Star Badges

Step 1. Create a new document

First, create a new document in Photoshop, for this tutorial I'll be using a 400x400 document, but the images I'll be showing you will usually be 300x200.

After you've created a new document, add a background in. I used a light blue gradient and some white scan lines.

Step 2. Making the shape

Now let's make the shape of the star badge.

In the Photoshop Tools Menu, find and get the Polygonal Tool (U).

Be sure at the top of Photoshop in the tool options menu, that you're using these settings:

Click the drop down arrow that is highlighted in the above image and use these settings:

Now create a new layer and change your foreground color to what you would like the badge to be. I used #4fb2ea.

Be sure you're on the new layer, then click and drag on the canvas.

That's how to make the basic shape, move onto the next step to make it look much nicer.

Step 3. Applying layer styles & highlights

Right click the badge layer then click Blending Options... now apply these settings:

You should be left with a result similar to this:

Looking much better huh?

Next thing to do is add some gloss and highlights!

Create a new layer then select the badge by holding ctrl and clicking the layer thumbnail.

Now contract the selection by 2 pixels by going to Select > Modify > Contract and using an input of 2.

On a new layer fill this selection with white #FFFFFF. Then press the down and left arrow keys once each. Press delete.

Change the layer mode to Overlay and lower the opacity if you think it's needed. I lowered mine to about 70%.

Contract the selection again by 2 pixels, and on another new layer make a White to Transparent gradient from the top left to the middle area like so:

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to make a selection of around the middle and bottom right area and delete it.

Change the layer mode for this layer to Soft Light and lower the opacity to 60%.

Looking nice!

Now add some basic white text with a light drop shadow.

Thanks for reading, and in case you need it, you can download the PSD file from here.