PS Bevels by hand

We agree with this writer who laments...

[Quote]
Can you give me starter points for making my own bevels? I really would like to have some hands-on control for beveling other than that layer style. (I use Photoshop 6 and Windows)
[End Quote]

Sometimes it just feels better doing it yourself...

AND... sometimes you can do a better job!

Adobe instituted the layer effects primarily for beginners and novices who don't know much about image editing so they could sell Photoshop to more people outside of the professional arena. They knew the pros already know how to do bevels... since about version #1.

(By the way, we posted our first "Bevel" tutorial for Photoshop on America Online in 1991, and it sort of follows this exact same procedure. Only the tools have changed.)

1) You have an object you wish to bevel. Perhaps a web button or some such.

If you are beveling TYPE, then be sure to use a nice heavy font, at least double the size you plan for the final art. (You reduce it later.) Also be sure to select...

Menu: Layer Menu > Rasterize > Type

2) Select the image (Must be on transparent layer, NOT the background)
(You can do this quickly by holding the Control Key (Mac: Cmd) and CLICK on the layer in the Layers Palette. This selects the object.)

Menu: Select > Modify > Border

Select the number of pixels you desire for the relative thickness of your bevel. (Depends on size, resolution, taste, etc.)

3) While still selected,

Menu: Select > Save Selection ... click 'okay'

Press Ctrl - D (Mac: Cmd - D) to deselect the selection

4) Now add Lighting

Menu: Filter > Render > Lighting Effects

In the resulting dialog box, use the "Style" pop-up menu set a spotlight from the origin you desire.

At the bottom of the Dialog, use the "Texture Channel" set to "Transparency"

Click 'Okay' or continue experimenting with the settings - toggle "Preview" button to see.

Variation: You could do the same using just the Lighting Effects but you wouldn't restrict the effect to just the outline selection you saved.

Tip: When exporting or saving for the web, you'll need to open the Channels Palette and drag the "Saved" selection to the trash, and Flatten the image.

Sidebar: There are 62 other ways to accomplish this. Photoshop gurus, send in YOUR tips for making Bevels! (You can also use the "comments" area below.)

Comments

[Dave]

Your tutorial: "PS Bevels by Hand" seems to be missing some steps. I can't seem to get it to do anything. You have the user modifying the border, saving the selection, deselecting and adding lighting effects... to what? I'm using Photoshop CS2 and in the Lighting Effects dialog box there is no "transparency" choice under "texture"; only "red," "green," or "blue".
The result is no visible effect.