Render a Realistic CD in Photoshop
Materials
Before beginning, download the layer styles we will be using throughout the tutorial:
Step 1: Create a Circle Shape
Start with a large document, roughly 1000x1000px. Choose a dull, dark background fill (I’m using #3f454c).
Using the Ellipse Shape Tool (Learn about the Drawing and Type Tools in Photoshop), draw a circle in the center of your document. While creating the circle hold Shift to constrain proportions. Make the color of your shape black.
Step 2: Cut out a hole in the shape
Using the Path Selection Tool 
select all the anchor points from the ellipse shape. Copy and Paste the anchor points.
Transform the freshly pasted points (Ctrl + T): Holding Shift + Alt , scale down the anchor points to form a small circle at the center of the larger circle.
Click Enter to apply the transformation.
While the anchor points are still selected, click Subtract From Shape Area in the options bar. This will subtract this smaller ellipse path from the larger shape creating an empty circle within the larger shape.
Step 3: Apply Plastic Style
Apply the premade Plastic Layer Style included at the beginning of this tutorial to the Ellipse shape layer (Learn more about Layer Styles).
Step 4: Adding the Shiny Reflective Data Layer
On a new shape layer, repeat the process in steps 1 & 2 to create another Ellipse with a hollow center. Leave some padding along the outer edge, and inner circle of your original circle.
Keep the Layers Aligned
It’s important to keep all of the shape layers perfectly aligned along so that there is always equal padding around the shape edges. This can be done easily. When creating the new shape layer, simply duplicate the original shape, use the path selection tool to select the anchor points, and scale the anchor points while holding shift and alt. This will ensure the anchor points are always scaled around the exact same central point.
Apply the Data Layer Style included at the beginning of the tutorial to this shape layer.
Step 5: Add the Print Layer
We need to add just one more shape layer using the steps shown above. Repeat the process shown to create the first two shapes to create a base for our CD Label.
Apply the Print Layer style included at the beginning of this tutorial.
Step 6: Prepare the Label
At this point, we could easily just draw on our label, but editing it would be a real pain.
Let’s say we have a premade graphic we want to use on the label. At this point, we’d have to paste the graphic onto the CD, cut out the parts of the graphic that are outside of the label area, and then be sure not to go outside that design area for future edits. But what happens if we need to reposition that graphic or make more advanced changes to it?
We would have to go copy paste that graphic again and hope we place it better the next time.
Luckily, there is a really easy way around this problem. We can use Masks that allow us to work with sets of layers while only parts of the layers are shown. The rest of the layer data is there, it’s just hidden and can easily be manipulated.
Let’s do it already.
Create a new Layer Set. I’ll call mine “CD Label”.
Click on the path thumbnail in your Layers Palette to select the path for your Label Shape. Once Selected, Copy the path (Ctrl + C).
Select the Layer set you just created (“CD Label“) and paste (Ctrl + V) the layer path. Go to Layer > Vector Mask > Current Path. This will create a mask that will only be applied to this layer set, and will hide anything outside of the path.
Step 7: Add Graphic
This is the part of the tutorial where you go and do your own thing. Either find a graphic you’ve got lying around, or create some new artwork for your CD Label.
Whatever you do, make sure that your graphics stay inside of the masked “CD Label” layer set. This will ensure that your design doesn’t go outside of the assumed printing area.
Download the PSD
Show Us Your CD’s!
Let’s see your own unique CD Designs! We may even feature some of the communities Designs if there are nice ones to pick from!
61 Comments
vist for basic training of photoshop
Flag as inappropriatehttp://training4free.co.cc/Basic%20training/Basic%20training.html
I love this tutorial I design album and cd covers for rappers and singers. Is it okay for me to use you design as a template when im doing cd covers because it’s actually great to show them how there actual cd covers look
Flag as inappropriateGreat reading! Thanks for sharing135
Flag as inappropriateGreat reading! Thanks for sharing128
Flag as inappropriateGreat reading! Thanks for sharing123
Flag as inappropriateThanks for your post , Great post.
Flag as inappropriatecool!…
Flag as inappropriateit is too reality,
Flag as inappropriatenow, try it ,
thx
Oh, wow, just saw this tut, very nice, Dave.
I always wondered how you can make the reflections.
Flag as inappropriateOne big thing that is realy missing is explanation how to create those cool layer styles that are used in this tut. I think it should be even a part of this tutorial. but it isn’t so it would be greate if u make a tut for making those layer styles and dont forget to post a link as a comment to this tut or add link to the tut text so it’ll be easy to fallow.
thx
Flag as inappropriateHi David
Flag as inappropriateThe tutorial is great but from step 6 its a little bit confusing. How do I create a new layer set?
hi David,
Flag as inappropriatei try to open the CD layer file i downloaded, but i can’t. It says “Could not place the document because no parser or file format can open this file”. Could you help me with that?
thanx~and great tutorial~
Thanx David, pretty useful, awesome!
Flag as inappropriateanother great technique on tutorial9!
Flag as inappropriateI was trying to download the Layer Style and its just a bunch of code. I’m on a mac but I didn’t think that mattered. Any help? Yes I have tried to right click and download but it will not. It will only save as a link.
Flag as inappropriateHey Chris, try this: After the “code” finished loading, select the url in the address bar and hit option+return. That should download the .asl file.
Flag as inappropriatevery nice and has good output result to it too :)
Flag as inappropriateawesome tut david! as always, all hail. :D
Flag as inappropriateawesome tut man! really awesome!!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tut! Exactly what I needed. Thanks a million!
Flag as inappropriateLoved it! Thanks again for great lesson in photoshop :)
Flag as inappropriategreat tut. I will try it out. thank you.
Flag as inappropriateAw, this is all kinds of cool. Thanks David!
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial could save tons of time for a mock-up or a comp. Shared the love via twitter: http://twitter.com/chadengle/status/1154102366
Flag as inappropriateI really enjoy Your posts, showing that You just need very strong will to get to the point!
Btw, I already knew and tried hard at academy to create realistic cd case, but I just like the way You are presenting all Your tutorials! Love the detail!
Flag as inappropriateNice. Thanks for the tutorial yo
Flag as inappropriatewow, thanks. really simple tutorial but great result
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Flag as inappropriateFollow me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/manhunter__
thanx for the tutorial
Flag as inappropriateand also for the open file
Really nice tutorial! great job!
Flag as inappropriateHi David, This is an amazing tut! Good job!!
Flag as inappropriate@Dan: Seems to be working fine Dan – have you tried right clicking and saving? Otherwise perhaps I’ll add in a step detailing that (it’s pretty easy, just requires some clever gradient work.)
@caleb: Thanks caleb! As far as I know, WordPress integrates those automatically.
Thanks everyone!
Flag as inappropriateDavid this is really cool. I’ve enjoyed your work very much. How do you get you pictures embeded into your email subscriptions? Could you let me know? I am really struggling with this and can’t find the information.
Flag as inappropriateim having trouble downloading the CD layer styles? any kind of tutorial on how to create the data layer on your own?
Flag as inappropriateI never knew you could put layer masks on groups! Thanks for the tips as always!
Flag as inappropriateExcellent tutorial. I usually stray from tuts b/c they’re either hard to follow (poorly written) or they’re cheesey but this one owns. Great work!
Flag as inappropriateNice Work !
Flag as inappropriateThis is awesome, I already have a few ideas with this. Thanks for the tutorial!
Flag as inappropriateWahoosa! Another tutorial9 tut. I can say, that your tutorials on this page definately are the highest-quality-tutorials on the web. Well, you compete with Colis from PSDTUTS.
Really: Easy to understand, great use of techniques and great outcome.
I’d love to see a bit more of them – right now they’re not really coming regularly.
Love it,
Flag as inappropriateLBrother
Nice tut David. I really liked the image demonstrating layer masks.
Flag as inappropriateThanks folks, very glad to see the positive response to this tutorial so far :) Can’t wait to see some of you try it!
@Fire G: I’ll have an article up soon enough for doing that as well mate ;)
Flag as inappropriateReally like the data layer style, very realistic.
Flag as inappropriatePretty sexy David (the tut that is xD). You forgot to mention for the less Ps knowledged how to get the text to circle around like that.
I’ll make up a CD later today and comment it in.
Flag as inappropriateAwesome tut, nice work David!
Flag as inappropriate