Hey Dev Community! 👋
I'm excited to share my first banner mockup design created entirely in Adobe Photoshop (PS). As someone exploring both design and development, I wanted to share how I made it and the Photoshop tools I learned along the way.
🖌️ Tools & Techniques I Used in Photoshop
To create this mockup, I explored several core and advanced features in Photoshop:
✅ Layers
Everything starts with layers — each part of the design (text, shapes, images) was placed on its own layer for better control and editing.
✅ Gradient Overlay
I added gradient overlays to backgrounds and shapes to give a modern, blended look with smooth color transitions.
✅ Drop Shadow
Used drop shadows for depth, especially under text and objects, making elements pop off the background.
✅ Layer Mask
I used layer masks to reveal or hide parts of a layer non-destructively, perfect for blending textures and images.
✅ Clipping Mask
Clipping masks were used to apply images and textures only within the bounds of specific shapes or text.
✅ Custom Brushes
I imported custom brushes for texture and styling, adding unique strokes and patterns to the design.
✅ Custom Shapes
Used both default and imported custom shapes for decorative icons and layout elements.
✅ Pen Tool (Path + Shape)
I practiced using the Pen Tool to create clean, precise paths and custom shapes, which helped with layout precision and design curves.
✅ Brush Size Shortcut
Quickly resized my brush using this neat shortcut:
-
Alt + Right-click + drag left/right→ adjusts brush size -
Alt + Right-click + drag up/down→ adjusts brush softness
💡 What I Learned
Creating this mockup helped me understand:
- Layer hierarchy and effects
- The power of non-destructive editing (masks & smart objects)
- How small effects like shadows and overlays can drastically improve a design
- How design tools complement front-end development
📸 Preview of the Mockup
🔗Reusable Links
Color Adobe
Dafont
Font Awesome
Mockup
Free Photos
🚀 What's Next?
This was just the beginning. I'm planning to turn this mockup into a live banner using HTML/CSS or React and explore animation options too. Open to feedback or suggestions! 🙌
Thanks for reading!
#photoshop #design #ui #mockup #webdev #learning
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