Note: This tutorial is written for Photoshop CS on a Windows XP platform and assumes you have a basic knowledge of Photoshop. However, this technique will work on most versions of Photoshop or similar graphics package.
This tutorial will create an image like this from scratch:
1. Create a new canvas of size 172 x 172 and set the background colour to #252525.
2. Choose the Custom Shape Tool and select the Blob 1 shape. If you can’t find this shape try clicking the right-hand facing arrow from the shape panel and choose All.
3. Now we need to draw the shape – draw a shape roughly this size (it doesn’t matter what colour):
4. Rename this layer to Metal Border and centre it on your canvas.
5. Reduce the Fill of the Metal Border to 0%.
6. Right-click the Metal Border layer and choose Rasterize Layer.
7. Apply a Bevel and Emboss layer style using these settings:
8. Your shape should look like this:
9. Apply an Inner Glow layer style using these settings:
10. This adds some colour to the metal to add some realism. It should look like this:
11. Add an Outer Glow layer style using these settings:
12. Now your shape will look like this:
13. Duplicate your layer and name the new layer Metal Base. Right-click this layer and choose Clear Layer Style. Set the Fill for this layer to 0%.
14. Hold down Ctrl and press the left mouse button on the Metal Border layer (with the Metal Base layer still selected). This selects the layer transparency. Choose Select > Modify > Contract > 9px.
15. Choose Select > Invert and press Delete. Choose Select > Invert again and fill the selection with #FEF7F7. Your canvas should now look like this:
16. Add a Stroke layer style like this:
17. It will now look like this:
18. Add an Inner Glow layer like this:
19. You are now finished and your canvas will look like this: