How to make the Sort Em Up II Orbs!

I'll be explaining how I made the dropping orbs for Sort Em Up II (meaning the different colored orbs that you drag and drop into the big orbs).

Click here to download sample psd file!! (uncompressed)

Step 1

We want to open a new document that has square dimensions so 500X500 px, 600X600 px, etc... 8 bit, 300 dpi, RGB mode, etc...

Then we want to make a new layer by clicking on the new layer icon at the bottom of the layers panel

Step 2

Now that we have our blank layer, grab the marquee tool by pressing "M" on the keyboard or by selection the marquee tool. We need the elliptical marquee tool for this particular project.

Go to the center of the document (white space) hold down option/alt+shift, click, and drag at a 45 degree angle in any direction OR you can simply hold shift to constrain the proportions into a perfect circle. Either way, you'll want to center your circle and pick a color of your choice. To change color, simply click on the foreground/background colors (black and white) as shown in image 2. Double click on either color to bring up the color selection panel as shown in image 2.1. Grab the pain bucket tool or use option/alt+delete to fill the selection with the foreground color (the color on top) or with the background color by pressing command/control+delete. Our result will look like image 2.2

2

2.1

2.2

Step 3

Create a new layer by clicking on the new layer icon and it should be above "Layer 1" like so:

and then simply hit "X" on the keyboard to toggle between your foreground and background color (note: X switches the colors but not the order, the color on top is the new foreground color and the bottom is the new background and vice versa). Pick a new color the is slightly lighter than our original color. Our result will look like the smaller image to right right of the color selection.

Grab the gradient tool by pressing "G" on the keyboard or click and hold the pain bucket tool to get to the gradient tool. With our foreground color the lighter of the two, select the following: (this is in sequiental order)

We want foreground to transparent (option 2), radial gradient (second choice), blending more of normal, opacity of 100%, reverse is unchecked, dither is checked, trasnparency is checked.

Highlight "Layer 2" or make sure it already is (it'll be blue such as the second image of this tutorial) and go to the center of the circle, hold shift, click, and drag to the outer edge or a little beyond the circle. Our result will look like so: (note: click the blur circle to see larger image)

Step 4

Now, the pinnicle of making our orb look "3D" is in this step! Go ahead and deselect our image by pressing command/control+D and grab the elliptical marquee tool once again. Hit "D" on the keyboard to reset our background and foreground colors to their default (black and white) and then hit "X" to move white as our foreground color (image 4.1). Create a new blank layer be pressing the new layer icon (image 4)

4

4.1

Make a selection like so and then grab the gardient tool once again.

We want our gradient choice to be foreground (white) to trasnparent, linear gradient, mode normal, etc... drag the cursor from the top down and then deselect the image by pressing command/control+D.

Step 5

Currently, our light source is coming from the top (90 degrees); however, what if we wanted the light source to be coming from a 45 degree angle and we wanted the spot to be smaller and more realistic? I have a solution!!

First, with "Layer 3" highlighted, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur with a radius of about 2 px

Press command/control+T to open the Free Transform Tool and you'll see this:

If we are aiming to have a perfect 45 degree angle and we want to to be exactly 80% of its original size, follow these directions. If not, then hold down shift to constrain the proportions to resize to your choice and position where ever you want.

In order of useage: Notuce that everything preceeding the H: 80.0% is not used, we don't need it. First thing is first.... We want the Height and Width to be exactly 80% of the original size. See that little chain link between the W: and H:? Click on that to link the two and type in 80% or whatever you want. Then type in the necessary degree that you wish! Our result will look like so:

(click me for high-res!)