Photoshop Tutorials » MiniNavigation

Step 1 - Starting Out
Start out by creating a new 150x200 document. Step 2 - Brown Fill
To start off, we want to change the background to a dark brown color. Grab the "Paint Bucket Tool," and change your foreground to a dark brown color. Now click once anywhere on your document to fill the background layer with that brown. Step 3 - Rectangle Navigation Base
Create a selection using the "Marquee Selection Tool." Make sure it is fixed to 148x98. Create the selection by clicking anywhere on the document. Then center it by hitting the arrows keys on your keyboard to make it like the image above (image is zoomed in for easier examination.) Once that is done, go ahead and fill it with a orange color on a new layer. This will be our base for the navigation blocks. Step 4 - Block Base
Create another selection. This time make it's size 12x12. On a new layer, fill the square selection with a orange/red color so it looks like something below. Be sure to position it centered to the left by using your arrows keys, or by dragging with your mouse. Step 5 - Arrows
With the "Horizontal Type Tool," click anywhere on the document. Once you have a text box to work from, do this on your keyboard:alt+0187 (numbers on the NumPad.) This should make a double arrow (»). Change the font color of it to black, and then position it in the center of the block we just made in the last step. Step 6 - Glossy Top
Create a new selection like in the image above. Instead of using a fixed selection, just drag it across the image to stretch it out until it gets correct. We're looking to have a 1px distane from the left, top and right sides of the base. Now on a new layer, with the "Gradient Tool" selected, drag from top to bottom a nice white to transparent gradient. This will give it a glossy look similar to below. Step 7 - Adjusting Blending Options
Right click the layer that has the skinny rectangle base that we made. Again, right click it and then go into blending options. Change the blending options according to the image above (gradient overlay.) Once you applied this effect, merge all the layers together by highlighting them all, right-clicking, and then hitting "Merge Layers." Step 8 - Adding Text
Add text to the block with the "Horizontal Type Tool." I used Arial with a size of 10px and no anti-aliasing. Type out "Home," or whatever words you want. Step 9 - Duplicating
Duplicate both layers a couple of times and move them down accordingly leaving a 1px space between them. Then change the text, and your navigation is set! End! Job well done!

Photoshop Tutorials » MiniNavigation