Creating templates for elements by SandeZ Creationz

© 2008 SandEz Creationz. For personal use only.

This tutorial was written by SandE of SandEz Creationz. Please do not copy, upload to any website, or claim my tutorial, or any of the graphics used as your own. Images created by you, as a result of using my tutorials, are your own to do with as you wish. This tutorial, may be shared with others, following the receipt of written permission. Thank you

Have an item that you use over and over again? How about making a template for it?

Open a new image 300 X 300 pixels, 300ppi, transparent.

Flood fill the background with white and rename the layer Background.

Go to your vector shapes and select the circle with both foreground and background colours set to #c0c0c0 and draw out a circle of approximately 200px diameter. Convert your vector layer to a raster layer. Rename this layer “Fill”.

Using the magic wand, click on the circle within the “Fill” layer to select it, then press “Delete” on your keyboard and all you will be left with is the selection of your circle. Now go to “Selections” on your top toolbar, “Load/Save Selection” and “Save Selection to Alpha Channel”. If you want to re-use this selection give it a unique name and save it for later use. (For example: 200px-Button). Do not deselect as yet.

Add a new layer and rename it “Bevels”.
Go to Effects on your top toolbar, “Artistic Effects” and “Balls & Bubbles” and apply the following settings:

Shape
Single ball or bubble = checked
Maximum possible size = checked.

Surface
Material colour = light gray (#c0c0c0)
Opacity = 15
Shininess = 40
Gloss = 50

Maps
Bump Map = checked
Bump Map = Noise
Smoothness = 0
Depth = 25
Fit Bump Map = Checked.
Environment Map = checked
Opacity = 26
Environment Map = Christmas Ball

Illumination
Ambience: Max = 15
Minimum = 0
Individual Light Properties
Light 1: Bubble Light = checked
Colour = white
Highlight Size = 33
Light 2: Type Backlight = checked
Colour = white
Highlight Size = 13

Lower the opacity on your “Bevels” layer to about 70 - 75%.

Add a new layer and rename it “Cutout”. Selection - Invert (Ctrl+Shift+I).
Now go to “Effects” on your top toolbar, “3D Effects” and “Cutout” and apply the following settings:

Vertical = 6
Horizontal = 6
Opacity = 45
Blur = 10
Color = Black
Fill Interior with color NOT checked.

Add another new layer and rename it “Cutout 2″ and apply the following cutout settings:
Vertical = -6
Horizontal = -6
Opacity = 45
Blur = 10
Color = Black
Fill Interior with color NOT checked.

Go to “Layers” on your top toolbar, “Merge” and “Merge Down”. Now Deselect.

Now save your template with a unique name.

When you want to create buttons, open the template, Shift+D to duplicate it and close your original. Go to the copy of your button template, locate the pattern you want to use. Click on the “Fill” layer, load the selection from the alpha channel, and flood fill the selection with your pattern.

Viola a button!