[PS Tutorial] How to make that crisp cool Apple.com (Apple in 2010!) navbar + text effect (sounds yummy)

People like Apple products for many different reasons. One of the things I love about apple is the cleanliness of their designs. They make the most sophisticated things seem so simple. They really take advantage of the use of “white”. Some clients tend to think that white space is an ememy. Although most designers, if educated properly, know that white is another color just like all the others, and if used properly can actually make a BIG difference. I have put together a few screenshots to help you achieve something very similar to the famous Apple nav bar effect.

To begin, I will tell you the 5  important components needed to create this nav bar along with screenshots of the exact properties I used. Then you guys will be able to put it together on your own. It’s easy- You’ll see…

• Default Button Background Gradient
• Default Button Text Effect
• Hover State Background Gradient
• Hover State Text Effect
and finally the dividing line between each 2 nav button

Start by using the shape tool and dragging out a nice rectangular shape on your stage. Double click on the layer you just created and give it a nice “gradient overlay” like this:

This would be the Default Button Background Gradient:

Now using the text tool write out the text you want on your nav bar. Change the text to black.  Go double click the text layer and give it a drop shadow with the following properties:
This would be the Default Button Text Effect:

Now to create the Hover effect for when someone mouses over the nav bar, you simply take the same steps as above but this time using these new properties.

Hover State Background Gradient

Hover State Text Effect
The text should be white and the drop shadow properties should be as such:

and finally the dividing lines between each 2 nav buttons .
Using the line tool drag out 2 lines about the height of your nav bar and each line should be 1 pixel wide. 1 should be light grey and 1 should be dark grey.

And that’s it!

I hope you enjoyed the simplicity of this beautiful clean nav bar. Don’t leep it for yourselves.  Share it with your friends and ReTweet it like crazy! Thank You!

This is what it should look like when you put it all together: