Tutorial on making Windows Vista style icons using PS

Tutorial on making Windows Vista style icons with PS Author: TnG Source: PConline
This is a tutorial on how to make beautiful Windows Vista style icons. I mainly used the marquee tool in Photoshop to draw graphics, and used layer styles to express the texture of the icons. The Chinese version of Photoshop CS3 is used as a demonstration in the tutorial, but in fact, the implementation and operation methods of Photoshop 6.0 and above are basically the same.

Figure 1 Rendering

1) Create a new 256 × 256 pixel transparent background image document. Rename the first layer name to “Background”.
　2) Use white #ffffff to fill the background.
3) Create a new layer and rename the layer to “circle”.
4) Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool, hold down the Shift key at the same time, and draw a perfect circle of 222 × 222 pixels. Save the selection as “Perfect Circle Selection”.

Translator’s additional explanation:
1. A simple method to draw a 222×222 pixel perfect circle: After selecting the Ellipse tool, change the style to “Fixed Size” on the options bar. And specify both width and height as 222 pixels.
2. How to save the selection: Select the menu “Select -> Save Selection”.

　5) Fill the selection with any color. The author used #880303.

Figure 2: Draw the positive Circle the selection and fill it with color

6) Select dark red as the foreground and lighter red as the background. The author used #880303 and #b51919. Select the Gradient Tool (Radial Gradient style) and drag from the top left corner of the selection to the bottom right corner.

Figure 3: Give selection Fill gradient color

　7) Create a new layer and rename the layer to “Reflection” .

8) Load the “Perfect Circle Selection” and select the Elliptical Marquee Tool, press the Alt key at the same time, and then draw a curve from the lower right corner to the middle. Release the mouse button and you will get a selection like this:

Figure 4: Draw the “Reflection” selection

　9) Select the “Reflection” layer and fill the selection with white #ffffff. Set the layer opacity to 15%.

Figure 5: Fill the “reflection” area with white

　10) Create a new layer and rename the layer to “Border”.

11) Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool and hold down the Shift key to draw a perfect circle of 242 × 242 pixels. Wrap this circle around the first circle.

Translator’s additional explanation: After selecting the Ellipse tool, on the options bar, change the style to “Fixed Size”, specify the width and height as 242 pixels, turn on the ruler, and pull out the auxiliary line to determine the center point of the screen. When drawing an ellipse, hold down the Alt key to draw a perfect circle with the origin as the starting point.

Figure 6: Drawing a “border” selection

　12) Fill the selection with gray #b6b6bc.
13) Load the “perfect circle selection”.

Figure 7: Fill the “border” selection with gray

14) Press the Del key to get a border surrounding a perfect circle.

Figure 8: Delete the correct Gray in the circle selection

15) Right-click the “Border” layer and select Blending Options to apply these settings:

Projection:

Figure 9: “Projection” layer style parameter settings

Inner glow:

Figure 10: “Inner Glow” layer style parameter settings

Bevel and relief:

Figure 11: “Bevel and Emboss” layer style parameter settings

Gradient Overlay:

Figure 12: “Gradient Overlay” layer style parameters Settings

Gradient overlay uses 3 colors: #b3b3b9 #ffffff #b3b3b9

Figure 13: Editing the “Gradient” color

Stroke:

Figure 14: “Stroke” layer style parameter settings

16) After completion we will get this effect:

Figure 15: The effect after applying layer style

17) To make an “X” sign, the author uses an Call it “Army” and enter a plus sign “+” in a 300-point font. Then rotate 45°. Be sure to move the “+” layer below the “Reflection” layer.

Figure 16: Making” ×” sign