WMP Orb

Step 1.

Start a new document that is 300 x 300 in size, and fill the background with the following gradient:

The colors used are: #84AAD9 and #A4BFEA

Step 2.

Next create a new layer, and make a a selection like pictured bellow:

and fill this selection with #FFFFFF (white)

next set the opacity of this layer down to 31 percent, go up to Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur with a setting of 2 pixels

here's what you should have

Step 3.

Create a new layer, get out the elliptical marquee tool hold down the Shift key (to make a perfect circle) and make a selection like this in the center of the canvas:

Fill this selection with #5B87CE Do not deselect!

Step 4.

Create a new layer. Set your foreground color to white (#FFFFFF) Get out your brush, with these settings:

now color in the bottom portion of the selection like so:

It doesn't have to be perfect, just similar to what I've got.

Now go to Filter->Blur->Motion blur, and apply these settings:

Here's what you should end up with:

Drop the opacity of this layer down to 85 percent. Press 'V' on your keyboard (to get out the move tool) and press the up arrow on your keyboard 4 times. This will move the blur up slightly

Next go to Filter->Blur->Gaussian blur with a setting of 5:

Here's what you should have now:

Step 5.

Next hold down the Ctrl key and click on the lay with the blur circle in it:

This will make a selection of the circle again for us.

Goto Select->Modify->Contract with a setting of 7 pixels

Create a new layer on top of everything, and make a white (#FFFFFF) to transparent gradient fill on the circle like so:

Step 6.

Now make a selection like so with the elliptical marquee tool. This is done basically by making a HUGE oval selection that overlaps the entire canvas.

Step 7.

Now go to Select->Inverse to invert the selection, and tap delete on your keyboard.

Next go to Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur with a setting of: 1.5

Drop the opacity of this layer down to 88 percent, this is what I've got so far:

Step 8.

Now double click on the layer with the blue circle:

and apply these blending options, the color used is #08397E:

Drop Shadow:

Step 9.

Now the only thing left to do is to add your icon onto the orb. You can put letters, symbols or whatever. Here I put a triangle to symbolize a 'play' button. I also resized the image down to 50x50 for use as an icon:

Good luck and thanks for reading this tutorial.