Welcome to this tutorial!
In this tutorial i will explain you how to create a Great looking 2.0 navigation bar!
I'm using Photoshop CS3 ;)
So lets get started!

Step 1

Ok first we are going to create a New Document
So go to File -> New... and i use these settings for this tutorial:



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Step 2

Now we are going to create a bar using the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U on your keyboard).
Now we want the corners to be round right, but how do we do that?
Well if you grab the tool, you see a Settings Bar on the top of your screen, and you will see a input box Radius this allows you to make sure you get great and smooth looking corners.



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Step 3

Now while you have this tool selected draw a menu bar shape like this:
DO NOT hold shift! Or you won't be able to draw a shape without losing the ratio.



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Step 4

Now, black looks kinda plain, so we are going to add a nice gradient.
So right click the shape layer and clicke Bleding Options.



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Step 5

Now a new window will pop-up.
Click the gradient option and use these settings:



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Step 6

Thats allready looking much better!
Now its time to add a nice looking white shade.
So first we need to make a selection, CTRL-CLICK(PC) - CMD - CLICK(MAC) the shape layer.
This should create a selection:



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Step 7

Now we want to resize the selection, make it a bit smaller.
So go to Select > Modify > Contrant, now a new window will popup.
Enter the amount of pixels you want the selection to shrink:



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Step 8

Now Right Click the selection and click Fill, now select the color white(#FFFFFF).



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Step 9

As you can see the selection is still active! Leave it!
Again go to Select > Modify > Contrant and use the same settings as STEP 7.
Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the selection down a bit



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Step 10

Now hit Delete and you will see only a short amount of white is remained.
Now lower the Opacity to 15%



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Step 11

Now its time to add some text, grab a nice font.
I use Myriad Pro, 16pt and AA: Smooth.
Now right some buttons on the bar like this:



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Step 12

That looks ok, but it could use some more details, so right click the text layer and click Blending Options
Lets apply a Drop Shadow with these settings:



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Step 13

As you can see it looks pretty good, but i think it could use lines between the menu buttons.
So grab the Pencil Tool and draw a small line like this: (color: #0071e0)


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Step 14

Now that looks a bit boring so we are going to add a motion blur!
Got to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur:



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Step 15

Now that looks ok right? But we can do more! Draw a new line, next to the one we just created.
But this time use the color #48a2f7



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Step 16

That looks good right!?
Now just dublicate those lines and place them between every button! :)

Result!


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I hope you liked this tutorial!
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