Photoshop is a very powerful aid to your creativity, but only if you know the basics of interface creation. To use an analogy, its a bit like driving a car - you can be familiar with the tools at your disposal (i.e. the brake, accelerator, gear stick, etc), but unless you actually know how to use them properly, you'll be going nowhere fast. Likewise, knowing all the metal effects & shiny plastic techniques in the world won't get you very far if you miss out on the basics. In my opinion, one of the most basic skills you MUST pick up to be an effective interface designer is learning how to make complex shapes. So, without further ado, here is my tutorial on making one of the more complex shapes around - a handgun grip |