Creating Windows Vista orb logo in Photoshop
Published: November 13, 2006
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In this tutorial I'll quickly explain how to create Windows Vista orb logo in Photoshop.

You can also download finished PSD file from Source Files download section.

First thing first, download Windows Vista flag which we'll place on our finished orb.

Steps

Create a new 500x500 px Photoshop document with white background.

Hit Ctrl + Shift +N on your keyboard to create a new layer and call it "the orb" Select Elliptical Marquee Tool (shortcut 'M') and draw a fixed size 200x200 px circle in approximate center of your canvas.

Select Gradient Tool (shortcut 'G') and prepare a gradient with following settings.



Fill the circle with gradient by dragging from top to bottom (as shown in following image)



Create a new layer and name it "bottom highlight" On newly created layer draw a slightly elliptical circle and position it somewhere at the bottom of your main orb.



Fill the new shape with #36B7EB then go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian blur and enter 24 for blur radius.

Nudge the shape down using 'down' arrow key on your keyboard until only half of it is overlapping the main orb shape. Ctrl + Left click the orb layer to make a selection and hit Shift + Ctrl + I on your keyboard to inverse the selection. Make sure 'bottom highlight' layer is selected and press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete the shape area outside the orb.



Create a new layer and name it "highlight' Ctrl + Left click the orb layer to make a selection, go to Select>Modify>Contract and type 3 px in the input box, hit Enter to apply.

Select the gradient tool and prepare a white to transparent gradient.



Drag from top to bottom to fill the selected area with gradient. Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard to deselect.



Our basic orb is done! Now it's time to place the flag, you downloaded earlier, over the orb. Simply open the flag image in Photoshop and drag it on to your orb document and center it within the orb. You now only need to add a drop shadow to Windows Vista flag.



That's it! looks pretty doesn't it?



Here is my final product.



Leave a comment below if you don't understand any of the above steps.

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