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An interesting background effect, suitable
perhaps for a Web interface or layering for a "Eurocollage"
image, can be created by separating elements of a
black-white-black gradient to individual layers, then using
reversed bevels. Dennis Garyson, a
member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals,
recently wrote to the NAPP Help Desk to discuss an interesting
technique he'd developed, using the Magic Wand to separate
elements of a gradient to layers, then applying a variety of
layer styles to those layers. Here's an application of that
technique that can be used to create the appearance of a row of
hollow pipes.
Start with a custom gradient that
alternates black and white stripes. The number of stripes
determines the number of "pipes" that will be created. With this
gradient and the Gradient tool set to the Reflected Gradient
option, we'll create six pipes.
With the Reflected Gradient option, the pattern will be repeated
on both sides of the point from which you drag. Clicking in the
center of the image and dragging to the bottom reproduces the
gradient in both the lower and upper halves of the image (or
selection).
Using Select> Color Range,
it's easy to make a selection of the white and light gray areas
of the gradient. Holding down the Shift key, you can drag the
Color Range eyedropper through one of the light stripes.
The keyboard shortcut
Command-J (Mac) or Control-J (Windows) copies the selection to a
new layer. With the layer "Background" again active in the
Layers palette, Color Range can be used again to select the dark
stripes, which can be placed on another separate layer.
Add a rather substantial
bevel to Layer 2 (the black stripes) to create basic gray/white
pipes.
Add the same bevel to the
white stripes (Layer 1) by dragging the layer effect from one
layer to the other in the Layers palette. Double-click the bevel
effect for Layer 1 to open the Layer Style dialog box. Uncheck
the Global Angle box and change the angle of the bevel 180
degrees. (In this case, one angle is at -120 degrees and the
other at 60 degrees.)
Applying the Unsharp Mask
filter to each layer produces the final look, hollow open pipes
running across the image.
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