Step 1
Open Photoshop and go to File > New. In the new window, set the name to “Pattern,” the Width to 3px, the Height to 3px, the resolution to 72 pixels/inch and be sure to have the color mode set to RGB. Click OK.

Step 2
Press “D” on your keyboard in order to reset the Foreground and Background colors. Zoom in the image as much you can (3200% is the maximum). Select the Rectangle Tool (U) and draw a 1x1px square in the top left corner.

Step 3
Double click in the layer’s thumbnail (this will open the Color Picker window) set the color to #8484FE and click OK.

We will need to repeat this process eight more times in order to have the canvas filled with squares to achieve a nice RGB monitor texture. Draw eight more squares and following the steps 2 and 3 set each square color as follows:

Step 4
Once you have made all the nine squares, go to Layer > Flatten Image.

Step 5
We will now convert this image to the pattern we will use in our screen. To do so, go to Select > All (this will select the entire content in our canvas). Now go to Edit > Define Pattern. Set the pattern name to “RGB texture” and click OK. Now we have our pattern available to be used in Photoshop, so we can now work on our main image.

Step 6
Close the Pattern window and go to File > New. Set the name of the document to “Screen;” a Width of 1200 px, a Height of 900 px, the Resolution to 72dpi, the Color Mode to RGB and click OK.

Step 7
Select the Rectangle Tool (U) and draw a rectangle of the same width and height of the canvas.

Go to Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay. In the Layer Style window, click over the pattern thumbnail, and from the dropdown thumbnails list select the “RGB texture.” Click OK.

Go to Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object. We convert this layer to a Smart Object so we can transform it later preserving the texture we just applied. Now go to Layer > Layer Style > Inner Shadow and apply the following settings:

Still in the Layer Style window, click over the Blending Options and set the Fill Opacity to 40%. Click OK.

To work more comfortable, let’s rename the layer. Go to Layer > Rename Layer and set the name to “RGB texture.”

Step 8
Now, we will create our main Smart Object which will contain our screen capture. Click over the Background layer and select the Rectangle Tool (U) (we do this in order to create the new layer under our “RGB Texture” layer). Draw a rectangle of the same width and height of the canvas.

Go to Layer > Rename Layer and set the name to “Blue.”

Before transforming our main Smart Object, let’s create eight guides to help us with the distortion. Go to View > New Guide and set the first guide to Horizontal and -60px as showed. Click OK.

Repeat this process seven more times and set the guides to:
Horizontal: -13px
Horizontal: 872px
Horizontal: 1210px
Vertical: -184px
Vertical: 0px
Vertical: 1206px
Vertical: 1360px

Go to Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object. Go to Edit > Transform > Distort and do a distortion by clicking on each corner of the selection and dragging them to the guides intersections we just created to make the same distortion showed. Once you finish, hit the Enter (Return) key on your keyboard.

Note: You will notice that apparently nothing changed, but our Smart Object is already distorted.

In order for you to see better the effects we will apply from now on, let’s put our screen capture in the Smart Object. Double click over the “Blue” layer thumbnail; this will open a new canvas, which is where we will place our screen capture, but before placing it, we need to create 4 guides in this document to help us know the safe limits of the image showed, because our object is already distorted. So, go to View > New Guide and set four guides to:
Horizontal: 35px
Horizontal: 842px
Vertical: 110px
Vertical: 1176px

Open your screen capture. Go to Select > All. Go to Edit > Copy and close the screen capture document. Go back to the recently opened Smart Object canvas and go to Edit > Paste.

As you can see the screen capture has been placed in the Smart Object Canvas. Notice the guides; the rectangle they form is the “safe area” of your screen capture; this will help you later (if you decide to change the capture) to place the image and set the exact portion of the capture you want to see in the final document. Go to File > Save and close your Smart Object Canvas. As you can see, your “Screen” document has been updated with the screen capture we just placed.

In the Layers panel, click on the arrow next to the blending modes, and from the dropdown list select  “Exclusion.”

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 1.5 pixels. Click OK.

Step 9
As we will need three more copies of our smart object, let’s duplicate the one we already have. With the “Blue” layer still selected go to Layer > Duplicate Layer. In the new window set the name to “Green” and click OK.

Again, go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and in the new window set the name to “Red” and click OK.

Last time. Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and in the new window set the name to “Master” and click OK.

Step 10
Be sure to have the “Master” layer selected and go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Set the Blend Mode to Overlay and bring down the Fill Opacity to 40%. Check the Inner Shadow effect, apply the following settings and click OK.

In the layers panel, Right-click (Control-click) over the smart filter icon next to the layer’s name and select Clear Smart Filters.

Step 11
In order to see better the effects we will apply, turn off the Background layer by clicking on the eye icon next to the layer’s name.

Step 12
Now, we will work with each layer levels to achieve the RGB effect. Select the “Blue” layer by clicking on the layer’s name in the layers panel. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels. Set the name to “Blue Levels” and be sure to check the “Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask” option. Click OK. Note: the Levels Properties window will appear.

In the Levels Properties window, click on the arrow icon next to the RGB channel name and from the dropdown list select the Red channel.

In the Output Levels, set the highlight level (the one at the right) to 0.

Now, select from the dropdown list the Green channel. Again, set the highlight level (the one at the right) to 0.

Click over the Green layer’s name to select it, and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels. Set the name to “Green Levels” and be sure to check the “Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask” option. Click OK.

In the Levels Properties window, click on the arrow icon next to the RGB channel name and from the dropdown list select the Red channel.

In the Output Levels, set the highlight level (the one at the right) to 0.

Now, select from the dropdown list the Blue channel. Again, set the highlight level (the one at the right) to 0.

Step 14
Click over the Red layer’s name to select it, and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels. Set the name to “Red Levels” and be sure to check the “Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask” option. Click OK.

In the Levels Properties window, click on the arrow icon next to the RGB channel name and from the dropdown list select the Green channel.

In the Output Levels, set the highlight level (the one at the right) to 0.

Now, select from the dropdown list the Blue channel. Again, set the highlight level (the one at the right) to 0.

Step 15
As you may see, the screen effect is almost complete, we just need to add a last finishing touch by making some curves adjustments. Click over the “RGB Texture” layer’s name in the layers panel to make it active and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves. Set the name to “Curves Adjustments” and click OK.

In the curves properties window, click on the arrow icon next to the RGB curve name and from the dropdown list select “Green.”

Click on the top right point of the curve and set the Input value to 230.

Click on the arrow icon next to the Green curve name and from the dropdown list select “Blue.”

Click on the top right point of the curve and set the Input value to 230.

Step 16
Now that we finish our screen effect, it is easy to edit our screenshot using the Smart Object we created. If you want to change it, simply double-click on the thumbnail of the “Master” layer. In the new document window, place your screenshot, save the file and close it. Your new screen shot is now in the main Screen document.

Step One: Create New Document Preset

With Photoshop CS6 open, go to the ‘File > New’ and create a 500×500, 72 Resolution with Background Contents of White. Click OK to commit the document creation.

Step Two: Create Empty Layer

Before initiating the 3D scene, click the Create New Layer icon command at the bottom of the Layers Panel, to create an ‘empty’ Layer (called Layer 1) as I have captured below.

Step Three: New 3D Mesh from Layer > Sphere Preset

With Layer 1 active in the Layers Panel, go to the 3D > New 3D Mesh from Layer > Mesh Preset > Sphere menu command.

As captured below:
A. Layer 1 will be converted to a 3D Sphere object preset;
B. With’ Layer 1’ 3D object active, go to the Window > 3D menu command to access its core options; within the 3D Panel, select: 1. The Materials icon on the 3D Panel Toolbar or 2. Select the ‘Sphere_Material’ sublayer. Either choice will take you to the Properties > Materials for this material. The area of importance for this walkthrough will be the ‘BUMP’ option in the Properties Panel.

Step Four: Creating a Bump Map Texture

With ‘Sphere_Material’ for this 3D Object active, lets add a texture material directly to the Bump property.
As captured below, in the Properties Panel, to the far right of the Bump option is a ‘folder’ icon. Click it and from the context menu selection choose ‘New Texture’.

At the ‘New’ dialog for ‘Sphere_Material – Bump’ make the Width and Height the same size as the original document. In our case it will be 500×500. Once set click OK to commit changes.

Step Five: Edit Bump Map Texture

Now lets’ edit this new bump map material by adding a custom texture with Smart Object filtering.

To edit an existing material you have two options:
1. In the Layers Panel double click the ‘Sphere_Material – Bump’ sublayer;
2. Or from the Properties Panel, click the folder icon again and from the context menu options choose ‘Edit Texture’.

Either option will open a new document tab container where you can add your custom texture.

Step Six: Add 50% Gray to Bump Texture/Material

Once at the new texture (.psb) document tab, and the ‘Background Layer’ active, go to the Edit > Fill menu command and at the dialog prompt use 50% Gray Contents option and click OK to commit.

As captured below (bottom) our current texture state is nothing more than a Background Layer filled with 50% Gray.

Step Seven: Convert Bump Texture/Material to Smart Object

The next step will be to apply Smart Filters, but to do so the Background Layer needs to be converted to a Smart Object Layer. With the Background Layer active in the Layers Panel, go to the Layer > Smart Objects > Covert to Smart Object menu command.

There will be no physical change to the Layer except that a Smart Object icon will be appended to the Layer thumbnail (encircled in red, below).

Step Eight: Add Smart Filter (Stack)

Now our base texture (50% Gray) is a Smart Object and is ready for Smart Filter ‘stacking’. Smart Filter stacking is simply layering one native filter above another. In our case we will employ two Smart Filters: Color Halftone followed by a slight Gaussian Blur.

With the Background Smart Object Layer active:
1. Go to the Filter > Pixelate > Color Halftone menu command. At the prompt adjust the Radius and Channel options as I have captured and click OK. The result will be a dot pattern that will resemble the indents found on a golf ball.

Tip: For Bump Materials, white areas represent ‘raised’ points and dark areas are the ‘low’ points.
2. Once the halftone pattern is in place, go to the Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur menu command and use a low Radius of 1.9, then click OK to commit.

Once the Gaussian Blur is committed go to File > Save then click the X to the right of the (.psb) document tab.

Step Nine: Adjust Bump Intensity (other options)

We now have a textured golf ball, but the Bump material is still a little harsh. From the 3D Panel > Whole Scene area, select the ‘Sphere_Material’ (encased in red), then In the Properties Panel, lower the Bump intensity. I settled on a 2% value and increased the Shine value to 65%.

Step Ten: Optional (Adjust Lights)

The shadows in the above version is too harsh so to adjust, click the Lights icon in the 3D Panel (encircled in red) and with the Move Tool active from the main Toolbar, drag the light handler to adjust the angle of the Infinite Light.

Final textured golf ball.

Step Eleven: Save Material as Preset

In the event that that you want to reuse this ‘Bump’ material you can save it as Material preset. From the Properties Panel > Preset Picker > Picker Options context menu list choose New Material and give it a friendly name, and click OK to commit. As with Photoshop preset management the new material appear at the bottom of the Preset list the next time you go to access it.

Though the above material/texture is exclusive to a pattern found on a golf ball, you can explore a variety of Filter Stacking options to create a textured surface to the 3D object.

Until next week
Happy trails

Prior to make our canvas, we will need to install the font and load the patterns. Please refer to your system process to install the font.

Loading the Patterns: to load the .PAT file into Photoshop, proceed as follows: Open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preset Manager. In the Preset Manager window, select Patterns from the Preset Type dropdown menu. Click on Load, find on your computer the recently downloaded Rusted.pat file and click on Load. Click Done.

Go to File > New. Set the name of the new document to Rusted Text Effect, the Width to 1150, the Height to 1150 and be sure to have a 72dpi resolution and the color mode set to RGB. Click OK.

Click Over the Foreground color in the Tool’s palette and from the new window, set the color to #505252 and click OK.

Press Alt+Delete (Option+Delete) in order to fill the canvas with the recently selected foreground color.

Select the Text tool (T). Set the font to Bebas, size to 180pt, the anti-aliasing method to Sharp, and the text alignement to Center. Pick a white color (#FFFFFF) and click over the canvas and type “LAYERS”.

Press 3 times Control+J (Command+J) to duplicate the layer 3 times.

We will now rename the layers to work more comfortable. There is 2 methods to do this, the first one is to click over each layer’s name and retype the layer’s name, and the second one is to go to Layer > Layer Properties and set the name in the dialog box. Choose your favourite, and rename the layers as showed:

Hide all the layers (except the “Background” and the “shadow” layer) by clicking in the eye icon next to each layer’s name. Select the “shadow” layer and go to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow. Apply the following settings and click OK.

Select the “depth” layer and make it visible by clicking on the eye icon next to the layer’s name. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow and apply these values:

Still in the Layer Style Panel, check the Inner Shadow Option and apply the following values:

Now, check the Bevel and Emboss effect and set the values as shown:

Select the Color Overlay option, set the color to #C6884B and bring down the opacity to 55% as shown:

Finally, check the Pattern Overlay effect. Click over the pattern thumbnail and from the thumbnails list select the “Rust3″ pattern.

Apply the following settings and click OK.

Hold the Control (Command) key, and select the “depth” and “shadow” layers. Go to Edit > Transform > Scale, and set the horizontal scale to 97%. Apply this value by clicking the checkmark in the transform panel. We do this in order to give the text a faux 3D effect.

Select the “color” layer and make it visible.

Go to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow and apply the following values:

Still in the Layer Style Panel, check the Inner Shadow Option and apply the following values:

Now, check the Inner Glow effect and set the values as shown:

Select the Bevel and Emboss effect and apply the following settings:

Select the Satin option and set the values as shown:

Finally, check the Gradient Overlay effect. Click over the gradient thumbnail; in the new Gradient Editor window set the following values and click OK:

Apply the following settings and click OK.

Select the “texture” layer and make it visible.

Go to Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay. Click over the pattern thumbnail and from the thumbnails list select the “Rust3″ pattern.

Apply the following settings and click OK.

Note: While still in the Pattern Overlay window (and before clicking OK), click and drag over the canvas to freely move the texture. Just for practice, try to place the texture as close as possible as the example image. Don’t worry if you can’t, this step is just to show you what you can do while you are on the Pattern Overlay dialog.

Select all Layers (except the Background) and go to Layer > New > Group from Layers. In the dialog box, set the name to “Style 1″ and click OK.

Go to Layer > Duplicate Group. Set the name to “Style 2″ and click OK.

Click over the canvas, and drag the content of the “Style 2″ group about 200px down. This is just to work more comfortable so the groups don’t overlap.

Expand the “Style 2″ group and click over the “depth” layer in order to select it. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Color Overlay. Click over the small color rectangle and in the color picker window set the color to #4C4C4C. Click OK.

Still in the Layer Style window, click over the Drop Shadow tab and uncheck the “Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow” option. Click OK.

Click over the “color” layer and go to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay. Click over the gradient thumbnail, and in the gradient editor set the colors as follows. Click OK in the Gradient Editor and click OK again in the Layer Style window. Note that the red numbers refer to the percentage location of each color.

Now, click over the “texture” layer and go to Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay. We will not change the setting here, we will just move the texture to make it look different from the first style. To do so, while you still have the Pattern Overlay tab of the Layer Style window active, click and drag over the canvas to move the texture to another position. Once you have done this, click OK to apply the effect. Try to position the texture as the image shown for practicing purposes.

Collapse the “Style 2″ layer’s group by clicking on the arrow next to the group’s name. Go to Layer > Duplicate Group. Set the name to “Style 3″ and click OK.

Click over the canvas, and drag the content of the “Style 3″ group about 200px down. This is just to work more comfortable so the groups don’t overlap.

Expand the “Style 3″ layer group and select the “color” layer. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay. Click over the gradient thumbnail, and in the gradient editor set the colors as follows. Click OK in the Gradient Editor and click OK again in the Layer Style window. Note that the red numbers refer to the percentage location of each color.

Again, we will modify the texture layer to make it looks different from the other two styles. Click over the “texture” layer inside the “Style 3″ layer group and go to Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay. We will just move the texture to make it look different from the others styles, so we will not change the setting here. To do so, while you still have the Pattern Overlay tab of the Layer Style window active, click and drag over the canvas to move the texture to another position. Once you have done this, click OK to apply the effect. Try to position the texture as the image shown for practicing purposes.

We will now make a final variation to get a different style. Collapse the “Style 3″ layer’s group by clicking on the arrow next to the group’s name. Go to Layer > Duplicate Group. Set the name to “Style 4″ and click OK.

Click over the canvas, and drag the content of the “Style 4″ group about 200px down. As we did it before, this is just to work more comfortable so the groups don’t overlap.

Expand the “Style 4″ layer group and select the “color” layer. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay. Click over the gradient thumbnail, and in the gradient editor set the colors as follows. Click OK in the Gradient Editor and click OK again in the Layer Style window. Note that the red numbers refer to the percentage location of each color.

Now, for the last time, we will modify the texture layer of the “Style 4″ group to make it looks different from the other styles we have made. Click over the “texture” layer inside the “Style 4″ layer group and go to Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay. Besides moving the texture to make it look different from the other styles, we will change a single setting to get other effect. From the Blend Mode dropdown list select Darker Color. Now, with the Pattern Overlay tab of the Layer Style window still active, click and drag over the canvas to move the texture to another position. Once you have done this, click OK to apply the effect. Try to position the texture as the image shown for practicing purposes.

Now that you have completed all the steps, you can try a few different variations by changing the color gradient of any “color” layer, moving, scaling and changing the blend mode of the “texture” layers, and even change the settings of the “shadow” layers to achieve a new and exciting style.