Glossy Silver Web 2.0 Icon Tutorial

oday's Etc Tutorial is a classic web 2.0 glossy silver effect. We will be applying the web 2.0 glossy silver effect to a Photoshop comment bubble shape to create a icon.

Here we’re going to create the Speech Bubble Icon from the Free Glossy Silver Icon set found on IconsETC.

STEP #1

Create a new transparent document 512px by 512px st 72dpi.

STEP #2

To create the comment bubble shape activate the text tool by typeing T, chose Webdings as your font, set it to 350pt, then type (^) as shown below.

STEP #3

Next double-click on the text layer you have just created to bring up the Layer Styles Dialog Box. Then apply the following layer styles:

STEP #4

Now to create the gloss layer create a new layer by going to LAYER >> NEW >> LAYER in the menu and name the layer “Gloss”. Use the paint bucket tool to fill the layer with white.

STEP #5

Grab the Elliptical Select Tool and select a region similar to the one depicted below and press Ctrl+X (or Command+X) to remove it.

STEP #6

Set the layer blend mode to Soft Light, the opacity to 75%, and the fill opacity to 62% as seen below.

STEP #7

Right click on the gloss layer and select “Create Clipping Mask” as seen below.

Thats it!

You should now have something that looks like the comment bubble you see below.

This also works great as a text effect as seen below.