First we'll be creating a nice blue glassy orb, then we'll go onto creating some flawlessy shiney metal surrounding. The quality of the end result will be high, although might not look so on my images due to them being .GIF's. Right lets get started, firstly create a new document the size you want the image, I 'm going to be using "800x600 pixels" with a "transparent background". Set your foreground color to #373737 and background color to #181818, goto "filter > render > clouds".
Then goto "filter > pixelate > mosaic" use the settings below.
Now goto "filter > sharpen > sharpen" repeat this step a total of 2 - 3 times. Your end result should look like this.
Create a new layer above your background layer, with the gradient tool using a radial gradient drag a big radial gradient over your canvas.
Set the layer blending mode to "lighten", you should now have something like this.
Set the color #0090ff as your foreground using the elliptical marquee tool or the circle tool create a big circle in the middle of your canvas.
Add these layer styles to your circle.
Your orb should now look like this.
Using the rectangular marquee tool, create 4 rectangles like a window. Makes sure there all on the same layer, there all the same size and that the space inbetween them are the same.
Goto "filter > distort > speherize" using the settings below.
Once you've entered the settings above press ok, then repeat the steps again twice more so its been done a total of 3 times.
Goto "edit > free transform" (HOTKEY: Ctrl + T), rotate and resize to fit inside the orb. Set layer opacity to 10%.
Now were going to make our orb look nice and glassey. Create a selection like the image below using the "elliptical marquee tool".
Fill the selection with the color white, then add a layer mask. Reset your foreground and background to black and white, select the gradient tool with a linear gradient. Start from the bottom of the circle and drag upwards about half way up. The bottom of the circle should sort of disappear and blend in with the orb. Set layer opacity to 10%.
Repeat the steps above only this time make the selection slightly wider and move it down a little. Also set opacity to 15%.
The effect your looking to get is something like the image below.
Duplicate your first circle and flip it vertically, postion the the circle at the bottom of the orb.
That's our orb finished, now lets create our flawless metal outer circle. With the elliptical marquee tool OR circle tool, create a big white circle bigger than your orb.
Place the bigger outer circle on a layer underneath your orb layer. Add these layer styles to your big outer circle.
You should have something like this.
Click on your outer circle layer whilst holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard, this should load a selection, create a new layer above your outer circle layer and goto "edit > stroke".
The reason why I done the stroke this way is because, you don't get jaggy edges, if you add your stroke VIA the layers palette the edge is very jaggy. Just a quick work around. That's basically it you could then take it abit further and add some minor details, like screws and engraved text.
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