Oct 25
Design Watercolor Effect Menu
This is a two-part tutorial on how to create an artistic and un-typical CSS list menu as seen on Web Designer Wall. In the first part (this article), I will show you how to design a watercolor effect menu in Photoshop. Then in next tutorial, I will show you how to slice the menu and code in CSS. If you need some inspiration on creating an artistic menu, visit our previous post on artistic websites. Ready? Let’s begin Part 1. (Update: Part 2 is ready - Advanced CSS Menu)
Preview
Here is a preview of the final image:
1. Notepaper stock image
First you need to find a notepaper stock image. You can buy stock photo from iStock or scan from a notepad.
Cutout the notepaper and apply 2px drop shadow effect.
2. Watercolor effects
Cmd + click on the notepaper layer to load the selection. Create a new Layer Group and click on the Add Layer Mask mini icon in the Layers palette. This way everything within the Layer Group will be masked.
Create a new layer. Choose a pink color (or any pastel color), select the Pencil tool, set the tool Opacity to 10%, brush size 100px, and drag around the document as you are doing a watercolor painting.
Repeat this step until you get multi layers of watercolor effects.
3. Add details
Find some coffee stain images, paste it in and set the layer blending mode to Multiply.
Dirty and splatter effect: download and use the splatter or watercolor Photoshop brushes from Bittbox.
Add some pencil sketch illustrations. You can either scan your marker sketches or use vector illustration.
Make a triangle selection in the corner, pick a grey color and apply a gradient to make the wrinkle effect.
4. Hand wrting text
If you don’t have any nice hand writing fonts, go to Dafont or Urban Fonts to download them. Create a new Layer Group and enter the navigation text.
Find a different font, enter the menu mouseover text.
5. Washout RSS icon
Use the Eraser tool, choose one of the splatter brushes, set tool Opacity to 10% and randomly erase the edge. Then paint some brown color overlay the icon to give the dirty effect.
6. Sketchy strokes
Sketchy or pencil strokes can be easily created in Adobe Illustrator. Draw a shape or path, open the Brushes palette, click on the charcoal brush and set the Stroke weight to 0.25pt.
7. Final
Here is my final image. If you want to spend more time on the details, you can add paper clips, tapes, post note, pencil sketches, etc.
Subscribe RSS
Don’t forget to subscribe our RSS to stay in touch with our next tutorial on how to code the menu in CSS.
Update: Part 2 is ready
Please continue to read part 2 on how to code an Advanced CSS Menu.
Event: Future of Web Design Advanced CSS Menu
Comments
Pages: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All
There are 100 comments (+Add)
Pages: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All
Post Your Comments
Flash CS3 Components from FlashloadedSpeed up your Flash development with easy to use Flash Components: Menus, Slideshows, FLV Player & more!
Loading ...
100 Becca http://mycatlulu.blogspot.com
May 6th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Thanks for the awesome tutorial. I used it to make a header for my blog! At mycatlulu.blogspot.com
99 radhika
May 6th, 2008 at 6:27 am
its awesome,its beautiful. very inspiring thanks a lot
98 izslr http://baseballb1.110mb.com/
May 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Good wishes! Baseball card grading hxbst
97 pccky http://3march-5-bv6.150m.com/
April 30th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Good wishes! What happened to march network jtpov
96 Deb
April 24th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Your AWESOME! Thanks for the info! Very inspiring!
95 Sunil Patel
April 20th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I really like this site and it has inspired me in many ways. Keep up the great work!
94 Fotograf http://www.bartekszewczyk.com
April 19th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
it’s one of my favorite blog design
93 sumeet
April 9th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
itssss wonderful i learnt lots more on this site …
92 Dragolux http://www.tutorialwow.com/
March 4th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Wonderful tutorial. This will give me inspiration for the future. Thanks a million!
91 PopArtDiva http://www.normalchallengedartist.blogspot.com
February 20th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Thank you so much for a wonderful site. I’ve been wanting to learn CSS and your site is a great resource. I intend to add your link to my artist’s resource blog for other artists to benefit from your expertise!