One very useful trick to learn in creating PhotoShop graphics is the ability to simulate depth in your images. 2D art can often look too 'flat', so this tutorial will help add some depth to your images by simulating a focus area of the image - separating the foreground from the background.

Try Server Intellect for Windows Server Hosting. Quality and Quantity!

In this example, we will start with the following very simple image:

At the moment, it just looks like three numbers of different sizes, all the same distance away from the viewer - very flat. The first thing we will do is to create some shadows for them. Simply choose the Elliptical Marquee Selection tool, and select a small oval underneath the number 1, like so:

Next, we will create a new layer and fill with black. We will repeat this for the other two numbers. Then we can properly align them to directly beneath and central to our numbers. Then for each one, we will do a Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. A value of 3 should be good, and then reduce the opacity of the layer to 75% or so. The smallest may need 100%, or less blurring, or both. We should be left with something like this:

Next thing we will do is raise the 2 and the 3 higher up the document, to make it look as though they are sitting further back than the number 1.

Server Intellect assists companies of all sizes with their hosting needs by offering fully configured server solutions coupled with proactive server management services. Server Intellect specializes in providing complete internet-ready server solutions backed by their expert 24/365 proactive support team.

Finally, we will add some blurring to the number 1 and the number 3 to focus on the number 2. We add Filter > Blur > Gaussian to both, 1 with a value of 1.5 and 3 with a value of 2. We also move them closer together:

As a finishing touch, we can add a background to add to the illusion:

If you're looking for a really good web host, try Server Intellect - we found the setup procedure and control panel, very easy to adapt to and their IT team is awesome!

Guys, please take a look at Server Intellect for Windows Web Hosting. I'm very pleased. You will be too. Take a look and see for yourself!