Similar to Mac Tabs Tutorial

[=== by Nerio ===]

Some Of the effect these days on the net are the Mac Tabs, used anywhere on the web even on simple interfaces or shell themesThe effect is really simple to make with selections, but could be better if achieved with vectors shapes as they give us a neat effects.here the goal is not the Mac tab, but will be modified to make another Thing!!Grab a good song : Paul Oakenfold : dread Rock.mp3

Let’’s go!

Similar Mac Tabs Tutorial

Similar Mac Tabs Tutorial By Nerio

[=== by Nerio ===]

Some Of the effect these days on the net are the Mac Tabs, used anywhere on the web even on simple interfaces or shell themes. The effect is really simple to make with selections, but could be better if achieved with vectors shapes as they give us a neat effects. here the goal is not the Mac tab, but will be modified to make another Thing!! Grab a good song : Paul Oakenfold : dread Rock.mp3 Let’s go!

Make a new document, with any size you like….i gave it 200px/200px to have a good idea about whats going on. Fill the first layer with this color #7E7E7E to follow the taste…..i hate working on a completly blank background! As said before, The Trick here is to try to achieve a good result with Vectors, as they are more flexible and more maniable then simple shapes done with marquee tool or else.

make your foureground color # 545454 then take your rounded Shape tool, listed under the text tool on the tools palette, and make a good rounded rectangle shape, Radius with 12px or so and drag on the canvas to make your shape taking effect.

The effects are suitable with layers styles, unless you are advenced enough to try to achieve them by Brushing or some filters….so in a wait of your skills to lift some levels up, be as the rest of simple mortals and use the layers styles :D not only because it’s easy, but also because it bring on a very nice results!

so click the layers styles icon on the layers palette to modify it like:

And finally a Strock as shown here!

You will end up with this one. Remember : The vectors are always flexible enough to permit modification of nearly any type and could be updated/modified/changed when it’s neccessary…so keep playing with forms and settings!!

Now, Take your shape tool again, and reset your colors : D then X and make another shape in the upper part of the previous shape, this will be our light effect layer…..We used the vector instead of the marquee tool for the neat effect in the edges!! Now, pixelise your layer as shown in the picture!!

Choose : Layer—> Pixelise (Or Render in some Photoshop Versions!!) then choose the Form, not the Vectorial Mask!! Click on the picture to see the Menu !!!

here is the fun Part :CTRL + Click that shape layer and Hit delete 2 Or Three time to remove the white in it completly then replace it with a gradient from white to transparent ….From top to Bottom of the selection!

Repeat thsi step but this time use A smallest shape in the up part and a little small then the first one then turn down the opacity of the two layers to what ever works best for you!!

Here is the final shape then…..With some aditions here and there….you could make something completly diffrent…..Not only a Mac tab!!

I Used the same technic for my old Chronos V2 AltDesk Skin!!