In this tutorial I will show you how to make a cool glass orb that looks great in interfaces. You can see what you will be making in the picture below.

First off make a new image, and color the top potion a gray color, and the bottom a darker gray. This is just to make the bg look a little more interesting

Next use the circle selection tool to make a nice circle in the middle of your image. When selecting your circle make sure that you hold the shift button so that the circle is made with perfect proportions.

Now, make a new layer.

Select your gradient tools from your tools panel, if you do not see it then right click on the paint bucket tool to reveal it.

After you tool is selected change your foreground color to a dark orange, and your bg color to a light orange. You can use the same colors as seen below.

Now use your gradient tool to make to fill your circle selection. Make sure that the dark orange is on the top.

Now, make a sew layer and with your circle selection tool select another small circle like the one below.

Change your foreground to white, and take out your gradient tool again.

When you take out your gradient tool you will notice a new set of options on the top of your screen. Click on the small arrow next to the gradient to reveal a new set of gradient option. Select the second one as shown below.

Use your tool to fill your small circle with your gradient. Make sure that the strongest white is near the top,

Now center your white fading circle to the center of your orange one as shown below.

Now, make a new layer once again.

Now, on your layers pallet to select your orange circle. Hold the Ctrl button and click on the layer with the orange circle. This should give you an outline of the shape.

While selected go to edit>stroke. Change the color to black, and have the width 1px. Leave the other options alone. This should give you a nice outline of your shape.

Now, to give your orb a bit more of a 3d shape we are going to darken the bottom part of your circle.

Make a new layer right above the layer with the orange circle on it. Use the same method as above to select the shape of your circle. (If you don't remember, all you have to do is hold the Ctrl button and click on the layer with the orange circle on it from your layers pallet)

Now go to edit< stroke and use the settings below.

Now go to filter>blur> Gaussian blur and move the arrow left and right until you are satisfied with how blurred it is. Yours should look like the image below by now.

 

Well that is all for now! You now no how to make a nice glass orb for any interface. Below is an example of some things you can do with your shapes.