Bubble

Hi all... I have been searching the net for ages, and playing in PS to no avail, and was wondering if someone could help me.

I want to create buttons that look like the plasticy/chromey ones, you know, the switch on button on the comp (well on the nice flashy ones anyway). I've been playing around with plastic tutes, but can't seem to get a chrome look to the plastic, and I can't find any metal button tutes to play with...

Does anyone know of any links or anything that might help me? ;\

Blinky2004

You mean a chrome button similar to this?

Bubble

God yes, and with the same effect on the outside too for a bit, like an edging...

now comes the bit i dread... please mark... give me some hints before you make me endure the same process as sToRm... [sleepy]

Blinky2004

hahahaa naaa... this is too simple an effect to even bother with torture. [bustagut]

Although... [sly]

I've re-attached a new version, with a bit more detail added.

The general effect works over a Radial gradient sphere. That sphere is then effected by applying a simple "Curve" to it. (see curve filter sample below)

If you take a good look at the actual button part, you'll see that it's just a basic reflection photo (of anything!) that's been spherized a couple times.

Like this...
Shrink down the photo to match the size of your sphere, then Ctrl-click the sphere layer to select the sphere. While on the photo layer, apply the Spherize filter a couple times.
Then Inverse the selection and Delete.
And Deselect.

Then to add more depth to the look, select the sphere and on a new layer, above the photo layer, stroke the selection 3 pixels on the Inside, with black. Then apply a 2 px gBlur to the stroke. Then Deselect.

Ctrl-click this blurred stroke now and click on the spherized photo layer to activate it. Press Ctrl+J. This copies a thin outline of just the outer edge of the photo. Set this copied layer to Difference blend mode. Move it to the top of the palette. Ctrl-click the sphere to create a selection. Apply the TWIRL filter at about 150-250% clockwise. (slider to the right)

The collar type effect around the button is very easy. Just apply a Bevel & Emboss to the sphere layer, and for the bevel use "Outer Bevel" w/"Rolling Slope" Gloss Contour. Then for the "Contour" setting use the "Ring" Contour.
Set the highlight and shadow colours to white and black, both using Normal blend mode. And jack up the Opacity setting for both.

See how you do with this now Bubble.
Post your results. :B

Bubble

will do, fantastic mark... thanks - I'm gonna have a go at it tonite

Seems simple to me now, but we'll see

Bubble

Ok Mark... I gave it a try, but i don't think its quite there... I'm not happy with the jaggies around the edge, but I just can't get rid of them [confused]

The font isn't really what I want... just wanted to put something on it. I'd prefer a kinda thin, fine font, that will look pressed onto the metal, but all my thin fonts end up looking jagged to me...

Will keep trying at it to see if it improves, just wanted to let you see how I was going ;\

Not bad at all Bubble [righton]

Bubble

k, been trying, but still can't get the thin font thing going (need tearing hear out emoticon!!)

here is an update before bed, bit shinier, but maybe not flat enough *shrug*

Rantin Al

Bubble, seeing Mark is letting you off with the torture, this time. [bustagut]

Try playing around with a Curves Adjustment layer to bring up the 'chromed' look.

You can mask out the button edge and text if you want.

Here's a quick setting to get you started.

Al.

Bubble

Thanks Rantin, that's great... I was just too tired last night to fiddle anymore