-I have an effect similar to this in my header. If done correctly this tutorial simulates a "vu meter" or to the audio newb the meter that shows spikes on different bars to display noise information. Fun tutorial requires Photoshop and Image Ready
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-Start with a file 300 x 100 px.
-Fill the background layer with whatever color you want your interface to be. I chose this burnt orange, ugly now but it looks cool later.
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-Go to Edit>Preferences>Guides, Grid and Slices... or Ctrl + K then Ctrl + 6
-Set the grid to every 100 pixels with 8 subdivisions
-To turn the grid on go to View>Show>Grid or hit Ctrl + '
-Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to make a shape like this
-After you have made your shape you can turn the grid off again.
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-In the layers pallete click on the channels tab and then hit the button that says Save Selection as Channel.
-Now in the Channels Palette click on the channel name Alpha 1
-If you still have an active selection box hit Ctrl + D to Deselect.
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-Now go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur...
-and use these settings:
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-Next go to Image>Adjustments>Levels... or Ctrl + L and adjust it to these settings.
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-Your image should now look like this.
-Now hold Ctrl and click on Alpha 1 to load its selection.
-Now go back to the Layers Pallete and make a new layer
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-Once you have the new layer Fill your selection with a medium grey (Alt + Backspace)
-Then go to Selection>Modify>Contract... and contract the selection 15 pixels
-Hit backspace to clear the selection, then hit Ctrl + D to deselect
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-Apply this layer style to your layer.
-After you hit ok make a new layer and position it below your layer with the grey "border" on it. Then Select the border layer and go to Layer>Merge Down or hit Ctrl + E
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-Next go to Image>Adjustment>Curves... or Ctrl + M
-Adjust it to these settings:
-The Tutorial Continues on page 2
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