Render Layout Tutorial vol. 2: Header Creation (part 2)

Step 30.

Next I created the "C" in contra with the same text, but added a custom shape with the pen tool to make it a little more fancy. I also added a few smaller details to the C. Here are images of the steps.

Start with the letter 'C' with the text tool.

Using the pen tool, I then created the Top half of the 'C'

Rich-click on the path, and choose "make selection".

Expand the selection by 1 pixel, and fill it with light grey.

Using the polygon lasso tool, delete an angle from the end.

Again with the polygon lasso tool remove a section from the bottom of the 'c' like so.

Contract the selection by 1 pixel.

Remove a portion of the 'C' with the rectangle marquee tool.

Using the Line tool, draw small 1 pixel lines as shown.

Drop the opacity of this layer.

Using the Circular marquee tool, while holding Shift select an area like so:

Press Delete to remove this area, and contract the selection by 1 pixel

Fill this selection with a dark grey color.

Using the pen tool, create a path similar to this:

Right click on the path, and choose "make selection"

Fill this selection with dark grey, and press Ctrl + D to deselect.

Copy the layer style of the 'Text' layer by right clicking on the layer, and choosing "copy layer style"

Paste this layer style onto our fabricated 'C' by right clicking on the layer, and choosing "paste layer style".

Here is how you're image should look when finished with these steps:

Step 31.

wow, okay now that we got that out of the way, create a new layer, and name it "highlight".

Step 32.

While holding Ctrl click on the text layers, this should make a selection of everything on that layer.

Note: hold down Ctrl + Shift if you're going to be selecting multiple layers (such as I am).

Step 33.

Now with the rectangular marquee tool, while holding down the Alt key (to deselect) remove the bottom 3/4 of the selection such as I have here

Step 34.

With the selection still active, go to Select->Modify->Contract with a setting of 1 pixel (see photo).

Step 35.

Fill this selection with #FFFFFF (white) and set the "highlight" layers opacity to about 75%. Here's how it should look now:

Step 36.

If the Letters are showing up too light, you can adjust the curves, by going to each layer, pressing Ctrl + M and sliding the curve around until it's dark enough for you.

Here's what I ended up with:

Step 37.

I also added in a small company slogan to tie everything up, and brand the reason for the website. the font I used here is called BM Mini and is available freely for download here.

The font size is 8pt and the color is #000000 (black) with the following layer styles applied:

Then set the layers opacity down to around 75 percent, here's how it looks:

Step 38.

Next I just splashed it up with some tech brushes a bit, and dropped their transparency way down. There are several 100 tech brush sets available all over the place, but if you can't seem to find any email me and I will be sure to get you some handful of my personal favorites.

Step 39.

I also through in a little bit of micro-text. in a few spots to push the tech appeal home. Here's how it looks:

This was done by C&P a little snippet of text (anything will do) with a size of 3pt with the BM Mini font. then dropping the layers opacity.

Continue on to vol. 3 Logo Creation.