Content Bars

Today we will learn how to create content bars , and make them look very spify instead of plain and boring.

Open a new document any size as long as it large enough for a content header , and i always like enough working room so its always nice to make it a little big bigger.. So get your laso tool and make a lil cut out like above.

Get a stock photo, I got this from block9.net , they have some nice ones so if you dont know of any you can go there.While you have 2 documents open you need to go to the document with the stock photo and press CTRL+A to select everything , then hit CTRL+X to cut or CTRL+C to copy it. Now you need to go to your other document with the selection , And press CTRL+SHIFT+V which will paste your image into the document.

This will create a mask so you need to move it in whatever postion you like and then merge it down.

Create a new layer. Now While holding CTRL you need to go to the layer palet and click the layer with the image. This will select the layer . After you have finished with this you need to go to Select>>MODIFY>> Expand.

Your image should now look like this.

Now you need to get your eraser tool and you need to dab a little off the picture, this will make your text stand out which is always a plus :)

Now double click the layer without the image and you will see a box similar , You need to go to your stroke settings and copy these settings..

Create yet another layer and get your circular marquee tool and make a shape like this.

Now you need to go to edit>>fill and fill it in with the color white.

Lower the opacity to about 50% shown in the image above and then make a selection with your marquee tool like i did above. The point of geting your marquee tool is that we need to delete all the extra junk white. Make as many selections as you need to delete this , because it will look tacky with it.