Before we start on the layout i just have to say this tutorial was made for people with basic knowledge of photoshop.

(Some examples are zoomed at 1600%).

Custom Patterns

First Pattern (Black scanlines)

  1. Make a new document 4x4.
  2. Make a selection as shown here (Rectangular Marquee Tool):
    Pattern 1 selection at 1600%
  3. Fill the selection in with black.
    1. Now Edit > Define Pattern.
    2. Name the pattern.
    3. File > Close.

Second Pattern (White scanlines)

  1. Make a new document 3x3.
  2. Make a selection as shown here (Rectangular Marquee Tool):
    Pattern 2 selection at1600%
  3. Fill selecton in with white.
    1. Now Edit > Define Pattern.
    2. Name the pattern.
    3. File > Close.

Template

  1. Make a new document 600x400 (white background).
  2. Fill the background layer with the color #F5F5F5.
    1. Make a new layer.
    2. Make a selection on the left and right sides 3 pixels thick (single column marquee tool).
      Left, right selections
  4. Fill it with the color #CCCCCC.
    1. Make a new layer.
    2. Make a selection 5 pixels thick and a pixel away from the layer before it (single column marquee tool).
      5 pixel selection (left) at 1600% 5 pixel selection (right) at 1600%
  6. Fill the selection with any color, i used white.
  7. Add a layer style to that layer (Pattern Overlay, Stroke: 1px, Black). Use the pattern we made for "first pattern".
    1. Make a new layer.
    2. Make a selection 7 pixels thick and a pixel away from the layer before it (single column marquee tool).
  9. Fill the selection with any color, i used white.
  10. Add a layer style to that layer:

    Gradient Overlay

    • Gradient should be the default black to white linear.
    • Make sure Reverse is checked.
    • Change the style to Reflected.
    • Make sure Angle is set to 0.

    Stroke

    • Width: 1px.
    • Color: black.
  11. Duplicate that layer, and put on the left to match the one on the right.
    Parralel layers
  12. Make a new layer and drag down the layer's palette until it's on top of the background layer.
  13. On that same layer, make a selection 7 pixels thick (single row marquee tool).
  14. Fill it with any color—i used white.
  15. Add a layer style to the layer (Gradient Overlay, Stroke: 1px, Black).

    Gradient Overlay

    • Gradient should be the default black to white linear.
    • Make sure Reverse is checked.
    • Change the style to Reflected.
    • Make sure Angle is set to 90.
    • Click on the gradient and make sure the location for white is at 40%.
    White at 40%

    Stroke

    • Width: 1px.
    • Color: black.
  16. Make a new layer. Make sure it's under that last layer you've edited.
    1. Make a selection by 600x20 (rectangular marquee tool: fixed size):
      600x20 selection
    2. Make sure it's in pretty close.
      Zoom in to the 600x20 selection
  18. Fill this in with the color #DDDDDD.
  19. Add a layer style to this layer:

    Pattern Overlay

    • Use the pattern defined in "Second Pattern" in the beginning of this tutorial.

    Stroke

    • Width: 1px.
    • Color: black.
  20. Make a new layer—keep it under the layer we edited before it.
  21. Make a selection big enough to cover the upper portion after the border.
    Banner selection
    1. Choose the gradient tool—make sure you choose a medium-toned color. For example, i chose #66BBDD as the foreground color.
    2. Choose white for the background color.
    3. Drag from the far top near the middle.
      Gradient marks: start (top) and end (bottom)
  23. Add a layer style to that layer:

    Pattern Overlay

    1. The black scanlines "First Pattern" from the beginning of this tutorial.
    2. Opacity: 10%.
    After applying the style, change the opacity of the layer to 65%.
    1. Make a new layer.
    2. Make a selection from the top: 600x35.
      Gloss selection
    1. Grab the gradient tool
    2. make the foreground color white.
    3. And on the gradient tool, make sure the linear gradient fades out, not to a color. Should be the 2nd option.
      Second gradient option.
  26. With the gradient tool, drag from the top of the selection, to the bottom of the selection.
    1. Grab the type tool (horizontal).
    2. Type the site's name—choose a nice matching font (i chose Artic).
    3. Add a layer style to the font:

      Drop Shadow

      • Opacity: 100%.
      • Angle: 90 Degrees.
      • Distance: 2px.
      • Spread: 5%.
      • Size: 3px.

      Outer Glow

      • Opacity: 75%.
      • Solid color.
      • Technique: Softer.
      • Spread: 0%
      • Size: 5px.

      Bevel and Emboss

      • Style: Inner Bevel.
      • Technique: Smooth.
      • Depth: 1000.
      • Direction: Up.
      • Size: 0px.
      • Soften: 0px.
      • Angle: 90 Degrees.
      • Altitude: 30 Degrees.
      • Highlight Mode: Screen.
      • Highlight Opacity: 100%.
      • Shadow Mode: Multiply.
      • Shadow Opacity: 20%.

      Stroke

      • Width: 1px.
      • Color: black.
  28. Slice it up, save for web: html and images, and we're done.
Simple Tech Template final