Glass Orb v3

This tutorial with guide you through how to make a glass orb with a logo:

1. Open Photoshop and create a new image. I used 400x400
2. Create a new layer, Ctrl + Shift + N
3. Using the Eliptical Marquee Tool draw a cirlce that covers most of the image
4. Fill the circle with Black. Press D to reset colours then press Alt + Delete
5. With the selection still active go to Select » Modify » Contract
6. Set to 2px then press OK
7. Create another layer and fill this with a dark grey I used #666666
8. With the layer still selected go to Filter » Blur » Gauissian Blur
9. Set to 5px then press OK
10. Merge the 2 layers together by highlighting both layers and pressing Ctrl + E. To highlight both layers Ctrl + Click both layers, not on the preview
11. Ctrl + Click the preview next to the merged layer and create a new layer above it
12. Go to Select » Modify » Contract
13. Set to 5px then press OK
14. Using the Gradient Tool set it to Foreground to Transparent
14. Set the forground to White. You can do this by pressing D then X
15. Drag the gradient from the top of the selection to the bottom while holding shift to keep it straight.
16. Set the blending mode of this layer to overlay then press Ctrl + E to merge it down.
17. We now have the backing of our orb.
18. Duplicate the current circle layer bj pressing it in the Layers panel and pressing Ctrl + J
19. You now have 2 layers with the same thing. With the new duplicated layer press Ctrl + T
20. On the Transform Toolbar set the width to 80% and press the Link button so that it keeps the same ratio
21. Ctrl + Click the preview of the layer and fill it with White.
22. Deselect the selection by pressing Ctrl + D
23.

Now we are going to apply some blending options to the duplicated layer.

This is that I used:


(Click for larger version)

Inner Glow Colour: #2F469A


(Click for larger version)


(Click for larger version)

Satin Colour: #335F88


(Click for larger version)

Colour Overlay: #74A1BB


(Click for larger version)

24.

Now you should have a simple 2D orb like this:


(Click for larger version)

25.

Create a new layer then merge the 2 layers together by highlighting both layers and pressing Ctrl + E. To highlight both layers Ctrl + Click both layers, not on the preview

26.

Using the Colour Dodge Tool dodge the bottom of the circle with the Range set to Highlights and the Exposure set to 50%

27.

Create a new layer and using the Elliptical Marquee Tool draw a cirle 75% the size of the blue circle.

28.

Place this at the top of the blue cirlce, then using the Gradient Tool with Foreground to Transparent selected, put the Foreground to White and draw from the top of the selection to the bottom

29.

Then go to Filter » Blur » Gauissian Blur

30.

Set to 5px then press OK

31.

You should now have something like this:


(Click for larger version)

32.

Now we need to add the logo or text

33.

Put the text or image in to the center of the image then apply a Gaussian Blur of 2px.

34.

Ctrl + Click the text or logo layer preview the press the White gradient layer and press Delete

35.

Then either Delete the text or logo layer or hide it by clicking the eye next to the layer

36.

Or alternatively you can make the text or logo white and just leave it how it is. As long as you dont put it at the top as it won't come out very well

37.

For my logo I left it how it was but just changed the Blending Mode to Vivid Light

38.

This is what I came up with:


(Click for larger version)