varying bevels (need a channel in a beveled layer)

[rtarver]

First post, and darn it if it isn't a question. Been trolling the forum and internet for a tutorial on how to get a bevel with one setting, to cut into a bevel with another setting. I've been working on the graphics for the interface to my home theater. Mostly I've been using stock material from the control software. I bought a new car recently and want to use the center console for inspiration. How do I manage this like the attached photo? I'm a 4 of 10 on the photoshop experience scale.

Thanks for anyone that can help out.

[edit] Okay, think I figured it out. Two different layers. Works well for straight cuts, but large bevels stress the look and you lose the perspective, because the narrow cut doesn't curve... would have to work that manually.

 

[IamSam]

Something like this?

These were done very fast so they're not perfect.

 

[rtarver]

That's pretty darn close... you posted up about the time I was editing my post. How did you do the channels?

Getting closer...

 

[IamSam]

That's pretty darn close... you posted up about the time I was editing my post. How did you do the channels?

There are so many ways to do this but I will walk you through my process. Let me first say that Illustrator is a much better program for graphics like these.

But, if you only have Ps, it can be done.

This is a simple version an it's not meant to reproduce your example so I left out curves and angles. I won't go into any details unless you have questions. The shapes are made with shape tools or pen tool set to shape.

I start with a background of a black shape. This is the base of the channels to answer your question.



Next I created a section that would hold the buttons (so to speak).



Then I created the buttons on individual layers.



I wanted each of the buttons to have two different bevel effects.
This can be accomplished in other ways but I used a simple technique.

I added a bevel to one button with a layer style and copied it to the rest.



I then highlighted the button layers, duplicated them, and then merged them.
By doing this I preserved the bevel and can now add a new one which now looks like this.



I then copied the layer style to the section holding the buttons and tweaked it a bit.




All that's left to do is to add some text......



There are so many other little tweaks you can do with this, the possibilities are endless.

 

[rtarver]

Thanks Sam,

Your buttons clearly look better than what I created. I'll work on your technique and then see about applying it to a redesign.

For now, I muddled through with something similar. This is more or less a proof of concept. I'll need to refigure the space layout, clean up some lighting, work on content placement, but it's pretty close and at least has a consistent design. The second one is a previous version I put together that was... not so clean but an exercise in glow lighting?