Episode 5: Photoshopping Apple’s Aqua Wallpaper

By Ash Davies
August 31, 2009 from Graphic Design,Podcast

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Episode 5: Photoshopping Apple's Aqua Wallpaper [ 4:48 ] Download

What’s this blue hyperlink? I think it’s the Podcast Version.

When Apple first released OSX, the benchmark for computer design was set to a new level. This was largely because of their Aqua theme.

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to recreate the famous Aqua wallpaper in just a few minutes using photoshop.

Once you’ve created your image you might like to fiddle with the hue, saturation and brightness of your background layer. I find that adjusting these properties (especially dragging the brightness right down) adds new dimensions to these wallpapers and allows you to create fluent and unique designs. This tutorial certainly has a lot of potential.

Here’s the version I created in the tutorial:
apple-aqua-wallpaper

Good luck!

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  • http://www.appleverve.wordpress.com Rav Wick

    This is truly, a great achievement, i’ve always wanted to know how to create one of these wallpapers, and you have provided and for that i am forever grateful. I look forward to your future tutorials. By the way, i created one myself if you want to see:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/appleverve/

    Thanks again!

  • http://www.juliestoddard.com Julie Stoddard

    I’ve been trying to find ways to create web 2.0 graphics. I absolutely love this tutorial as it gives me a better technique to try.

  • http://web-design.my nadia

    Awesome tutorial to learn. Very easy and well defined . thanks for sharing this nice post.

  • http://www.photoguides.net/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=1007&height=400&width=370 muhamdnaeem

    V nice tutorial, But i want to download HQ video, ITS NOT DOWNLOADING, Pls reply

  • http://www.photoguides.net/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=1&height=400&width=370 Ash Davies

    Sorry the link does appear to be broken.
    Unfortunately though I’m away at the moment with just an iPod touch and McDonalds Free Wifi so I’m unable to fix the link yet.
    For now though you could try going to the Vimeo page and downloading it from the bottom right.
    Sorry for the inconvenience

  • http://www.photoguides.net/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=1007&height=400&width=370 muhamdnaeem

    Thank you very much, same problem with 3rd episode

  • http://www.photoguides.net/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=1055&height=400&width=370 goran181

    Thank you, nice tutorial!

  • http://www.photoguides.net/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=1938&height=400&width=370 hash94

    hi…very nice tutorials…tried ur neon effect text..and was successful…but in this tutorial i have a problem…when in first u make a curve by pen tool around the photo…a new layer comes in u layer list..and where as i draw with the pen and it comes on background layer not on a new layer..so i can change the colour…so can u explain me what i am doing wrong?

  • Pingback: Photoshopping Apple’s Aqua Wallpaper | iWeb University

  • http://www.photoguides.net/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=6530&height=400&width=370 JunioR

    I just cant get it right.. i got my painted background, but when i start drawing with my pen tool, it doesnt make a new layer. any idea?

  • Sele

    Same problem here.