This tutorial will teach you how to create a simple 3D looking logo. It uses mainly layer effects and a few filters, and is aimed at beginners. It uses everything that comes standard with Photoshop, so no new textures will be needed. The result is a textured ball which could be used as a logo design.

The end result should look like this:

And with text:

Step 1

Begin by hitting Ctrl + N and creating a 1000 X 1000px canvas to work on. Create a new group and call it ‘Logo’. Draw a circle of roughly 450px in the middle of the canvas and name it ‘Ball’. This will serve as the main body for the logo.

Step 2

The first thing to do is create a reflection on the underside of the ball. Duplicate (Ctrl + D) the layer ‘Ball’ and make the fill opacity ‘0’. Apply a radial gradient with the settings below, and move the layer as shown. Make sure that one side of the gradient is transparent using the opacity settings in the Gradient Editor. This will give a sense of light reflecting from a surface up onto the ball.

Step 3

Now create the light shining on the ball. For this select the layer 'Ball' and apply the layer effect Inner Shadow with these settings. The colour code is #FFFFFF (white).

Now put on an Outer Glow with these settings. The colour code is #FFB80D. This will come in handy later when the ball is against a dark background.

Step 4

The ball needs to have texture. This is quick and easy to do. Duplicate (Ctrl + D) the layer ‘Ball’, rename it to ‘Ball Texture’ and remove the effects. Move the new layer below ‘Ball' and apply a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

To properly bring out the texture of the ball change the Fill Opacity of the layer ‘Ball’ to 95%. The result is a nice matte texture.

Step 5

The ball now needs a design. Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N), put it between the layer ‘Ball’ and the one above it. Now using the Custom Shapes tool draw a shape over the ball.

Step 6

This step is going to meld the shape and the ball. Firstly, make sure your shape is roughly in the middle of your canvas. In the top menu go to Filter > Distort > Spherize. Apply the filter with Mode set to Normal and the Amount at 100%. This will give your shape the illusion that it around a sphere. Hit Ctrl + T and rotate the shape clockwise until it looks right.

Next apply these Layer Effects to your shape:

The Drop Shadow gives texture around the shape. The colour code is #ACACAC.

The Inner Shadow will make shadows inside the shape and give it depth. The colour code is #5A7100.

The Inner Glow will bring out highlights opposite from the shadows of the Inner Shadow. The colour code is #FDFF30.

The Gradient Overlay will give the main colours of the shape. The colour codes are, from darkest to lightest, #9FC700 and #CCFF00.

The result should be a shape that looks sunken into the ball.

Step 7

The ball needs to look as though it is resting on a surface. To accompany the Outer Glow we did in step 3 we will use the same colour (#FFB80D) to create a surface glow. Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and place it under the ‘Ball Texture’ layer. Using the Brush Tool select a brush with a diameter of about 300px with 0% Hardness. Apply 3 times in a close horizontal line to the underside of the ball.

Next apply a Gaussian Blur. In the top menu go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, apply the filter with a radius of 50px. Next hit Ctrl+T and squash the blur to give it a sense of perspective.

Step 8

To make the ball really stand out apply a dark Gradient Overlay to the background layer. Convert your background to a layer and the layer effect. Apply at an angle with the brightest colour (The light source) coming in from above. The darker colour will bring out the Outer Glow applied in Step 3.

To make this logo really stand out try applying it some text on a bigger canvas.