Create a Realistic 3D Glass Ball in Photoshop

This tutorial will teatch you how to create a realistic 3D glass ball.

1. First create a new document that has equal width and height. I created a square with measurments of 500×500. Then choose a color black and the Bucket Tool and fill the area.

2. If your document is colored, then go in the menu to Filter – Render – Lens Flare. Let the Bightness be at 100% but set the Lens Type to 105 mm.

3. Next, go to Filter – Distort – Polar Coordinates and set it to Polar to Rectangular.

4. Then lets flip the image by going to Image – Image Rotation – Flip Canvas Vertical.

5. Now lets return back to Filter – Distort – Polar Coordinates, but this time set it to Rectangular to Polar.

6. Now choose Elliptical Marquee Tool and holding down Shift, drag from the corner of the file to the opposite corner to select the inner part. You may have to try this several times to get the perfect selection. Leave the selection on.

7. While the selection still on, copy and then paste it. Now you should have 2 layers. Go to the background layer and press the Eye to hide it.

8. Now double click on your new ball’s layer, a layer styles window will open, there choose Drop Shadow, choose the angle, distance and size. Depending which direction you’d like your ball to be, set the shadow accordingly. My ball is looked at from up to down.

And your 3D ball is ready! Also try out other colors.