Tutorial Author - Man1c M0g (http://forums.biorust.com/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=1)
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| Segmented Rings Tutorial Author - Man1c M0g (http://forums.biorust.com/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=1) |
When designing logos, the best course of action is to keep things simple.
The reason for this is obvious - business logos find their way onto absolutely
everything, from t-shirts to coffee mugs, and only simple designs can be so
endlessly flexible. Segmented rings are very popular in logo design because they
are visually stunning and very distinctive. Chances
are that you've seen them on the internet a great deal already, gracing
everything from gaming websites
to corporate portals. This tutorial details the most reliable method for
creating these rings.
NB. Please note that I make extensive use of
rulers, guides, and Snap functions in this tutorial - all of
which are described in exquisite detail in the Photoshop help file. If you
aren't familiar with these commands it is HIGHLY recommended that you learn the
basics before proceeding any further.
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Step 1: Create a 200px by 200px blank document and fill the background layer with white. Create a blank transparent layer on top, rename it Shape1, and select it. Position guides in the centre of the image, as shown on the left. Then, using the elliptical marquee tool, create a 180px by 180px fixed selection and Edit > Fill it with Black. Now use the move tool to move the circle until it snaps automatically into position in the centre of the image. |
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Step 2: Create a new transparent layer on top of the others called Shape2, and repeat the circle creation part of step 1, but this time with a grey circle of 140px by 140px. Move it into the snapped central position as before. |
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Step 3: Now create a selection around the Shape2 layer by holding down CTRL and clicking on the layer in the layers palette once. After you have done this, select the Shape1 layer, and tap the DEL button on the keyboard. Delete (or Hide) the Shape2 layer and you should be left with a smooth ring identical to the one opposite. |
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Step 4: Using the rectangular marquee tool, create a rectangle 200px in width, and 10px in height. Position it in the middle of the ring, and press DEL to erase a small portion of the ring. |
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Step 5: Now choose Select > Transform Selection from the menu and rotate the selection by 45 degrees. You can do this by entering the value directly into the toolbar or by holding down SHIFT on your keyboard and dragging outside the selection (this moves the selection in 15 degree chunks). Press ENTER to finalize the selection changes and then DEL once more. Repeat this step twice and you should end up with a segmented ring like the one on the left. |
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Step 6: Add a little individuality to your work by clicking on Edit > Transform > Perspective. Drag the corners around until you have achieved the effect you desire, and press ENTER to finalize the change. There you have it - a very snazzy segmented ring awaiting your further decoration. |
Variations: It should be remembered, of course, that segmented rings are a primary building block of more complex designs. With a little time and effort you can build upon the ring and the principles in its creation to make some very pretty logos. Also bear in mind that you can omit Steps 4 and 5 if you want to create a halo! Just have a play around and see what you can come up with - the example logo below took a mere 5 minutes from start to finish!
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