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

Code Fuel

🔗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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