Blue Circle Button Tutorial

In this tutorial we will create a “web 2.0” (I’m sorry I had to say it) style rounded button.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Start with a 150×150 pixel image with white as the background. Create a new layer. Select black as your foreground color. Using the circle marquee tool, hold down the shift key and draw a perfect circle.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Press alt + backspace to fill the circle with black.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now we will apply some layer style to the circle of course. I will be using a blue gradient that I found online in a web 2.0 gradient pack. Go to the site and download the gradient pack by clicking here.

Download the file and extract the gradient. Then simple drag the gradient file into photoshop and drop it on the background. Then open the gradient tool and youw ill see that we now have some sweet web 2.0 gradients.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now we will apply the layer styles for our circle. Right click on the layer and go to blending options.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Apply the following drop shadow settings:
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Next apply the gradient settings. I will be using the dark blue gradient from the gradient pack we downloaded earlier.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Then we will use the following settings for the gradient
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

For the final touch we will add a stroke.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Apply the style and your image should look like this
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now we are going to add a little more gloss to the picture. First we will add the ring. Create a new Layer. Then alt click the circle layer to make a select the same size as the circle.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Fill the new layer with white keeping your circle selected.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now go to Select > Modify > Contract
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Contract the circle by 3 pixels
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now your circle select is smaller. Use the arrow keys to move the circle down to off set it form the original like below. Then delete the select.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now we will set the transparency for the layer to 51%.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Your circle should look like this now.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Looks good, but web 2.0 requires more gloss (lol). Using the default photshop shapes draw the shape below.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Blue Circle Button Tutorial

You circle should look like this now.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

CTRL + click on the circle layer again to make a circle selection. Then go to Select > Inverse on the photshop menu. Then delete your selection.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now we are going to change the layer blend mode to overlay and the opacity to 43%.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

The circle looks like this.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now we will add a circle using the default Photoshop circle shape tool.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Draw the circle like on a new layer.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

Now apply a 1px stroke inside using the blending options.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

The image should look like this.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

To finish it off add your logo. I also changed the circle layer to be 65% opacity. Here is the final result
Blue Circle Button Tutorial

You could go back and play with some other gradients to see what you can come up with.
Blue Circle Button Tutorial
Blue Circle Button Tutorial
Blue Circle Button Tutorial