How to Create a Glass Orb

1. Create a new Photoshop document, about 4" X 4"in size by selecting File > New. Select the "Transparent" radio-button for "Content" to make the background transparent. Also make sure the "Mode" is "RGB Color". Click OK.

2. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and draw a circle while pressing on the Shift key. The circle should display "walking ants" around its circumference.

3. Select a non-white foreground color. I choose RED for this exercise.

4. Fill the selected circle with the foreground color by selecting Edit > Fill > Foreground Color.

5. Select the Move Tool (V) (the arrow with black tip).

6. Duplicate the Background layer by grabbing it and then pulling it over the "Create a New Layer" icon at the bottom of the Layers list.

7. Select the Background layer and lock it by clicking the Layer Lock check-box on top.

8. Select the Background Copy layer. Right-click and select Layer Properties from the pop-up menu. Change the name of the Layer to "Orb Base".

9. While the Orb Base layer is selected, click the "Add a Layer Style" icon at the bottom of the Layers list. From the pop-up list, select "Inner Glow."

10. In the Layer Style dialog box that displays, select the following settings:

Blend Mode: Normal.

Opacity: 75%

Color: select a dark color close to Black.

Size: Around 100-150, to taste.

11. Click OK.

12. Click CTRL + D to deselect the selection circle (the "marching ants").

13. Create a new layer on top by clicking the "Create a New Layer" icon at the bottom of the Layers list.

14. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and draw an ellipse towards the top of your circle-sphere.

15. In the tool box, click on the Default Background-Foreground Colors icon to shift the colors back to Black and White.

16. Click on the color-switching double-arrow to make White the foreground color.

17. Select the Gradient Tool (G).

18. From the Properties Bar on top of your screen, select White to Transparent gradient (second from top-left).

19. While the top layer is still selected, click and pull the gradient from top towards the bottom to create a white-to-transparent gradient on your sphere.

20. Select the Move Tool (V) (the arrow with black tip).

21. Click Ctrl + T to activate the Free Transform function.

22. By pulling on the corners of the transform square, reshape your gradient to something like this:

23. Hit Enter to register the new shape. Click CTRL + D to deselect the selection circle (the "marching ants").

24. And you have your "Glass Orb."

BONUS STEPS -- How to Place an Object Inside the Glass Orb?

1. While still in Photoshop, open any picture file you want. Let's say we are using the photo of a metro train...

2. Make sure you have selected the Move Tool (V) (the arrow with black tip).

3. Click on the new photo and drag it on top of your Glass Orb window. This will import the new picture by automatically creating a new layer on top. Let's say the new photo is just too big and it needs to be resized.

4. While new layer is still selected, Click Ctrl + T to activate the Free Transform function.

5. You will see the selection square around the picture.

6. On the top properties bar, enter an appropriate percentage value (let's say, "50") for W (Width). Click on the chain icon to make sure the H (Height) will be scaled down by the same percentage as well. Make sure when you are finished the square picture covers the glass orb completely.

7. Press Enter to finalize the scaling. Click CTRL + D to deselect the selection circle (the "marching ants").

8. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and draw a circle while pressing on the Shift key. The circle should display "walking ants" around its circumference.

9. Center the selected circle over your square picture.

10. Press Ctrl + Shift + I to inverse the selection.

11. Press Delete to delete the corners of the square.

12. Click CTRL + D to deselect the selection circle (the "marching ants").

13. Make sure you have selected the Move Tool (V) (the arrow with black tip).

14. Center your round picture over your glass orb.

15. Click on the downward arrow right next to the "Blending Modes" field on top of the Layers box (which displays "Normal" by default).

16. Select "Overlay" and Bingo! Your picture is captured inside the glass orb.

Feel free to experiment with other Blending Modes and Opacity settings.

Try for example "Difference" blending and 50% Opacity.