Learn to create your own Web2.0 Logo

This is a simple tutorial on how to create Web2.0 logos. I use Adobe Photoshop CS2 for this tutorial. Enjoy!! Step 1:
Create a new Image document by going to File > New. From the options window select the dimensions 1000 x 1000 72 resolution and white background. Step 2: Select the type tool and chose your font. For a real Web2.0 feel it would be wise to select either Trebuchet MS or something like Arial or Helvetica Rounded. Next select your text color, use something bright, I'll be using #0042ff. Type your Web2.0 logo text and set the size to 160pt, then center the text. Step 3: Next we need a logo mark, I'll do something really simple, but as you'll soon see any simple mark will work. Select the Custom Shape Tool, then select the "flower 5" default shape. Using the shift key to constrain proportions, make a shape about the same size in relation to the image example I have. Select the Path Selection Tool, then right click in the shape and select "Make Selection". Set the feather radius to 0 and check anti-aliased. Next go to Select > Modify > Expand. In the options window, expand by 8 pixels. Create a new layer and select a fill color. Again, choose a nice bright color. I'll be using #ff00ae. Fill the select, you can use the shortcut key CTL+Backspace. Use CTL+D to de-select. Label this layer "Logo Mark". Step 4: Arrange the two objects so they look similar to what I have shown in the image provided. The next step is to add the plastic wrap. Select the text object from the layer palette and go to Select > Load Selection and click OK from the options window. Create a new layer and label it "Bottom Text Gradient". Then select the Gradient Tool. In the Gradient Tool options window, select white to transparent like in the image provided. Use the Gradient Tool to create a mask similar to the image provided, when content, de-select. Create a new layer and label it "Top Text Gradient". Select the Ellipse Marquee Tool, then create an ellipse over the text like in the example image. Once that is done, select the Gradient Tool and match your mask to the one in the example image. De-select the ellipse Next select the text object layer, then go to Select > Load Selection and click OK in the options window. Use the shortcut key CTR+SHT+I to inverse the selection. Select the layer "Bottom Text Gradient" and press the backspace key to delete the selection. Select the layer "Top Text Gradient" and do the same to delete the selection. De-select. Step 5: Repeat step 4 on the Logo Mark and try to get the same effect as shown in the example image. You may need to use a different ellipse shape depending on your Marks shape. Step 6: Select the text object layer, right click and select Blending options from the context menu. Select Drop Shadow and change the settings to match the example image. Step 7: Next select stroke and change the setting to match that of the example image. When finished, right click the text object layer and select Copy Layer Style. Select the Logo Mark layer, right click and select Paste Layer Style. You will need to go into this layer Blending Options and change the stroke color to match the Logo Mark. At this point you should have something loosely resembling the example image. Next we put on the finishing touches. Step 8: Move all your objects into place, because the next step is to combine everything we have save the background into one layer. To do this, select all layers except for the background then use the shortcut CTL+E to combine the layers. Next, create a copy of the layer. You can do this by dragging the layer to the New Layer icon at the bottom of the layer palette Select the original layer and go to Select > Load Selection. Create a new layer and label it "Shadow". Select the Shadow layer and fill the selection with black, you can do this by using the shortcut CTL+Backspace. Select the Move Tool, then use the shortcut CTL+T to bring up the transform tool. Holding down the shift key, skew the transform box to match the example image, hit enter when done. Adjust the opacity on the Shadow layer to 15%. Step 9: Select the copied layer, then the Move Tool and again use the shortcut CTL+T to bring up the transform tool. Right click then select Flip Vertical, hit enter. Holding down the shift key, use the Move tool to move the copied layer down to look like the example image. Next, move the Shadow layer to the first layer, just above the background layer and just before the original layer. Change the copied layers layer opacity to 40%. Step 10: Create a new layer above the copied layer and then select the Gradient Tool. Use the Gradient Tool to create an effect to the finished image. Once this logo is placed on it's shiny table, you are done. Final Product: Put a few more final touches on and you are really smokin' now! http://www.nicora.net/index.cfm?method=article&blogID=C88F54CC-D998-BFC0-D995-3823E52FA483