Stylish Dark Navigation Box

Step 1

To get us started create a new document and then we need to have a background so select the gradient tool. Set the style to radial gradient, set the foreground colour to #b3a773 and the background colour to #877948. Fill the background with a gradient from the center outwards (left click in the middle and drag to a corner and release).

Step 2

Our second task is to make a header for the navigation box. Using the rounded rectangle tool make a rounded selection (radius set at 10 pixels) 220 by 50 pixels.

Select the gradient tool again (set it to linear) and set your foreground colour to #202020 and your background colour to #2f2f2f. Left click on the left side of the selection, drag to the right side and release.

Step 3

We are now going to be adding a shine effect to this layer. So go Layer > Layer Styles > Gradient Overlay and use the following settings (click the gradient icon to go to the second window).

Now your header should have a shine effect to it.

Step 4

Now we are going to be adding a stroke to our header. Go Layer > Layer Styles > Stroke.

Step 5

Next up is some added diagonal lines. We are going to do this by creating a new layer (Layer > New > Layer) and making a selection of 15 by 100 pixels using the rectangular marquee tool.

Fill (Edit > Fill) the selection with white (#ffffff).

Step 6

Duplicate your line and move it 20 pixels to the right (Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow x2).

Do this again so you have three lines in total.

Merge the three line layers.

Step 7

Now we are going to tilt the lines so go Edit > Transform and rotate it a bit.

Hit enter to set the transformation.

Step 8

Select the area of your header background (Ctrl + Click layer icon).

Invert the selection (Ctrl + Shift + I).

Hit delete and deselect (Ctrl + D).

Step 9

Lower the opacity of the layer to 5%.

Step 10

Add some text in your header.

I’ve also added a little icon that I’ve made a tutorial on (addFreak Logo).

Step 11

Now that we’ve finished the header, we can begin on the main section where the links will go. Start with making a rounded selection like we did for the header except it’s going to be 250 pixels high.

Fill this area with the colour #2f2f2f and deselect (Ctrl + D).

Move this layer below the header so we can see the header

Remove the overlapping bits of the lines on the header border to tidy it up a bit.

Step 12

Now we are going to be applying some layer styles to this new layer.

Layer > Layer Styles > Outer Glow

Layer > Layer Styles > Inner Glow

Layer > Layer Styles > Stroke

Now your box should be looking more like a navigation box now

Step 13

Next up we are going to be adding the text.

Step 14

We are now going to be doing the dividers – the bits between each link. On a new line make a selection of 200 by 1 pixel using the rectangular marquee tool between the first two links.

Fill (Edit > Fill) the selection with the colour #292929.

Step 15

Now using the pencil tool (with the foreground colour set to white) make a little rectangle 8 by 3 pixels in the middle of the divider. Zoom in to do this accurately