I wrote my first version of this tutorial I wrote, back in 2001, using version 5.5. My methods are a little different now, but these things are still around, it’s a cool effect, and you can learn some good Photoshop techniques along the way. So let’s have a go! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As you progress through this project, you’ll be working with these:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Making shapes <\/li>
Using alpha channels to save selections<\/li>
Manipulating selections<\/li>
Using the gradient tool<\/li>
Using filters<\/li>
Using multiple layers to achieve effects<\/li>
Using opacity settings<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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There are 7 components to this seemingly simple capsule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main base capsule shape<\/li>
The Alpha Channels<\/li>
The lower blurred white highlight inside the capsule<\/li>
The upper sharp highlight<\/li>
The darker shading around the edge of the capsule and at the top corners<\/li>
The glow, or colored shadow, under the capsule<\/li>
The distortion through the capsule<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
File > New. For this, use a canvas of 1000 x 1000. File > Save as… Save it in PSD format, give it a name, and put it where you’ll find it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Capsule Shape<\/strong>
Choose your Rounded Rectangle tool . It’s with your other Shape tools.<\/li>
Choose a color and then, in your Options, choose Shape. <\/li>
Just drag out any rounded rectangle. We’ll fix it in a moment.<\/li>
As soon as you drag it out, you’ll see before you the Properties palette. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Set yours up as mine is. Your Width should be about 3x the Height. And make the Height an even number.<\/li><\/ul>
Then, down at my second arrow, you’ll set up the corner radii. Make this number half of the height. When you do one, the others will fill in. And your capsule takes shape on your canvas!<\/li>
If you want to move it, center it on your canvas, now’s a good time to do that.<\/li>
Ctrl-S to save.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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What’s an Alpha Channel, anyway?<\/strong> An Alpha Channel is just a fancy name for \u201clet\u2019s make a selection and save it here\u201d. The selected part is in white and the unselected part is in black.
There are some cool things about selecting in this way. First, you can also save PART of the opacity of a pixel, by making it GRAY. Also, you can use filters and distortions on channels, just as you can on layers.
Adding to the selection or taking away, is just as easy as painting on a layer. Too, if you save your file in psd format, any channels will also be saved, so when you open your file again, the selection will still be there in the form of the Alpha channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Alpha Channels<\/strong>
A. Capsule Alpha Channel
Ctrl-click your Shape Layer’s thumbnail in your Layers palette. <\/li>
Click the tab for your Channels palette. It is nested behind your Layers palette.<\/li>
Click the Create a New Channel icon and name this channel Capsule.<\/li>
You should see the selection ants on a black background. Notice that your foreground color is now white. Alt-Backspace to fill your selection with white.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
B. Highlight Alpha Channel. I want my highlight to be 1\/3 the height of the capsule and about 80% of its width. I want it centered on the capsule, too.
Make another new Channel and name this Highlight.<\/li><\/ul>
We’re going to transform this selection that’s still active.<\/li>
Select > Transform Selection. <\/li>
In the Options Bar, there are numbers. Find where it says W and H. Between these is a tiny link symbol. Be sure that it is not selected. <\/li>
Into the W area, put in 80%. Into the L area, put in 33%. Press Enter.<\/li>
Alt-backspace fills your selection with white on your new channel. Ctrl-D to deselect.<\/li>
Ctrl-S to save the file. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Lower blurred highlight inside the capsule. For this, we’re going to use that freshly-created Highlight channel.
In your Layers palette, make a new layer above your Capsule layer. Name it Inner Highlight.<\/li>
Choose white for your foreground color.<\/li>
Return to the Channels palette and Ctrl-click the Highlight channel.<\/li>
Back in your Layers palette, click your Inner Highlight layer and Alt-backspace to fill that selection. Ctrl-D to deselect.<\/li>
Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur till you like the amount of blur. For mine, I’m using 30.<\/li>
Choose the Move tool (or press V) and drag your highlight to the lower third of the capsule. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsulefinal2.jpg?resize=165%2C133&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/pinkcapsuledm.jpg?resize=300%2C151&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule4.png?resize=223%2C98&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/rndrect.png?resize=30%2C25&ssl=1\")
. It’s with your other Shape tools.<\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule2.png?resize=286%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule1-1.png?resize=334%2C166&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule5-1.png?resize=502%2C289&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule6.png?resize=312%2C352&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule13.png?resize=342%2C424&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule7.png?resize=150%2C25&ssl=1\")
<\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/link.png?resize=30%2C26&ssl=1\")
Be sure that it is not selected. <\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule4.png?resize=580%2C258&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule8.png?resize=466%2C199&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule9.png?resize=445%2C198&ssl=1\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule3.png?resize=450%2C192&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule11.png?resize=439%2C187&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/shading.jpg?resize=200%2C156&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule10.png?resize=466%2C264&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/capsule12-3.png?resize=580%2C408&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/postithotmail.jpg?resize=236%2C250&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/myjanee.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sig_gr.jpg?resize=100%2C50&ssl=1\")
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