Check out the final product below:

Step 1 – Creating the Sky

Every cloud needs a good sky background. Create a gradient with the colors (#98bedd) and (#e0eefa); proceed to fill the background layer with this gradient, you will end up with something like this:

Step 2 – Creating a Cloud

Next, take the Ellipse tool and with Shift held down (to make sure all of the ellipses are created on the same layer), create a bunch of circles in a fashion similar to the one below:

Step 3 – Styling the Cloud

To make the cloud look more realistic, make the following layer style changes to the cloud’s layer:
Please note the gradient uses the colors (#e9e9ce) and (#fcfdf4).

Step 4 – Final Touches

Next, duplicate the cloud and use the transform tools to modify its shape. Experiment to achieve the effect you desire:

Congrats! You’re created some vector clouds.

Typography is an important part of illustration, and 3D text plays an even bigger part. It literally gives the artist another dimension to play with, and powerful 3D programs provide a sense of realism that 2D typography just cannot compete with. Check out this execellent tutorial on creating exciting 3D text today!

View the tutorial

Creating Hot Air Balloons in Photoshop

Follow this easy-to-use tutorial to create a simple, yet elegant, Hot Air Balloon scene.

Designing Smokey Type

Type is one of the most powerful element of visual design, and creating fancy type can only add to that power.

Create a Detailed Compass Illustration

While illustration is often left for Photoshop’s sister software, Illustrator, this in-depth tutorial is a valuable resource to those looking to hone this PS skills.

Design a Galaxy

Creating one of the largest elements in deep space can not only be a great way to add another piece to your portfolio, but also to have fun.

Designing a Web 2.0 Logo

While the designer goes about creating his logo in a rather novel, “jelly”, way, the final result is unquestionably professional.

Check out the final product below:

Step 1 – Creating Some Text

This effect works best on bolder text, so choose a font with a bit of width and type some text. This effect relies on layer styles and is completely dynamic, so you can change the text and font later on.

Step 2 – Making the Style Changes

We will use Photoshop’s powerful layer styling tools to achive this glossy effect. Make the following changes:

In this order the gradient’s colors are:

#94c516 – #72aa00 – #8eb92a – #a8c732- #b9ce44

Color #72aa00 and #8eb92a are placed quite close to one another.

As for the satin, use the color #515151.

Finally, use the color #7aa008 for the stroke:

Congrats! You have now created a stylish, Web 2.0 effect that can really bring your text to life. Enjoy!

Step 1 – Creating the Background

Create a background gradient with the colors black, (#000000) and dark grey (#47484d).

Step 2 – Downloading and Preparing the Images

Head over to SXC.hu and download these two images:
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/801003 (the heart)
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/818029 (the flame)

With the heart image use the magic wand tool to delete the background.

Next, use a soft eraser tool to remove most of the background in the flame image before setting the layer’s blend mode to “Screen.”

Step 3 – Finishing the Effect

Duplicate the flame layer a few times and use a soft eraser and Photoshop’s built in transform tools to add a few more flames to the image:

Next, select the heart image’s layer and apply the following layer style modification (color- #ff3600):

Finally, use the elliptical marquee tool to select the middle portion of the heart layer… then use the Ripple distortion filter (Filters > Distort > Ripple) with the following settings:

Congrats! You have now created a spiffy-looking flaming heart.

Check out the final product below:

Step 1 – Choosing and Downloading the Image

For this tutorial I chose an image of a city skyline, you can download it here. Later on in the tutorial, you may wish to use a texture like this one.

Create a new document in photoshop and place the city image in the document.

Step 2 – Adjusting the Layer

Next, open up Levels adjustment tool (Image > Adjustments > Levels) and set the Blue level to 60.

Next, open up the Brightness and Contrast adjustment tool (Image > Adjustments > Brightness and Contrast) and apply the following:

Now you should have something that looks like the image below:

Step 3 – Adding the Texture

This step is optional, but can really make your image look retro. Import the texture you downloaded earlier on to a new layer in the document. Change the layer’s blend mode to Multiply and set the opacity to 50%. Congrats, you have now transformed the image into a completely retro version.

The adjustment steps used in this tutorial can be easily applided to most photographs. Make minor adjustments to tweak the effect to achieve your desired effect.

Step 1 – Creating the Background and Base Shape

Use the Gradient Tool to fill the background layer with a gradient ranging from (#abbc6f) to white, (#FFFFFF). Use the Rounded Rectangle tool with a radius of 5px to create a bar with the dimensions of 450x75px.

In order for the bar you just created to have a styled, web 2.0 look, you need to make the following layer style adjustments:

Please note there is a color overly effect not depicted. To add this effect, create a color overly of the color (#252525) and set the blend mode to “Overlay”. This effect is optional, it is used to darken the overall appearance of the bar.

The gradient ranges from black (#000000), to dark grey (#303030), and then back to black.

Stroke Color – (#232323)

Step 2 – Adding the Text Field

Next, we will create another, smaller rounded rectangle and style it to look like the image below:

How large you want the text field to be is entirely up to you. Customize it to suit your needs. Select the text field layer and make the following adjustments:

This gradient ranges from grey (#d6dbbf) to a cream color (#feffe8). This is an important gradient, we will use it again shortly for the text.

Step 3 – Adding the Text

The final step of creating this search bar is adding some text. Using a font of your choice add text to your search bar as depicted in the image below and then make some layer style changes:

This gradient is the same one used for the text field: grey (#d6dbbf) to a cream color (#feffe8).

Congratulations! You have now created a stylish, web 2.0 search bar. Make sure to experiment with different colors, shapes, and sizes; the techniques outlined in this tutorial can be applied to a multiplicty of designs.

Check out the final product below:

Step 1 – Creating the Background

We will start off by creating a stylish, gradiented background for our navigation menu. Using the gradient tool, create a gradient that ranges from dark gray (#232323) to black (#000000) on the background layer.

Step 2 – Creating the Box

Next, we will create a box in which we will place the navigational elements. Using the Rounded Rectangle tool, create a box with the dimensions of 200x200px and a radius of 5px and place it in the center of the image as demonstrated in the image below:

Now we will use Photoshop’s layer styles to customize the look of this box. Make the following adjustments to the box’s layer style:

The gradient is comprised of the colors (#7dbe0a) and (#a2d93f).

Next, take the text tool, and with a font of your choice, type “Menu” or “Navigation” and place the text near the top of the box. Please note that the text’s color should be white.

Now you should have something like the image below:

Step 3 – Filling out the Navigational Elements

Now we will create a line divider like the one below:

To do this, take the line tool and create a straight, 1px line (hold down shift while drawing the line). Then, set the layer’s blend mode to “Exclusion” and make the following layer style modification.

Now, we will duplicate this line a few times. Hold down Shift + Control + Alt and press the Down arrow key on your keyboard. Release the Alt key and with Shift and Control still held down, tap the Down arrow key two more times. This process will create a duplicate of the line and move it exactly 30 pixels down (each down arrow tap will move it down 10 pixels) while keeping it in line.

Repeat the above duplication process until you have 5 lines as depicted in the image below:

Now to add some text, using the same font you used for the header, create some smaller text and duplicate it using the duplication technique explained above, changing the text to match your needs.

Feel free to get a little creative, I’ve added a copyright and a privacy policy link at the bottom. This is your navigation menu, make it unique!

Step 4 – Adding the Highlights

Our menu looks great as-is, but let’s add one final effect to accentuate the text and make the menu a bit more visible.

Take the rectangle tool, set the foreground color to black and create a rectangle from the line above “Home” to the line below it. Then set the layer’s opacity to 10%.

Next, use the really handy duplication technique explained in Step 3 (Shift + Ctrl + Alt and the down arrow, release Alt, and press down twice more) to make a copy of this highlight layer. Remember to place the text layers above the highlight so as not to dampen the brightness of the text.

Congrats! You have successfully created your very own stylish navigational menu, one of the most important elements in web design. If you enjoyed this tutorial, feel free to give us a vote through social media applications such as digg or stumbleupon. Thanks!

Check out the final product below:

Step 1 – Creating the Background

To start off, let’s create a nice looking background. Use the gradient tool to fill the background layer with a gradient that ranges from dark gray (#292929) to black (#000000).

Step 2 – Creating a Line

Now we are going to create our first line, we will duplicate it later on when it comes time to create the other lines. Select the line tool, and with the width set to 10px, draw a straight line across the image.

Next, use Photoshop’s built in transform tool, “Warp”, to distort the line. Under (Edit – Transform – Warp), select the Flag preset warp and set the Bend to 100%. Repeat the process to create a result like the one below:

Step 3 – Adding Layer Effects

Next, we will use the layer effects to create a glowing line. Select the line’s layer and make the following adjustments:

Outer Glow – Color (#00baff)

Inner Glow – Color (#007cb6)

Color Overlay – Color (#0096ff)

Stroke – Color (#0090ff)

Congratulations, you have now created your first glowing line, it should look something like this:

Step 4 – Creating More Lines

Now, duplicate the line a few times, using the Free Transform Tool (Ctrl + T) to rotate and scale the lines, change each line’s layer style colors to a desired hue.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it to be useful, feel free to make suggestions for future tutorials as PSD Nation is always looking for input.