Make a cool navigation bar

Posted on 10. Jan, 2008 by tutorials007 in Photoshop Tutorials 12,773 views

simple_navigation_bar250x100.gif

In this tutorial you will learn how to make a simple but cool navigation bar for your site.
This navigation is very easy to make and also it fits anywhere!

1. Create a new document. Width 600 px, height 80 px.

2. Make a new layer.
Grab Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and make a selection. Width 580 px height 40 px.
Fill your selection with black (#000000) color.

simple_navigation_bar_11.gif

3. In this step we will make our Rectangle shape a bit rounded.
So, zoom in your image to 1600%.
Pick Eraser Tool (E), mode: Block and delete 5 pixels on all corners of rectangle shape.
See the image below

simple_navigation_bar_2.gif

4. Make a new layer. Grab Rectangular marquee tool (M), and make a selection with width 60 px, height 30 px.
Fill this selection with the color of your background. In my case white. This will be our active tab.
Place the layer like on picture below.

simple_navigation_bar_3.gif

5. Repeat the step 3 to make this shape rounded, but in this step delete only one pixel at top left and top right corner.

simple_navigation_bar_4.gif

6.Again zoom in to maximum and make a selection like on picture below.

simple_navigation_bar_5.gif

7. Make a new layer, fill your selection with gradient (black and white) with black on top.

simple_navigation_bar_6.gif

Change the opacity of gradient layer to somewhere around 15%

simple_navigation_bar_7.gif

8.Now, use Horizontal Type Tool to add some text.

simple_navigation_bar_8.gif

9. Now you must copy your tab layer, gradient layer, text layer and move them to the right.
Repeat this a few times and voila. Navigation bar is here.

simple_navigation_bar_9.gif

Off course, you can change inactive tabs opacity so that the look different then active tab.

A few color variations

simple_navigation_bar_101.gif

simple_navigation_bar_111.gif

simple_navigation_bar_12.gif

simple_navigation_bar_13.gif

If you liked this tutorial please share it! Thank you.

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12 Responses to “Make a cool navigation bar”

  1. photoshop cs3 tutorials

    13. Jan, 2008

    why not to use the rounded rectangle tool instead of remove each pixel.
    anyway- thanks!

  2. tutorials007

    13. Jan, 2008

    Yep, it is easier with Rounded Rectangle Tool but this way is unique!
    I used this to show people that there’s always another way :)

  3. thefreewebstuff.com

    17. Jan, 2008

    Simple and clear, thank you.
    But if you want complete this task in seconds – visit my site.

  4. Rebecca98

    30. Jan, 2008

    There is no happiness like that of being loved by your these returning vnhxtrrpczayd was very pleasant or desirable no magnet drew me.

  5. id-esigns

    13. Feb, 2008

    Thanks for this cool idea its WOW

  6. SWEDEN4EVER

    18. Feb, 2008

    Hi!

    I’ve got two questions:
    1. I can’t figure out how to erase the corners, so how do you make the marquee with rounded corners?
    2. Wich font are you using?

  7. Jompa

    18. Feb, 2008

    Wich font is it?

  8. tutorials007

    19. Feb, 2008

    hy Sweeden4ever and Jompa,
    font I’ve used is IMPACT

    And, Sweesen4ever go to step 3 to learn how to create rounded corners.
    Thank you guys on your comments.

  9. Rupin

    10. May, 2008

    I am not sure that after adding the home etc text,how do we make links to pages on the site.

  10. AaronConda

    12. Jul, 2008

    Can I Have The Html/Css Code And Ill Just Change the Links Please

  11. shubelal

    12. Sep, 2008

    this is realy cool.

    thanks

  12. Apriliawaludin

    15. May, 2010

    Thank Broo… :D

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