INTERFACE SPLASH TUTORIAL

This tutorial is very good for all of you "wannabe" interface makers. Using dodge and burn is a very good interface technique
    for people who are just starting interfacing. I used it myself not so long ago.
   
    So start off by making a new canvas. I made mine 500x500 pixels.
    Fill it with a dark gray color so that your splash will stand out nicely.
   
    Now select the Elliptical Marquee Tool and make an oval selection. Go to Edit-Fill and use a light gray color.
 
  Now select the Pen Tool and try to make something like below.
 
  Fill it with abit lighter gray color.
 
  Go to Layer-Duplicate Layer and then flip it verticaly/horizontaly (edit-transoform). So that you have 4 bits.
 
  Now duplicate the layer with the oval shape that we've made before. Go to Edit-Transform-Scale and make it smaller.
  Go to Layer-Layer Style-Gradient Overlay and make a gradient from darkgray-to lightgray. Should look kinda like this:
 
  Use the same technique that we did before but this time use a gradient like this:
 
  The outcome when we used the blue gradient.
 
  Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool and make a selection like this:
 
  Go to Image-Adjustments-Levels and use the slidder like this:
 
  Now to go Select-Transofrm-Selection and move it up abit. Use levels again. The outcome:
 
  Select the Burn Tool with exposure around 20% and burn the darker gradient part.
 
  Now select the Dodge Tool with 20% exposure and dodge the top middle of the orb.
 
  Select our oval shape and go to Select-Modify-Contract and select 4 pixels.
 
  Select the Burn Tool and burn the top and bottom of the interface.
 
  Go to Select-Inverse and now select the Dodge Tool. Now dodge the top and bottom again.
 
  Select the orb and go to Layer-Layer Style-Inner Glow. Use these settings.
 
  Hit ok. Now select the oval part. Duplicate it and go to Filter-Pixelate-Fragment.
 
  Touch up the fragmented layer with dodge/burn.
 
  Now start burning the first of our 4 bits. Don't overdo it.
 
  Now dodge the end of our shape. Should give it a kinda shine effect.
 
  Transform a selection like this. Select the Burn Tool and burn the end of the selection.
 
  My outcome:
 
  Now move the selection down and do the same as before. Dodge the part where it meets the oval shape for a better look.
 
  Now we just make the 2 sides simetrical using the transform tools (edit-transform).
   
  Duplicate the 4 bits and then go to Layer-Merge Layers. Go to Filter-Pixelate-Fragment again.
 
  Select our orb layer and go to Image-Adjustments-Color Balance. I just gave it a more cyan color.
 
  Now slap in some enter text and give it a cool gradient. Just experiment. Also layer Blending Modes can do miracles.
 
  Now pick the Brush Tool and a 100px round airbrush. Select a black color and go around the splash like this:
 
  Duplicate all layers and go to Layer-Merge Layers. Go to Filter-Scetch-Chrome and play with the settings. Change the
  Blending Mode to Color Dodge and lower the opacity as much as needed. 
 
  Select the Eraser Tool with a round airbrush and erase any unneeded parts.
 
  Some more cleaning up at the side pieces.
 
  Duplicate the "enter" and go to Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur select around 3. Play with the Blending Modes of the layer.
 
  Make a shape with the Pen Tool like below:
   
  Select the Burn Tool and burn the shape at its edges.
 
  Now select the Eraser Tool and erase the bottom of our shape.
 
  Duplicate the layer and use the Move Tool to move it up and right. Lower the opacity of the layer.
 
  Duplicate the 2 layers and flip them horizontaly/verticaly and use the Move Tool to position them correctly.
 
  Make a shape like below with the Pen Tool.
 
  Now go to Select-Load Selection. Now go to Select-Modify-Contract and use 3pixels or so.
  Select the Dodge Tool and dodge the middle of the tube/wire. Now go to Select-Inverse and select the Burn Tool.
  Burn the edges of our tube/wire. My result: 
 
  Now duplicate the layer a few times and play with the transform options to get an effect like below.
 
  Use the Eraser Tool with a hardbrush to erase any unneded places.
 
  Duplicate all the layers and go to Edit-Transform-Flip Verticaly  and use the Move Tool to position them correctly.
 
  Do the same but instead of flip verticaly use flip horizontaly.
 
  Erase the unneeded bits yet again.
 
  Now select the Brush Tool with a 40px airbrush and a dark gray color. Brush at the ends of the shape. It kinda works
  like an inner glow but way better. 
 
  Make a new layer. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw a square with the same color as the background.
  Go to Filter-Render-Lens Flare and use 105 mm with 100 brightness. Position it in the middle of the square. Erase
  the unneeded parts with an airbrush but be carefull not to erase too much. 
 
  Set the layer Blending Mode to Color Dodge.
 
  Now go to Edit-Transform-Scale and make ti smaller. Duplicate the layer a few times and use the Move Tool
  to position the flares around the splash. 
 
  Select the Eraser Tool with a hardbrush and erase unwanted parts.
 
  Go to Layer-New Adjustment Layer-Color Balance and touch up the colors abit. This is my finished splash!
 
  Thanks for reading. I hope you learned something.

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