[Greyham]

So here it is , you wanted it so I made it (ok not that many people wanted it )

Before I start one word of warning its not very detailed yet so you need to know the basics of Photoshop to do this, and what some tools are called.

Changing the Background of the RTM Sidebar Icon

Step 1
Open the RTM Sidebar icon in Photoshop.
Here it is if you didnt already have it:
 sidebarnh5.png (60.52K)
Number of downloads: 114

Step 2
Open up the image you want to use to replace the RTM Aurora image, i used another wallpaper from Vista.
 2.JPG (173.9K)
Number of downloads: 78

Step 3
Re-size the width of it to 256px (same width as the icon)
 3.JPG (59.04K)
Number of downloads: 60

Step 4
Press Ctrl+A to select the whole area then copy it and paste it into the RTM Sidebar icon
 4.JPG (26.32K)
Number of downloads: 49

Step 5
Reduce the Opacity of the layer to something so you can clearly see both layers. (80% is good)
 5.JPG (43.88K)
Number of downloads: 67

Step 6
Move the layer to the top left had side inside corner
 6.JPG (26.81K)
Number of downloads: 59

Step 7
Re-size the image so that the wallpaper aligns with the left and side of the screen, do this by right clicking and selecting ‘Free Transform’ .
 7.JPG (29.7K)
Number of downloads: 77

Step 8
Then again right clicking select ‘Perspective’ then using the mouse make the bottom of the wallpaper align with the inside bottom of the screen as shown below. After you do that you will need to right click and select scale to make the image as wide as it is on the screen
 8.JPG (29.69K)
Number of downloads: 70

Step 9
Right Click again this time selecting skew, aligning the top of the image
 9.JPG (29.1K)
Number of downloads: 64

Step 10
The next part to do is VERY important to do properly and is quite hard.
Firstly hide that layer.
Using the Pen tool, draw lines from all the corners on the notes on the right hand side like shown below
 10.JPG (182.76K)
Number of downloads: 80

Step 11
Using the Direct Selection Tool, adjust the lines and add anchor points so they outline the notes and images like shown below.
 11.JPG (69.41K)
Number of downloads: 58

Step 12
Clicking on ‘Paths’ right click on the one you just made and select ‘Make Selection’
 12.jpg (172.88K)
Number of downloads: 53

Step 13
Press (while you have the selection) Ctrl+Shift+n to create a new layer, name it whatever you want, then select the Fill tool and fill it with whatever colour you like.
 13.JPG (23.72K)
Number of downloads: 49
 13.5.JPG (37.73K)
Number of downloads: 45

Step 14
If your image is showing white bits using the brush tool just go over it a bit, also just to make sure you didn’t go over it lower the opacity to chack
 14.JPG (28.35K)
Number of downloads: 46

Step 15
You have nearly finished it now, simply press and hold Ctrl while selecting the ‘preview’ of the layer with the fill, this will create a selection, now select the image you want as the background image and press delete
 15.JPG (113.69K)
Number of downloads: 49

Step 16
It should now look like this:
 16.01.JPG (78.36K)
Number of downloads: 43
All you have to do now is put the opacity back to 100% and hide the filled path layer.
So the final result looks like this:
 16.02.JPG (50.57K)
Number of downloads: 50

And once you save it, this is what it will look like:
 1.png (70.44K)
Number of downloads: 91

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Doing the above more than once
Once you have done this changing the background is very simple just do steps 1-10 (getting the image properly aligned) once you have done that just place it one above the image you used to replace and then just right click the new one and select 'Create Clipping Mask' this is how i made mine without going insane
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Adding the Glass Overlay

Step 1
using the pen tool creat another path like shown:
 1.JPG (76.46K)
Number of downloads: 51

Step 2
Using the Direct Selection Tool , add anchor points and curve it like it is on the icon.
 2.JPG (44.73K)
Number of downloads: 46

Step 3
Creat a new layer and fill it (any colour)
 3.JPG (97.75K)
Number of downloads: 42

Step 4
Ctrl+ Click on the layer you made the new background and then right click in the selection and choose 'Select Inverse' then select the glass overlay layer and press delete
 4.JPG (51.48K)
Number of downloads: 42

Step 5
Right Click the Glass Overlay layer and select Blending Options and use the following settings:
 5.JPG (57.57K)
Number of downloads: 56

Step 6
Go to Gradient Overlay and do the Following:
 6.JPG (50.58K)
Number of downloads: 52

Then click on the gradient 'preview' and do the following options:
On the left set the opacity at 85% and make the colour white
On the right select white at 10%
It should look like this:
 7.JPG (47.36K)
Number of downloads: 74

[Peteski]

really glad you made this for the millions of people that wanted it

[Stevey]

Thanks buddy! A quicker way is to use the magic wand tool and remove the background then replace it, but your tutorial is excelent and much more detailed than that tho buddy, and for that....pinned Cause everyone wants to know this

[Mikey™]

Now that is a great tut there my friend. I will have to try this this weekend! Thanks again buddy!

[Stevey]

Here is what I came up with, I cut out most of your steps and did it my way and came up with this beauty:

Attached File(s)

•  joejoe_sidebar.png (54.3K)
  Number of downloads: 93

[ears1991]

Uber tutorial will try soon

[Greyham]

magic wand tool and remove the background then replace it

Actually thats how I did it but i thought it would be simpler to use this way. but yes stevey is right you can do either, please post your results

[Stevey]

Actually thats how I did it but i thought it would be simpler to use this way. but yes stevey is right you can do either, please post your results

Here is one I have done so far

http://www.joejoe.or...=...ost&id=1795

I will do some more soon, I used the magic wand cause I can't understand your steps cause I am not that good at PS, hehe. I plan to change the bacground from XP to Vista as soon as I have a screeshot the fourm from vista without areo.

[''El'' Buga™]

EDIT:

Attached File(s)

•  Bliss_Sidebar.png (61.13K)
  Number of downloads: 21
•  Sidebar_BSOD_Icon.png (47.29K)
  Number of downloads: 38

[Dark Chili]

LOL BSOD RTM Sidebar Icon! now how do I put it in a sidebar?

[j03x2]

Nice tutorial ! Great work !

[Greyham]

Lol, LOVE the BSOD

[Cr1t1cal®]

ROFL @ blue screen of death

[Stevey]

That is just genuins!

[Greyham]

Who wants a Video Tut? Might be easier to understand
 glass_overlay.png (4.69K)
Number of downloads: 64
Theres the Glass Overlay requested by Stevey , i will improve the tut later this week and please tell me if you want a video tut

[Vishal Gupta]

Gr8 Tutorial!

[Stevey]

I have made a BSOD, joejoe.org fourm (On Vista) and a 3D Flip one, thanks greyham for the Vista screenys!





If anyone wants any more done without having to do it there selves I will be happy to do it

[ears1991]

Nice work guys, video tut would be awesome the making bit i can do but then i get confused with the fine tuning of it or w/e lol

[Greyham]

Ok video tutorial is coming

DeviantArt PLEASE Comment

[Greyham]

Um, any ideas on a good video capture program?