Photoshop header with navigation
It this weeks tutorial we will learn how to create a sexy blog header with menu buttons in it. We’ll keep it simple and don’t create super smoothly effects.
Blogs these days have a width of 800 pixels because some people have small monitors, that’s why we will make a 800 pixel wide header. Let’s get started!
Step 1. Createing the header.
First of all, let’s create the document, a 800x200 pixels PSD file. After creation, we must add a new layer. Call this layer “header”. On the new layer, we will draw the main part of our header. To do that we must first draw a selection to where the header color should go, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M). Draw a selection similar to this one.
Now, making sure you have the header layer selected and not the background, fill the selection with #515151 (Edit->Fill).
We will add a stroke and a gradient fill to the header, to make it look more web2.0-ish. To do that we must go to Layer->Style:
Now it’s time to create the buttons.
Step 2. The Buttons.
In order to create new elements, we need more layers. Create a new layer (Layer->New->Layer) and name it button_normal. Why normal? Because it will have to states. The normal state and the over state, when the users goes over the button.
To create the button, again we will draw the selection first. Make a selection of 80x30 pixels or something similar to this:
Now with the button_normal layer selected fill this path with #6c6c6c.
It’s time to add the layer style effects (Layer->Layer Style):
Duplicate this button_normal layer a few times and move the duplicates at right holding ctrl/command and shift while moving to keep them on the aligned.
Now we are going to make the button_over state on the first button. I renamed the first button into “button_over”.
We will be working on this one now. Using the polygonal lasso tool draw a path like rectangle. Do zoom in to get a better view at what you are doing.
On the button_over layer, fill this selection (Edit->Fill) with #8fd400.
Now all there is left is to add the text for the buttons and the name of the blog.
Step 3. Final Touch!
Add some text on the buttons and on the header. I used Arial Black for all.
The placement of the logo is up to you.
Done!
