Designing a Glossy and Elegant Web Button

You need a cool web element? or want to create an eye-catching download button? this tutorial is for you. So make sure to read it carefully, it contains kinds of tips & tricks for you to try.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

First, prepare the background for the button that we will create. I am here using plaid patterns, but you can use another pattern or certain solid color. After that, we will create the basic shape of the button, create a path like the image below and click Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, select white color and press OK. Name the new layer with Outer Shape.

Double-click Outer Shape layer to bring up the Layer Style window. First, give the Drop Shadow to the layer with the settings as follows.

The next layer style is Inner Shadow.

Now we add a Gradient Overlay to the Outer Shape layer. You can use the settings as shown below.

The last part of Step 1, we add a Stroke to Shape Outer layer, use the Gradient as the Fill Type. Here are the settings I use.

After completing one step we produce an image like below.

Step 2

Create a new path is slightly smaller than the path that we created in Step 1. Do the same thing as the first step, click Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, select white color and press OK. Rename this layer to Inner Shape and change the Fill Opacity to 0%.

Give the Gradient Overlay style to Inner Shape layer with the settings as follows. Use Gradient from white to transparent with Reflected style. Don’t forget to check the Reverse box.

Now, we get the following picture.

Step 3

Create a thin path at the bottom of the button, then select Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use the white color and press OK. Give the name of this layer with LowLight, change the Fill Opacity to 0% and the Opacity to 10%.

Give the Gradient Overlay style to the LowLight layer with gradient from black to transparent and use Reflected as style. I set my Gradient Overlay as shown below.

Step 4

Make the path a little thicker than that we created in the previous step at the bottom of the button, then click Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use the white color and press OK. Give the name of this layer with HighLight, change the Fill Opacity to 0% and the Opacity to 30%.

Give the Gradient Overlay style to the LowLight layer with gradient from white to transparent and use Reflected as style. Set your Gradient Overlay as you see in the picture below.

Step 5

Create a path on the left button as in the following screenshot. Select Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use the white color and press OK. We call this layer with the name of Emboss Stroke.

Double click on the Emboss Stroke layer, when the Layer Style window appears select Gradient Overlay. Use Gradient from black to white with Linear style, do not forget to check the Reverse box.

After completing the five steps, we obtain preliminary results as follows.

Step 6

In this step we are going to give Gloss effect on the button. The first thing to do is create a path with a shape like the picture below. Select Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use the white color and press OK. Change the Opacity of this layer to 63% and the Fill Opacity to 46%. We call this layer with Gloss.

Give Gradient Overlay style to the Gloss layer with gradient from white to transparent and Linear style. I used the settings as shown below.

So far we get a picture as follows.

Step 7

Time to make a blue background behind the arrow. First, create a path as in Step 5 but this time we make the size smaller. Select Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, fill the layer with blue #1bb3eb and press OK. Give the name of this layer with Arrow Bg.

Double-click on the Arrow Bg layer, after the Layer Style window appears select Gradient Overlay. Use Gradient from black to white with Radial style, don’t forget to check the Reverse box.

After implementing the seven steps we get a picture like this.

Step 8

Create a path like that we created in Step 7 with sizes slightly smaller. Select Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use the white color and press OK. Change the Fill Opacity of this layer to 0%. We call this layer with a Gradient Overlay.

Double click the Gradient Overlay layer to bring up the Layer Style window. Give style Inner Shadow with the settings as follows. Do not press OK because there are other styles that we will add.

Give Gradient Overlay style to the Gradient Overlay layer with gradient from black to transparent and use Linear style. Don’t forget to check the Reverse box.

Step 9

Create a new path in the form of an arrow facing down as shown below and save the path because we will use it again. Then select Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use the black color and press OK. Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay and set Opacity to 45%. We call this layer with Arrow Shadow.

Now we give Outer Glow style to the Arrow Shadow layer. Use the instructions below to adjust the composition of the Outer Glow.

Make Arrow Shadow layer as Clipping Mask from Arrow Bg layer that we created in Step 7. So the layer composition that we have like the following.

Step 10

By using the path that we created in Step 9, we created a new layer by clicking Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color, use green # b2eb42 to fill the layer and press OK. Place this layer above all layers and change its name to Arrow. Double-click the Arrow layer to bring up the Layer Style window. Now select Inner Shadow and use settings as follows.

The next style that we give the Arrow layer is the Gradient Overlay. Use Gradient from black to white with Radial style, don’t forget to check the Reverse box.

Finally we give Stroke to the Arrow layer.

After ten step we’ve completed most of the button. We just need to add a little text to complete.

Step 11

It is time we add the text ‘DOWNLOAD‘ on the button. Use the font Helvetica Rounded 10.4pt with color #9c9c9c.

Give a Drop Shadow to ‘DOWNLOAD’ text with settings like the screenshot below.

Next we add the Inner Shadow to the text.

The next style that we give to the text layer is the Gradient Overlay. Use Gradient from black to white with Linear style.

Step 12

As a final touch we add a little text that is ‘Get the latest version‘. Use the font ‘Helvetica CE Regular‘ with size 5.2pt and color #4a4a4a.

Final Result

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