Create a Nice Looking Navigation Column

1. Begin with a white canvas, at least 640x480 pixels. Duplicate the layer (Ctrl+J) and then right click the new layer and go to blending options. Add a default black/white gradient. Select OK, then bring down the opacity to around 20%.

2. Now select the rounded rectangle tool (U), select 'fill pixels' setting at the top bar, radius 30 pixels, and color #008aff. Draw a vertical rectangle, something like this:

3. Next use the rectangular marquee took (M) to select a portion of the rectangle. Do not select part of the rounded edges.

4. Free transform (Ctrl+T) the selection by dragging the dottom of the transform box down, to overlap the rounded edges.

5. This is what you should have:

6. Still on the same layer, go to blending options. Add the following:

7. Now it's starting to look good

8. Ctrl+click the current layer to select it.

9. Now select the rectangular marquee tool, with the 'intersect with selection' setting.

10. Drag over the part where you want the column heading text to be. This will be the area that it a light shade of blue.

11. When you un-click you will have something like this:

12. Next, create a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) with the selection still active. Go to the paint bucket tool tool (G) and will the selection with white. Lower the opacity to around 40%.

13. On the new layer add the following blending options to it:

14. You will get this:

There ya go! Now you can add your favorite text to it.

Final Product: