Glossy orb - part 1

okay first off, start a new image. Most of the time my designs are in 300dpi or resolution. But you can use just regular 72dpi if its going to be on the web. Remember, the higher dpi you have the clearer and sharper it will look. For the sake of ease, Im going to be going in 72. So start a new image
(if 300 dpi go 8" x 5") (if 72 just do 800x600px) on a transparent or white background.
Next, grab your circle marquee tool and hold shift and draw circle about this size. These next few steps are called the 10 second metal trick. Its very fast and easy. Name this first circle layer "Base_orb" and fill it with #2b2b2b. You should have this.

while that circle layer (base_orb) is selected (dont de-select it) creat a new layer above base_orb and call it bevel_orb. Keeping it selected, go to select>modify>contract>2px and then go to select>feather>5px. It should be selcted still and you should be on the bevel_orb layer, and fill this layer with #5F5F5F. you should have this.

now keep your selection! Now create a new layer above your Bevel layer and name it 'Specular'.. Now grab your linear gradient tool.. Set your foreground to white and then set your gradient selector to 'Foreground to Transparent', Second one from the left on the top row. Now apply the gradient from top to bottom.

Now create a new layer above your Specular layer and name it inside_orb_base. Now draw out a selection for your orb and fill it with #3D6D9C.

now duplicate the inside_orb_base layer and name it inside_orb_inset
and drag the layer underneath the inside_orb_base layer. Now ctrl+click (select) your inside_orb_inset layer and then fill it with black. You can't see this layer right now because its hidden beneath your inside_orb_base layer, but were about to change that. Go to Edit>Free Transform and up at the top, select the little chain link icon and then put 102% in the W box, it should automatically put the same value in the H box. Press enter to confirm the transform. Now lets apply a gradient overlay to this layer. Select the little 'f' in your layers pallete and go to 'Gradient Overlay' and put these settings in: everything default except for style should be linear ange = -47 scale is 125 hit okay.