Introduction…

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a professional header with an image implemented into it. If you have any questions about this tutorial be sure to ask in the comments and i’ll be happy to answer any questions. Also, remember with all the tutorials, the psd is available for download.



Download the PSD…

Don’t have time to do the tutorial, but would like to see the results? The PSD is available to anybody who would like to use it.



Lets get started…

1. First thing we need to do is create a new canvas with a size of 860×400



2. Next, we want to go ahead and change what our background looks like. So go ahead and insert the following blending options onto your background layer (right click layer, then chose blending options)




3. Next, we want to go ahead and get our image ready. I used a photo from sxc.hu that can be found here

4. What we want to do now is use our rounded rectangle tool with a radius of 10px to make a selection like this:



5. Next, position your image over your rounded rectangle. When you have it where you want it, CTRL+CLICK your rounded rectangle layer to select it. Then choose, SELECT>INVERSE. On your photos layer, then choose EDIT>CLEAR and you’ll have something that looks like this



6. Now, we want to go ahead and move our rounded rectangle layer over the picture layer. We then want to use this rounded rectangle as the background to our navigation. Using your rectangle marquee tool, make a selection similar to the following and then choose EDIT>CLEAR



7. Now we want to add some blending options to the back of our navigation. So input the following:







8. Your image will look like this



9. We want to add a little ‘highlight’ to the top of our box, so CTRL+CLICK your navigation back layer to select it. Then create a new layer over it and fill it with #FFFFFF. Make sure you still have an active selection then choose, SELECT>CONTRACT> 1 PX. Then choose EDIT>CLEAR. You will have something that looks like this:



10. Change that layers blending mode to Soft Light and it will look like the following:



11. Next, make a selection similar to the following with your rectangle marquee tool:



12. Fill it with #FFFFFF on its own layer, and then input the following blending options





13. Your document will look like this:

14. Next we want to add some links to our navigational menu. I used the font Lucida Grande with all caps.



15. Now we want to create a search box. With a rectangle marquee tool, make a selection like this:



16. Fill it with #FFFFFF, and then input the following blending options onto that layer:






17. Next, we want to make another selection using our rectangle marquee tool, that looks like this:

18. Create a new layer and fill it with #FFFFFF. Then input the following blending options







19. Now you just need to add some text, and add a shine to the navigation and your final results will look something like this:



**If you have any problems, or have any questions about this tutorial, please leave your comments and I will get back to you. Also, remember the PSD to this tutorial is available for download.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, why not check out our other Adobe Photoshop Tutorials?