTunes icon.
• 
  
  
  This tutorial provides a process for creating icons using Adobe Photoshop. Tutorial includes two youTube videos and multiple helpful images.
• 
  
  
  This tutorial will teach you to creating Mac OS X Aqua style icons.
• 
  
  
  Use this tutorial to learn how to create a custom RSS icon for your blog. Everyone knows the orange RSS feed button. Follow this tutorial to create your own custom icon with a bit of extra style.
• 
  
  
  This tutorial will teach your how to create a flag icon using any flag.
• 
  
  
  Mini Icons are everywhere on the web these days. Follow these steps to create any mini icons for your website. Use the results to improve the look and usability of your website.
• 
  
  
  Also trendy lately are those minimalist Adobe CS3 style icons. Follow this tutorial to find out how to create your own.
• 
  
  
  Follow this tutorial to learn how to create glassy gem icons using the grid in Photoshop.
• 
  
  
  Follow this 25 minute video tutorial to learn how to create navigation icons in Photoshop.
• 
  
  
  Use gradients in Photoshop to create a safety sign icon that looks great.

Below are three tutorials to help you create the interface effects of Mac OS X Leopard in Adobe Photoshop.

As always, these tutorials can be found by using our custom Photoshop search engine.

• Create the Leopard ‘X’ Logo. Make that cool shiny black X that represents Leopard. Or, use the effect on whatever text you like.
• Create Leopard Style Inset Text. Apple is always setting the trends when it comes to web design. Their new navigation bar with its subtle gradients and inset text is no exception. Learn how to mimic this effect.
• Create a Leopard Style Space Background. Learn how to make a cool star burst background similar to the one that ships as Leopard’s default desktop image.

Let’s face it, there’s no better way to learn something than to watch someone doing it right in front of you while they explain each of their actions. YouTube is a great resource for learning to use Adobe Photoshop, no matter what your skill level. However, it is especially valuable for beginners. Below are five tutorials hand picked from the masses on YouTube that will teach beginners the skills they need to become Photoshop masters.

• Let’s start at the absolute beginning here. Learn about each of the tools in the tools palette.
• Laying the groundwork - Almost an hour of video to learn the basics of Photoshop
• A bit more advanced - Learn to Resize an Image
• Now we’re getting serious - Learn to use the Extract Filter
• And finishing off (for now) with the most powerful adjustment there is - Learn to use Curves

Adobe Photoshop CS3 comes packed full of new and updated features. Use the six tutorials below to master all of the new features and make the most of your software.

• Retouch photos with the Updated Clone Stamp and Healing Brush.
• Use the new Smart Filters to create non-destructive effects on your images.
• Create panoramas with Auto Align and Auto Blend.
• Make the most of your photographs with the Updated Camera Raw.
• Use the new Black and White Conversion Tool to create stunning black and whites.
• Easily extract portions of your images with the new Quick Selection Tool.

In the hands of a skilled user, Adobe Photoshop is a tool that can make an average image sensational. The following 10 tutorials provide instructions that will teach you how to make the most out of your images. From color treatment, to sharpening, to trendy effects, these techniques can be handy for a variety of situations.

If you end up creating any images using the information below, I’d love to see them linked in the comments below. And always remember, you can find all of these tutorials, and a huge amount more using our Photoshop tutorial search engine.

• Tweak the colors with cross processing. An excellent tutorial that will teach you how to give that funky vintage look to the colors in your photos.
• Remove the color by converting color images to black and white. There are a million ways to convert images to black and white in Photoshop. This tutorial lays out the best way very clearly, and illustrates the different options that you have.
• Use High Dynamic Range (HDR) to make your images pop. HDR is the latest thing in digital photography. Learn how to use Photoshop to produce amazingly vivid images using this technology.
• Get that Lomo Effect, just ’cause it looks cool…and makes you look cool.
• Use the “Rule of Thirds” to make your compositions harmonious. While the rule of thirds isn’t specific to Photoshop by any means, this tutorials shows you how to use Photoshop to perfect your compositions.
• Sharpen your images with intelligence, and learn how to use the Smart Sharpen filter. Create crisper images, both on screen, and in print.
• Get those neutral colors right for true to life prints. Sometimes you just want your photos to look like real life. This tutorials shows you how to achieve the appropriate white balance in just one step.
• Follow the workflow of a master, and look like a master yourself. Some people just know how to use Photoshop. Atilla, from the stellar photoblog Thinsite.net is one of those people. Check out this walk through of this workflow, and be amazed.
• Get that tilt-shift effect and make your images look miniature. This effect has been all over the ‘net of late. There’s just something cool about making full sized scenes look like they’re from a train set.
• Create a dramatic sky in your images by combining textures with your photographs to add that artsy flare.

It’s official. Our library now consists of over 400 searchable Photoshop tutorials.

I thought that I’d highlight some cool tutorials, and provide some recommended searches. As always, let us know about good tutorials, and subscribe to be automatically updated when we add more.

Recommended Tutorials

• 
  Liquid Text - Moe’s Realm: A very simple, and easy to follow tutorial on creating liquid text in Photoshop. A nice effect.
• 
  Photo Stitching - Phong: Phong’s tutorials are classics. I used to frequent his site 6 years ago when I was still a Photoshop beginner. His photo stitching tutorial is just like some of his older stuff - great!
• 
  Vintage T-Shirts - Computer Arts: Now this is cool and different. Computer Arts has created a tutorial on how to create graphics to make your own vintage t-shirts. Pretty sweet.

Recommended Searches

1. Vintage
2. Matte Painting
3. Aqua
4. Replace Sky
5. Curves Tool

In the two days since our launch, we have continued to seek out free tutorials and tips. Over 50 of them have made the grade, including a number of video tutorials. We are now rapidly closing in on 400 searchable tutorials. As always, we look to you for help. If you know of any free Photoshop tutorials that are particularly good, clue us in!

Some of the sites that have been recently added to our library:

• Abduzeedo
• Chromasia
• Ebin

More and more will be added each day. If you would like to be automatically notified when new tutorials are added, please subscribe to our RSS feed, or sign up for email updates.

Tutorial Gumshoe is officially up and running!

I’ve been an avid photographer and Photoshop user for the last 10 years. Like many of you out there, I am self taught. Everything that I know, I’ve learned through reading free tutorials posted on web sites and online forums. During that same time, as digital photography has boomed, and image editing in general has become commonplace, the number of tutorials available on the internet has grown exponentially. This is great. But, it has also created a problem. The problem is that among the thousands of tutorials available online, half of them are lousy, or are on sites riddled with ads and pop-ups. All of this garbage makes it much harder to get to the useful information that you need.

Here’s what we’ve done to solve the problem. We have personally reviewed over 500 photoshop tutorials. About 350 have made the cut so far. We would like this number to increase over time. The larger the library, the more useful this resource will be. So, if you’ve written tutorials yourself, or just have some that you’re especially fond of, let us know. We’ll review them. If they’re good, we’ll add them to the search library.

Happy searching!