Enlightened Triangles

Step 1.

Create a new document of any size, I will be working with a 400x400 document for this tutorial. Fill the background with black (#000000).

Step 2.

Set your foreground color to #FF7E00, get out the Elliptical Shape Tool ( ) and set it up as I have done here:

Now using this tool draw a large circle in the center of your canvas as I have done here:

Set your foreground color to #FF9731 and draw another smaller circle inside of the previous one as shown here:

Finally set your foreground color to and draw one more even smaller circle as shown here:

Step 3.

Select and merge all of the circle layers.

On Photoshop 7:

Click on the "Create folder Icon" in the bottom right hand corner of your layer palette:

Click and drag each of the circle layers into the folder.

Once these layers are placed into the layers, click on the folder layer to select it and press Ctrl+ E on your keyboard to merge these layers into one single layer.

On Photoshop CS(2):

Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and click each of the circle layers once to select them. Once they are all selected press Ctrl+ E on your keyboard to merge all of these layers together.

Once these circle shape layers are merged together press Ctrl+ J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Image->Adjustments->Invert (or press Ctrl + i) to invert the colors.

Name this layer "Circle Back" and hide it by clicking the "Eye" icon next to this layer within the layers palette:

Click on the layer below the "Circle Back" layer (The layer that we just duplicated).

Go to Filter->Artistic->Plastic Wrap and apply the following settings:

Result:

Step 4.

Press Ctrl+ J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Change the Blending Option of this layer to "Pin Light":

Step 5.

Merge both layers by pressing Ctrl+ E on your keyboard.

Next go to Image-> Adjustments-> Invert (or press Ctrl + i) to invert the colors.

Result:

Step 6.

Hide this layer by clicking the small "Eye" icon next to this layer in the layers palette. Name this layer "Circle Back 2" as we'll refer back to it later in the tutorial.

Get out the Custom Shape tool ( ) and select the 'Arrow 6' Shape:

Set your foreground color to #FFD68E and draw a an arrow shape in the center of the canvas as I have done here:

Step 7.

Double click this layer, and apply the following blending options:

Bevel & Emboss:

Result:

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Click on the "Color Selection" area in the layers palette and change the color of this layer to #FFBD4A.

Press 'V' on your keyboard to get out the Move Tool ( ) and position this duplicate layer as I have done here:

We will repeat this two more times, to create a total of 4 triangles, making each darker than the previous.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Click on the "Color Selection" area in the layers palette and change the color of this layer to #F09800.

Press 'V' on your keyboard to get out the Move Tool ( ) and position this duplicate layer as I have done here:

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Click on the "Color Selection" area in the layers palette and change the color of this layer to #C37B00.

Press 'V' on your keyboard to get out the Move Tool ( ) and position this duplicate layer as I have done here:

Step 8.

Select and merge all of the arrow layers we have just created.

On Photoshop 7:

Click on the "Create folder Icon" in the bottom right hand corner of your layer palette:

Click and drag each of the circle layers into the folder.

Once these layers are placed into the layers, click on the folder layer to select it and press Ctrl+ E on your keyboard to merge these layers into one single layer.

On Photoshop CS(2):

Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and click each of the circle layers once to select them. Once they are all selected press Ctrl+ E on your keyboard to merge all of these layers together.

Press Ctrl+ J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Edit->Transform->Flip Horizontally:

Result:

Step 9.

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Hard Light":

Result:

Step 10.

Press Ctrl + E on your keyboard to merge both of these layers together.

Press Ctrl + T on your keyboard to open up the Free Transform Tool.

Place your Cursor near the top right corner node (box). While holding down the Shift key on your keyboard, click and drag the top right corner node (box) inward towards the center of the canvas to resize our triangles layer slightly as I have done here:

Press Enter on your keyboard to finalize the transformation:

Step 11.

Press Ctrl+ J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

To to Edit->Rotate 90 Degrees CW:

Result:

Step 12.

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Hard Light":

Result:

Step 13.

Select and merge all of the arrow layers.

On Photoshop 7:

Click on the "Create folder Icon" in the bottom right hand corner of your layer palette:

Click and drag each of the circle layers into the folder.

Once these layers are placed into the layers, click on the folder layer to select it and press Ctrl+ E on your keyboard to merge these layers into one single layer.

On Photoshop CS(2):

Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and click each of the circle layers once to select them. Once they are all selected press Ctrl+ E on your keyboard to merge all of these layers together.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Image->Adjustments->Invert (or press Ctrl + i) to invert the colors.

Press Ctrl + T on your keyboard to get out the Free Transform Tool, place your cursor near the top right corner node/box and rotate this layer about 45 degrees as pictured here:

Step 14.

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Luminosity":

Result:

Step 15.

Press Ctrl + E on your keyboard to merge these two layers together. Name this layer "Arrow" as I'll refer to it later in the tutorial.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Name this duplicate layer layer "Wire".

Go to Filter->Stylize->Find Edges.

Result:

Step 16.

Unhide the layer named "Circle Back" that we created earlier in this tutorial by clicking on the small "Eye" icon next to this layer, in the layers pallet:

Step 17.

Select the layer named "Wire" by clicking on this layer in the layers pallet. Go to Image->Adjustments->Invert (or press Ctrl+ i) to invert the colors of this layer:

Step 18.

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Darken":

Result:

Step 19.

Select the layer named "Arrow" that we had created earlier in this tutorial. Move this layer above all the layers in layer order in layer palette, by clicking on it and dragging it to the top of the layers pallet:

Change the layer mode of this layer to "Difference":

Double click this layer, and apply the following blending options:

Outer Glow:

Result:

Step 20.

Unhide the "Circle Back 2" layer. Move this layer above all other layers in the layer palette by clicking it, and dragging it to the top of the layers palette.

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Color":

And that completes the effect, you should have something similar to what I have here:

That completes the tutorial, you should now have a very interesting and unique effect that looks fantastic as a banner or header background - or even a desktop wallpaper. Don't be discouraged if you couldn't duplicate my exact creation here, try experimenting with some of the steps, altering some of the colors or layer styles used to get very awesome results, also make it a point to use different custom shapes that are preloaded into photoshop and see what you can come up with!