Create A USB Thumb Drive

This is a lengthy tutorial, so let’s jump right in.

Start with a new layer in a new document and grab the rounded rectangle tool. In the tool options, set the corner radius to 8 and select “fixed size.” Enter a width of 180px and a height of 64.

Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 1

Be sure you’re creating a path and not a filled shape. Now click on the canvas to create yoru path. then go to the paths palette and Ctrl+Click on the pat to make a selection from it. Fill th is with the base color for your drive (in my case, that’s #0054a6).

Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 2

Now take your rectangular marquee tool and select the left end of the rectanble, just to the edge of the rounded corners. Hit delete to remove the rounded corners from this end of the rectangle.

Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 3

Now double click on the layer in the layers palette to bring up the layer styles menu and apply the following styles (click on the thumbnails for larger versions).

Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 4 Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 5 Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 6 Adobe PHotoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 7
You shold now have a nice, shiney base with a little depth.

Adobe Photoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 8

Now let’s decorate it a little. Use the rounded rectangle tool to create a large oval in the center of our drive. Create a new layer and fill this ovel with a medium gray (#949494).

Adobe Photoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 9

Hold Shift and hit the left arrow key 2 times. Now hit delete to remove the majority of the oval.

Adobe Photoshop Tutorial USB Thumb Drive Fig. 10

Now use the burn and dodge tools with a soft brush to give the crescent shape a little variety and depth.

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Added Monday, June 5th, 2006 at 5:06 pm under Drawing & Painting.