Ok, probably “glass” is not the correct term but i wasn’t able to find a better keyword…
This is the first of a new series of tutorials about Photoshop CS4 and its new features.
We will create a real 3D glass ball. To complete this tutorial you need Photoshop CS4 (…), a good graphic card and 5 minutes.
The effect i want to recreate is the typical style of James White  but in “3D mode” and in a quickest way.

The ball created in that tutorial is amazing but has two disadvantages:

1) You have to complete 15 steps to obtain a good result and you have to change a lot of blending modes.
2) The final image is flat. A normal 2D layer.

With my tutorial you’ll be able to achieve the same effect but in 5 steps, without playing with the blending options and the result will be a REAL 3D layer.

So…we can start.

STEP1

Create a new document and set the color mode to RGB 16 bit

STEP2

Fill the first layer with the black and then create a new empty layer (rename it “Circle”).
Now, inside “circle”, with the elliptical marquee tool create a circular shape ad fill the selection with the white.

STEP3

Reduce the opacity of the new layer to 20%.
Make five copies (ctrl+j or cmd+j for mac users) and move them around the “circle” as shown in the next screenshot (the positions are random so feel free to move the layers where you want).
Leave the same opacity (20%) for all the copies.

STEP4

Now, let the magic begin.
Group all the circles together (select the four layers holding down shift and press ctrl+g or cmd+g for mac users).

Go in the menù bar, under “3D” and choose “Sphere”.

After 1 minute of rendering the result will be something like this:

A real 3D object that you can rotate and scale.

STEP5

Now simply add some finishing as James did for his tutorial.
Fill a new layer with a gradient e change its blending mode to “overlay”

After that add a levels layer and change the settings to add more brightness.

and this is the final result…

OPTIONAL STEP

To improve the quality and remove some imperfections you can check the box “remove backfaces” under “3D” -> “Render Settings”

And then, if you want, you can group the “gradient” and “circle” layers and then you can copy the entire group.
In the new one you could change the color of the gradient and rotate a little bit the ball.
This is my final object with a yellow-orange gradient and a “cloud” filter in top.

And….in case you have lost them:

• 25 New Business Cards - Best of September 2008
• 30 Business Cards - Best of August 2008
• 25 New Business Cards - Best of July 2008
• 37 Business Cards - Best of June 2008
• Business Cards - Best of May 2008
• 70 NEW amazing business cards

Another personal work. Just Photoshop.

I tried to merge my style with that of James White
and….this is the result.
I love to manipulate colors so i can’t no appreciate his works.
James is one of the most inspirational graphic designer around.

Guys, i’m looking for a wordpress master. I would you like to collaborate with a good web developer (i’m a graphic\web designer) to transform some ideas in “real” themes.

I’ve a project in mind and i’ll explain everything in private.
So, just to begin, if are able to convert the layouts above and you want to talk, drop an email!

Can you see the differences?
Can you guess which is vector? And which is a normal picture?

Let me know ;)

VECTOR (outline)

PHOTO

3D

VECTOR (outline)

3D

PHOTO

Vector

3D

Photo

VECTOR (outline)

PHOTO

3D

VECTOR

PHOTO

3D

VECTOR

PHOTO

3D

3D

VECTOR

PHOTO

3D

VECTOR

PHOTO

VECTOR

3D

PHOTO

3D

PHOTO

VECTOR (outline)

VECTOR

3D

PHOTO

3D

VECTOR (outline)

PHOTO

VECTOR

3D

PHOTO

3D

PHOTO

VECTOR

3D

PHOTO

VECTOR (animation)

3D

VECTOR

Just a quick note to announce the italian version of FrancescoMugnai.com!
It’s pretty obvious that it will be a completely different blog compared with this one.

Here we will talk about the graphic design world while in the Italian’s one we will take a deeper look into also other themes.

Un benvenuto a tutti!