Create a Clean Twitter App Interface in Photoshop

In this tutorial we will create a clean Twitter app interface in Photoshop using layer styles and basic vector shapes. Let's get started!

This tutorial was a collaboration with Syarip Yunus

Step 1: Make New File

Start by making a new file with canvas size 1,050 x 700 pixel. You can simply set its resolution to 72 ppi.

Step 2: Preparing The Canvas

Click View > Ruler or hit Ctrl + R to reveal ruler. Right click the ruler and select Pixels to change active unit to pixels.

Step 3

Drag from ruler to canvas area to make a vertical or horizontal guide. We need an area that is 362 px wide by 589 px tall. On its inner left and right side add margin 7 px.

Step 4

Our design needs to be pixel perfect. To do this, we need to activate Snap to Pixels feature on rounded rectangle and rectangle tool. Activate the tool and select this option on the Option Bar.

Step 5

Draw a rounded rectangle with radius 5 px and color #e2e4e7.

Step 6

Add Drop Shadow and Stroke with following settings.

Step 7: Title Bar

Activate rounded rectangle tool with radius 5 px. Draw a black rounded rectangle with same width on top of the interface. Add rectangle path and set its mode to Intersect.

Step 8

Double click its layer and add Layer Style Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke with following settings.

Step 9

Draw a small circle shape with color #e43c22. We are going to use it for close button.

Step 10

Add Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke.

Step 11

Activate Move tool and then Alt-drag to duplicate the button. Change their colors to yellow and green. Make sure to change the color on Stroke to match the button's color.

Step 12

We need to add contrast to close button. We want to make sure that the user understands that this button can do dangerous action, closing the whole interface. To do this, draw small circle on top the close button with darker color.

Step 13

Draw rounded rectangle with same width and radius. Place it under the title bar. Set its color to #d2d8df.

Step 14

Add a rectangle path on top and set its mode to Intersect.

Step 15

Add Layer Style Inner Glow and Gradient Overlay.

Step 17

Activate line tool and from Option Bar set its width to 1 px. Draw a line with color #808f9e right on bottom of the shape.

Step 18

Add Letterpress effect by giving it a Drop Shadow with 1 px white shadow.

Step 19: User Profile

Let's add user's profile picture container. Draw a white rounded rectangle with radius 5 px. Make to sure to snap it to the guides we have created earlier.

Step 20

Double click the layer and add Gradient Overlay and Stroke.

Step 21

Draw smaller rounded rectangle with radius 3 px right on center of the previous shape. You can use any color.

Step 22

Add Inner Shadow and Stroke with following settings.

Step 23

Paste your profile picture on top of the small rounded rectangle shape. Hit Ctrl + Alt + G to convert the layer into Clipping Mask. This way, the picture will goes inside the shape. You can transform the size using Ctrl + T and modify its position using Move tool.

Step 24

Add Twitter user name. Add letterpress effect by giving it a Drop Shadow with 1 px size and white color.

Step 25

Add user's short bio. Give it same letterpress effect.

Step 26

Draw 1 px line with color #afbac4 right under the bio. Add Layer Style Drop Shadow to give it letterpress effect.

Step 27

Add tweets counts using Armata font. Add letterpress effect onto the texts.

Step 28: Update Button

Draw a small rounded rectangle with radius 2 px and color #eef1f4. Place it on top right corner right nest to the guide. Add following Layer Styles.

Step 29

Draw a black rectangle shape on center of the previous shape. Next, draw smaller rectangle path and set its mode to Subtract from Shape. Make sure both rectangle paths are inside the same layer.

Step 30

Draw a simple pencil icon made from simple rectangle shape. First, draw a big rectangle with mode Subtract from path. Second, draw a tall rectangle for pencil main body. Third, draw a rectangle and rotate it 45°. Finally, draw a rectangle with mode Subtract from Shape to cut the pencil body.

Step 31

Rotate pencil icon we have just created and place it above previous rectangle shape.

Step 32

Draw another rectangle under the profile area with color #e2e4e7.

Step 33

Add Inner Glow and Gradient Overlay with following settings.

Step 34

Draw 1 px line on bottom of the shape with color: #a8b1ba. Add 1 px white Drop Shadow.

Step 35: Icons

Use Pen tool to manually draw a bubble icon. Set its color to #adb9c4. Add Layer Style Inner Shadow, Outer Glow, and Gradient Overlay.

Step 37

We also need to differentiate the button for hover condition. Duplicate the bubble shape and then change its color to #3c8cf8.

Step 38

Add Drop Shadow, Outer Glow, Inner Glow, and Gradient Overlay.

Step 39

Draw a black rectangle behind the bubble speech icon. Add Gradient Overlay.

Step 40

Reduce Fill to 27%.

Step 41

Add layer mask and paint its upper shape with black.

Step 42

Repeat the steps to make more icons.

Step 43

Add 1 px vertical line with color #aab6c2 between first and second icon. Add Drop Shadow to give it letterpress effect. Add layer mask and then paint its upper and lower to fade the line to its background.

Step 44

Alt-drag to duplicate the line. Place them between each icon.

Step 45: Search Box

Activate rounded rectangle with very big radius. Draw a search next to the last icon. Add Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Outer Glow, and Stroke.

Step 46

Inside the search area, combine circles and rounded rectangle to draw a magnifier icon with color #8696a8.

Step 47: Tweets List

Draw a rectangle shape with color #e2e4e7. Add Inner Glow and Gradient Overlay.

Step 48

Draw 1 px line on bottom of the shape with color #a8b1ba and then add letterpress effect

Step 49

Draw a white rounded rectangle with radius 3 px. Add Gradient Overlay and Stroke.

Step 50

Inside the shape draw smaller rounded rectangle with radius 1 px and color #202020. Add Drop Shadow and Stroke.

Step 51

Paste profil picture on top of the rounded rectangle shape. Hit Ctrl + Alt + G to convert it to Clipping Mask. The picture will goes inside the shape.

Step 52

Use Type tool to add user name, tweet content and time information. Make sure to add contrast to link and mentioned Twitter account.

Step 53

On right lower right corner of the tweet area, draw a circle shape with color #aab7c3. Then, draw a star using Polygon tool and set its mode to Subtract. We will use this as a favorite button.

Step 54

Use same techniques to draw reply button.

Step 55

Place all tweets inside a group layer by selecting them and then hit Ctrl + G. The, duplicate it by Alt-dragging the group layer. Edit the picture profile and its text to change them.

Step 56

Duplicate the application basic shape and then change its color to black. Add a rectangle on top of it and set its mode to Intersect. Add Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke.

Step 57

Add API information on the bottom bar. Add letterpress effect using Drop Shadow.

Step 58

Draw 12 rounded rectangles shapes in different sizes. Manually, arrange their position and then rotate them. Add letterpress effect.

Step 59: Scroll Bar

Draw a tall white rounded rectangle with radius 1 px. Place it next to the guide. Add Stroke.

Step 60

Draw shorter rounded with same radius on the slider bar. Set its color to #8b9eb3 and add Layer Style Inner Glow and Stroke.

Step 61: Add More Guides

We have done with the main interface. Next step is making update status and upload photo window interface. First we need more guides to help us designing. See picture below to see the required position.

Step 62: Update Status Window

Start by drawing a rounded rectangle with radius size 5 px and color #e2e4e7.

Step 63

Add rectangle path on left side of the window. Hit Ctrl + T and then rotate it 45°. Make sure the path is set to Add to Shape. Add Layer Style Drop Shadow and Stroke.

Step 64

Duplicate basic shape and change its color to black. Add rectangle on top and set its mode to Intersect. Add Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke.

Step 65

Draw a small circle shape on top right corner of the title bar. Set its color to #707070. Add two rounded rectangles on its center and set their mode to Subtract. Rotate both rounded rectangles 45°. This close button is used for normal condition.

Step 66

Duplicate the button and then change its color to #a4a4a4. This one is used for hover condition.

Step 67

Duplicate basic shape and change its color to black. Add rectangle path on lower area and set its mode to Intersect. Add Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke.

Step 68

Draw a blue rounded rectangle with radius 3 px on right corner of the interface. Add Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke.

Step 69

Add text Post on the button. Add letterpress by giving it 1 px dark Drop Shadow.

Step 70

Duplicate the button and its text. We will make new one for hover condition. All we need is increase the opacity of its Gradient Overlay to 40%.

Step 71

I suggest you to put each button in a separate group layer. This way, the layer structure is organized better.

Step 72

Draw a | character to be used type indicator. Add remaining character on bottom left corner.

Step 73: Image Upload Window

Repeat previous step to draw image upload interface.

Step 74

In center of the window, draw a rounded with radius 3 px and color #d9dde1. Next, add smaller rounded rectangle path inside previous shape. Set its mode to Subtract.

Step 75

Add some horizontal rectangles and set its mode to Subtract. Select all the rectangles and then click Distribute Vertical Center and Distribute Horizontal Center icons.