This is a simple tutorial on how to achieve a CS4 style logo in Photoshop.

I used Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended. To start off you will need this Photoshop CS4 logo.

First create a document 1000×500 pixels and resolution 300 dpi. (File>New).

Create a new layer. (Layer>New>Layer).

Then place the Photoshop CS4 logo on the right of the document. (File>Place).

Now select the Gradient Tool (G). On the left Gradient Colour select the colour from the top middle of the CS4 logo. On the right select the colour from the bottom of the logo. Make sure Opacity is 100%.

Set the Gradient to Radial and draw a straight line in the empty space on the left starting from the top edge in the middle to the bottom edge in the middle.

Your result should look something like this.

It already looks like the CS4 logo background and if you want to you can leave it like this, or enhance it by creating new layers and trying different gradients of different opacity, colour and angle. Another way is to select the Brush Tool (B) and choose a Soft Brush. Set Opacity to around 30% and choose a colour you want to enhance. After a few adjustments my Layers look like this.

To set up the text on the logo first we have to make a few Guides to keep the text in the middle of the logo.

To make a new Guide go to View>New Guide. Make a Horizontal Guide with distance 0 mm. Then select the Move Tool (V) and drag the blue guide line to the point where ‘P’ starts on the CS4 logo. Make another Horizontal Guide and now drag it to the point where letters ‘Ps’ on the logo finish at the bottom. Your guides now should look like this.

Now make another Guide but make it Vertical. Make sure Rulers is ticked in the View>Rulers. Drag your guide approximately the same distance into your logo as where the letter ‘P’ starts on the CS4 logo. Then create another Vertical Guide and do the same from the other side. It should look like this.

Lock your guides (View>Lock Guides) and download the Highway Gothic fonts and install them. Save your work as a .PSD file and restart Photoshop if you have to.

Create a new layer and select Horizontal Type Tool (T). Type ‘Dz’ (or your own combination of letters) with the ‘Highway Gothic’ font with text size of around 80 pixels. If the two letters are too far apart click the ‘Character’ button at the side. Set the spacing between characters to -80.

After that just align your text within the box created by the guides.

If you are happy with position and size of your text, go to Blending Options (Layer>Layer Styles>Blending Options). And set the following:

You can change those dimensions if you wish for your own pressed text effect.

You are almost done. Now select Crop Tool (C) and highlight the area of your logo on the left. Then right-click your mouse and press Crop.

Here is the final product again

You can download the PSD file of this tutorial before cropping.

Here is another logo idea using the same background and layer styles:

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