Tutorial: Create the OS X 'Aqua' look in Photoshop

Sarah Green writes "I Heart New York: X Icons, offers a handy tutorial on how to use Photoshop to create that Aqua look that appeals to so many Macintosh OS X users. They've also got a bunch of free Pop-Culture icons for download: Andy Warhol, Bewitched, Gumby, Tintin, Radiohead etc. Worth a look."

Photoshop action

[JackSim]

Also check out http://www.pixeljerk.com/.

They have a Photoshop action for creating Aqua buttons.

Re:Photoshop action

[toblak]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but as soon as I started using OSX, I was searching the web for GUI themes to get rid of the "Aqua look".

Re:Photoshop action

[mshurpik]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but as soon as I started using OSX, I was searching the web for GUI themes to get rid of the "Aqua look".

No, you're not in the minority. Just a minority among people who own apples.

uhh?

[paradesign]

Shouldnt they be doing something original?
Aqua is on like every site i go to these days. Hell, even /. uses it, jeeze!

And then there's IB...

[PythonOrRuby]

Just create the interface you're looking for(buttons and such) in Interface Builder, "test" the interface, and take a screenshot. Voila!

Aquatint

[Anonymous Coward]

go to versiontracker and search for Aquatint. it makes it very easy (and a lot less TIME COMSUMING) to make aqua stuff. all you do is supplu an image with a alpha, and the app does the rest, comes out very nice!!

fFunny ..

[skotte]

I have a couple gimp scripts to do this in the blink of an eye!
http://isweb6.infoseek.co.jp/computer/wingimp/file s/script/ [infoseek.co.jp]

Thanks man !

[Gopal.V]

I was looking around for a GIMP plugin to do just that !

How did was it done on Slashdot?

[xophos]

I noticed a few days ago, that Slashdot looks "aquatic" every time there is an osx story.
Does anyone know who did this look and how?
It looks by far better than the original.

Re:How did was it done on Slashdot?

[mshurpik]

I noticed a few days ago, that Slashdot looks "aquatic" every time there is an osx story.
Does anyone know who did this look and how?
It looks by far better than the original.

No, it does not look better. It looks the SAME. There are still rounded corners, three columns, and massive clutter - all hallmarks of the inept web designer.

The only difference is gray lines, fading, and a metal-polish filter. Arbitrary post-processing. Your mac-addled brain can't tell the difference.

Re:How did was it done on Slashdot?

[xophos]

i meant better than the original osx not better than the original slashdot.

Adobe has a good selection of Aqua actions

[mkelley]

Go to xchange.studio.adobe.com and search for "aqua" and there are about 33 different actions.

Doris Day??

[swein515]

That's it- I have to abandon OS X.