Creative Web Template

I’ll be showing you how to make a fun, creative web template in this tutorial, as shown below:
result image
(Click for larger version.)

1. The Background

First create a new document, for this tutorial I will be using 780×720. now fill the background with #f06502.
filled background
Create a new layer then with the Rectangular Marquee Tool, make a selection sized 20 pixels wide and the full height of the document, fill the selection with #fb9c03 and move it 20 pixels from the left side.
filled selection
Move the selection 40 pixels to the right and fill it again, keep repeating this.
(Note: To move the selection 10 pixels at a time, hold SHIFT and press an arrow key.)
lines
If you can’t seem to do all that, download this image, define it as a pattern then fill the background.
Merge the layers together and apply Filter > Noise > Add Noise, use a setting of 1.6.
after applying noise
Now in the Filters menu, go to Render > Lighting Effects…, change the Light type to Omni.
lighting effects settings
after applying lighting effects
(Click for larger version.)
Now we’re done with the background.

2. Content & Navigation Area

Create a new layer, now make a selection about 180×400, fill it with white (#ffffff.)
filled selection with white
(Click for larger version.)
Make another selection about 417×400 to the right, with just 3 pixels space in between them, fill the selection with white.
filled selection with white
(Click for larger version.)
If both of these white boxes are on the same layer, you can center them by
1. Selecting Everything (Ctrl+A)
2. Copying Everything (Ctrl+C)
3. Pasting Everything (Ctrl+V)
Then deleting the old layer.
Now, Zoom in a bit to the corners of the white boxes, then make a square selection around both of the boxes only 2 pixels bigger in width and height.
selections
(Click for larger version.)
On a fresh layer underneath the white boxes layer, fill the selection with a dark brown, (#7d3300.)
filled with dark brown

3. Underneath Details

In my ‘Under Bits’ group, I have the website title at the top left, the copyright down the bottom, and some circle shapes around the top middle.
underneath details
So get the text tool and add in the text. I used the font Tahoma, 11pt & 12pt, #ffffff.
Now we’ll draw these nice circles..
I made my circles by brushing on the canvas, then making some circles with the Ellipse Tool, turn it into a vector mask and added layer styles.
If you know about the pen tool and paths etc, you can do that, but if not you can make them this way…
Create a new layer and with the Elliptical Marquee Tool make a few circle selections, fill them with #7d3300.
filled circle selections
Now apply the following layer styles:
Inner Shadow
Inner Glow
after applying layer styles
Create another layer, make some rounded selections and fill with a lighter, more yellow color, I used #e99206, apply similar layer styles as the last layer.
second lot of circles

4. Sidebar Text

Now let’s add in the text in the left sidebar.
With the text tool, make a selection pretty much the entire width and height of the side bar, write out your text.
added text
For the word ‘Navigation’ and ‘Updates’ text I used Tahoma, 11pt, bold, #c8c8c8. For the links text I used the same except a darker color with an underline, #b9b9b9, and for the updates links, I used the same except non-bold and with an underline.

5. Content Area Details

You can add a small banner at the top if you want, but I can’t come up with anything good for it. All I added lastly was ‘updates’ text.
result image
(Click for larger version.)
Thanks for reading, you can also download the PSD file from here.

Return home. Published Oct 5th, 2006 under Website Design.
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5 responses

Jalpari said:January 3rd, 2007

nice tutorial i was looking this trick

Patrick said:January 4th, 2007

very nice tut, thanks :)

Jasmin said:April 30th, 2007

A very nice design. Could I change bits of it? like change the colour? and i will still credit you of course :)

Jeff said:April 20th, 2008

hey now how do i publish this dream weaver???

Rhi. said:June 13th, 2008

awesome :)

I just have a slight problem with my Photoshop
Whenever i try to color a background it says the layer is locked, how do i unlock it? :S

thanks :)