Step 1. Settings
First, create a document with the following parameters.
Choose a tool Paint Bucket Tool (Fill) and fill the background with color # 626262. Create an adjustment layer Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast (Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast). Set the parameters.
Step 2. Create a circle
Choose a tool Elliptical Marquee Tool (Oval selection) with the following settings.
Create a circle and fill the selection with color. # 649ad2. Tool Eraser Tool (Eraser) with soft edges, erase the circle in some places.
Set the following layer styles for it.
The circle should be like this.
Step 3. Creating 3D models
To make the ball look like 3D, you need to place the light correctly. To do this, highlight and darken some areas. Below is a diagram of the location of the light sources.
Select the Oval Selection tool, set Feather (Feathering) 10pxand the size is 200px by 200px. There are many ways to get light / shine and shadows. The author chose the following path.
Install Blending mode (Layer blend mode) on Multiply (Multiplication).
Add the following style.
Shadows will be much easier to create. Give preference to more light, as the shadows are too noticeable. You can choose any layer blending mode, for example Soft Light, Overlay or leave mode Normal.
Shadows create the same way as light. It is better not to bring the image closer when creating shadows, since you will not see how the shadows look against the general background.
Step 4. Add details
In this step, create some lines. Choose a tool Pen Tool (Pen) with settings.
Draw approximately the following lines.
Choose a tool Brush Tool (Brush) size 3px-5px. Then click RMB on the contour and select Stroke path (Outline stroke). In the window that appears, select Brush. There are also two types of strokes. Simulated Pressures (Simulate pressure) and without imitation of pressure. Below is an example of both.
If you did not get the line shown in the top line in the image above, you may need to reset the brushes. See the drawing.
Step 5.Elaboration of details
You should have several white lines. Set these layers to Blend Mode to Soft Light or Overlap; you can lower the Opacity. Eraser with soft edges, go through some parts of the lines to add volume.
Select the Oval Selection tool and create small selections on the lines. Tool settings, see below.
Fill them with white. You can also apply layer styles. In this case, the author simply changed the layer opacity to 50%. Try applying the Blending Mode: Soft light or Overlap and lower the opacity.
Step 6. 3D ways
With the tool Ellipse Tool (Ellipse) in the contour mode, create the shape shown below.
Tool Free Transform (Free Transform) Tilt the shape. Then click RMB on the contour and select Contour Stroke.
Create multiple shapes. Do not forget to use the blending mode layers: Soft light or Overlap and lower the opacity.
Step 7. Create a cube
You can draw the cube yourself, or upload the finished image here http://d198kx3f8facmn.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/tracearound.png. Circle the sides of the cube with the tool. Pen, creating each side on a separate layer. Then fill each side with white (#ffffff). Add layer styles to them.
For front sides, set Fill (Fill) 15%, rear – 10%.
Step 8. Glare Cube
Here use the method of creating light by shading the contour (discussed earlier). Start by creating a new layer, draw a wavy outline.
Make a light out of it, then create a selection layer with the side on which this light is created, invert it Ctrl + shift + i and press Delete.
Step 9. Add details to the cube
The bottom pictures show how the light was created on other sides. The edges of the cube were highlighted in some places, and a large soft brush was used to create shadows.
Step 10. Create a glow
Choose a tool Airbrush Capabilities (Airbrush) (Note. You can find it on the Brush tool settings panel) with a size of 100px – 300px and go white in a cube. It will look good if you use multiple layers with an opacity of 5-10% than two or three layers with an opacity of 40%.
Step 11. Final stage
Create a new layer and place it under the contrast layer. Fill with black and set the Fill to 0%. Add inner shadow and inner glow using layer styles.
The final version can be found here.
