How to Create an Image Slider using Photoshop & jQuery

By in Coding. Updated on .

Undoubtedly, image slider is one of the most commonly used elements in the business web design, due to its relatively large size that is able to draw the visitor’s attention once they arrive the site. Though the web has started to rethink about the usability of the image slider, it’s still considered as a must-learn for the newcomer of the web design industry.

In this web design tutorial, we will learn to create custom image slider above using Photoshop, which you can preview the final result from here. Not only will we illustrate it in Photoshop, we will also turn it into a functional design by converting it into HTML/CSS and adding jQuery for its awesome sliding effect.

Sounds like a lot of complicated bits involved, but in fact it’s pretty straightforward and very easy to understand, let’s get started then!

More interested about adopting an image slider and customize it on the way? Here are posts dedicated for you.

Getting Started

For this tutorial you will need the following resources:

Part I – Designing Image Slider

Step 1: Setting Up Background

Start by creating a new file with size 1000×700 px. Fill background with color #efc89e.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Add Pattern Overlay using free pixel pattern from PSDfreemium.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 2: Slider Base

Activate Rectangle Tool. Create a rectangle with size 940×450 px. You can use any color, it doesn’t matter.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Double click layer to open Layer Style dialog box. Add Layer Style Drop Shadow, Outer Glow, and Stroke.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

This is the result. The slider base now has a nice frame with soft shadow behind it.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 3

Add a photo and place it above the slider base. Hit Ctrl + Alt + G to convert it into Clipping Mask and insert the photo into the slider.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 4: Ribbon

Draw a rectangle shape with color #f4e1ae to be used as a ribbon.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Double click the shape’s layer and activate Bevel and Emboss, Gradient Overlay, and Pattern Overlay with following settings.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

This is the result after adding Layer Styles.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 5

Let’s add paper texture onto the ribbon to make it more realistic. Place texture on top of the ribbon shape. Convert it to Clipping Mask by pressing Ctrl + Alt + G.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 6

Let’s paint some shadows and highlights onto the ribbon. Create new layer above the ribbon. Paint black on lower part of the ribbon. Convert it to Clipping Mask (Ctrl + Alt + G) and then reduce its Opacity to 10%.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 7

Repeat previous process to upper part of the ribbon. But this time, add highlight by painting white and then reduce its Opacity to 50%.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

 

Step 8: Stitches

Activate Pencil Tool. Hit F5 to open Brush setting. Set brush size to 1 px and increase the spacing until we get a dotted line on the preview area.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 9

Draw 1 px black line on top of the ribbon. Reduce its Opacity to 20%. Duplicate layer by pressing Ctrl + J. Hit Ctrl + I to invert its color. Increase Opacity to 50%. Activate Move Tool and then press down arrow and left arrow once to nudge it.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Here’s the result viewed at 100% magnification.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 10

Repeat this process to draw other stitches on another side of the ribbon.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 11: Add Ornate Shape

Set foreground color to gray. Use soft brush with size 1 px to draw an ornate shape. Be creative, you can use any shape you like. Next to it, draw a 1 px line and then erase its outer edge using a soft Eraser Tool. Duplicate the line, flip it horizontally, and place it on the other side.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 12

Select all ornate layers and merge it into one layer by pressing Ctrl + E. Duplicate shape and then place it under the original ornate shape. Hit Ctrl + I to invert its color. Activate Move Tool and then press down arrow once to nudge it 1 px down.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 13: Photo Information

Type photo data inside the ribbon.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 14: Navigation

Next, we’ll draw some circles for slide navigation. Draw a circle shape with color: #8d877c on lower part of the ribbon.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Add Inner Shadow using following settings.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

This is the result. The circle is turning into a shallow hole now.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 15

Hold Alt and then drag circle shape layer to duplicate it.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 16

Let’s set active condition on one of these links. Select one of the circle and change its color to #bebbb5. Add Inner Shadow, Gradient Overlay, and Stroke.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 17

Hold Ctrl and then click on the ribbon base thumbnail in the Layers Panel. Create new layer under the ribbon and fill it with black. Activate Move Tool and hit left and down arrow a few times.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 18

Soften it by performing Gaussian Blur filter. Click Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 19

Place ribbon shadow above slider frame layer. Convert it to Clipping Mask by pressing Ctrl + Alt + G.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 20

Reduce shadow Opacity to 40%.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 21

Paint ribbon shadow on background. Reduce its Opacity to 20%.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 22

Use Pen Tool to draw back part of the ribbon. Set its color to #b68f63. Place it behind the slider.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

This is the result viewed at 100% magnification.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 23

Duplicate the shape we have just created and place it behind the top of the ribbon. Flip it vertically.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Step 24: Final Result in Photoshop

This is our final result in Photoshop. Next, we will continue to code it into a functional slider.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Part II – Converting Into HTML/CSS

Step 25 – Setting Up Files

Create a new folder called My-Photo-Slider. Inside this folder, create a new blank HTML document (index.html), blank stylesheet (style.css), and folder for images (img). We also need to include jQuery library and Nivo Slider plugin to the folder. As we use HTML5 markup, we need to add an IE hack to enable HTML5 elements on IE 8 or below. We’ll use a script called Modernizr to accommodate IE.

Step 26 – Basic HTML Markup

Open index.html in your favourite code editor. Define the DOCTYPE (we use HTML5), head elements (where we add the title of the documents and link CSS and JavaScript (jQuery Library, Nivo Slider, and Modernizr). We also add a div wrapper (to center the layout), header element, and slide wrapper.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
	<head>
		<meta name="author" content="Aris FM" />
		<meta charset="UTF-8" />
		<title>My Photo Slides</title>
		<link href="style.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
		<script src="jquery-1.6.1.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
		<script src="jquery.nivo.slider.pack.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
		<!--[if IE]>
			<script src="modernizr-2.0.min.js"></script>
		<![endif]-->
	</head>

	<body>
		<div id="pagewrap">
			<header>
			</header>
			<div id="slidewrap">
			</div>
		</div>
	</body>
</html>

Step 27 – Slice PSD

Open the PSD mockup and slice out all of the necessary images. For the picture, let’s grab following pictures from sxc.hu (login required, if you don’t have an account yet, you can sign up for free). Resize all images to 920×430 px. Put all the images into the image folder (img).

  1. Rinjani by Ciaciya
  2. Stupa by Agnes Sim
  3. Tally by Nino Satria
  4. Offerings by Timo Balk
  5. Uluwatu-Bali by Aris Wjay

Step 28 – Create Header

Add these following code between <header> and </header>.

<h1>
	<a>My Photo Slides</a>
</h1>

Now let’s add style to the header. We also add the style for the body and wrapper elements. Put all styles into the stylesheet, style.css.

/* Basic Styling */
body {
	background:transparent url(img/bg.jpg);
	font:15px/2 'Adobe Caslon Pro', Georgia, Serif;
	margin:0;
	padding:0;
}
a {outline:0 none}
#pagewrap {
	margin:120px auto;
	padding:0;
	position:relative;
	height:100%;
	width:960px;
}
header {
	display:block;
	float:right;
	margin-right:40px;
	width:192px;
	z-index:52;
	position:relative;
}
h1 {
	background:transparent url(img/separator.png) no-repeat center bottom; /* Add a separator line below the title */
	font-size:18px;
	font-weight:bold;
	height:70px;
	line-height:1.1;
	margin:55px 10px 0;
	text-align:center;
	text-transform:uppercase;
}

Step 29 – Add Photo Slider

Now we’re going to add code to main part of our document, the photo slider. Let’s add the photos first. Place these following code between <div id="slidewrap"> and </div>.

<div id="slider">
	<img alt="Gallery Picture" title="#caption1" src="img/sample.jpg" />
	<img alt="Gallery Picture" title="#caption2" src="img/sample1.jpg" />
	<img alt="Gallery Picture" title="#caption3" src="img/sample2.jpg" />
	<img alt="Gallery Picture" title="#caption4" src="img/sample3.jpg" />
	<img alt="Gallery Picture" title="#caption5" src="img/sample4.jpg" />
	<img alt="Gallery Picture" title="#caption6" src="img/sample5.jpg" />
</div>

And then add the ribbon and the caption for the photos.

<div class="ribbon"></div>

<div id="caption1" class="nivo-html-caption">
	<span class="title">Photographer:</span><br/>
	Enrico Nunziati<br/>
	<span class="title">Location:</span><br/>
	Namib desert<br/>
	<span class="title">Model:</span><br/>
	Dead Vlei<br/>
	<span class="title">Date:</span><br/>
	Mar 18, 2011
</div>

<div id="caption2" class="nivo-html-caption">
	<span class="title">Photographer:</span><br/>
	Lina Dhammanari<br/>
	<span class="title">Location:</span><br/>
	Lombok Island, Indonesia<br/>
	<span class="title">Model:</span><br/>
	Mount Rinjani<br/>
	<span class="title">Date:</span><br/>
	May 8, 2008
</div>

<div id="caption3" class="nivo-html-caption">
	<span class="title">Photographer:</span><br/>
	Agnes Sim<br/>
	<span class="title">Location:</span><br/>
	Borobudur, Indonesia<br/>
	<span class="title">Model:</span><br/>
	Big Stupa<br/>
	<span class="title">Date:</span><br/>
	Jun 12, 2008
</div>

<div id="caption4" class="nivo-html-caption">
	<span class="title">Photographer:</span><br/>
	Nino Satria<br/>
	<span class="title">Location:</span><br/>
	Taman Safari Indonesia<br/>
	<span class="title">Model:</span><br/>
	Tally Giraffe<br/>
	<span class="title">Date:</span><br/>
	Aug 16, 2009
</div>

<div id="caption5" class="nivo-html-caption">
	<span class="title">Photographer:</span><br/>
	Timo Balk<br/>
	<span class="title">Location:</span><br/>
	Ubud, Bali, Indonesia<br/>
	<span class="title">Model:</span><br/>
	Offerings<br/>
	<span class="title">Date:</span><br/>
	Dec 20, 2009
</div>

<div id="caption6" class="nivo-html-caption">
	<span class="title">Photographer:</span><br/>
	Aris Wjay<br/>
	<span class="title">Location:</span><br/>
	Uluwatu-Bali<br/>
	<span class="title">Model:</span><br/>
	Beautiful Beach<br/>
	<span class="title">Date:</span><br/>
	Jul 20, 2011
</div>

Now, if we open index.html in the browser, we have something like this:

tutorial-nivo-slider-44.jpg

Step 30

We still need to fix the slider’s appearance using CSS.

#slidewrap {position:absolute;}
#slider {
	position:relative;
	height:auto;
	width:920px;
	border:10px solid #fff;
	box-shadow:0 0 5px #444;
	margin:10px;
}
.ribbon {
	background:transparent url(img/info-bg.png) no-repeat;
	height:482px;
	width:192px;
	position:absolute;
	right:40px;
	top:-3px;
	z-index:50;
}
#slider img {
  position:absolute;
  top:0px;
  left:0px;
  display:none;
}

This is what we have now.

Currently, we have linked Nivo slider plugin but we haven’t hooked up the script. So let’s hook up the script by adding these JavaScript functions between <head> and </head> element.

<script type="text/javascript">
$(window).load(function()  {
$('#slider').nivoSlider();
});
</script>

Step 31: Slider Style

The final step is adding the style of the slider.

/* The Nivo Slider styles */
.nivoSlider  {
	position:relative;
}
.nivoSlider img  {
	position:absolute;
	top:0px;
	left:0px;
}
/* If an image is wrapped in a link */
.nivoSlider a.nivo-imageLink  {
	position:absolute;
	top:0px;

	left:0px;
	width:100%;
	height:100%;
	border:0;
	padding:0;
	margin:0;
	z-index:6;
	display:none;
}
/* The slices and boxes in the Slider */
.nivo-slice  {
	display:block;
	position:absolute;
	z-index:5;
	height:100%;
}
.nivo-box  {
	display:block;
	position:absolute;
	z-index:5;
}
.nivo-directionNav {display:none!important}
.nivo-html-caption  {
  display:none;
}
.nivo-caption {
	position:absolute;
	right:20px;
	text-align:center;
	top:130px;
	width:192px;
	z-index:60;
}
.nivo-caption p {margin:0}
.nivo-caption .title {font-style:italic}
.nivo-controlNav {
	position:absolute;
	bottom:10px;
	right:20px;
	height:15px;
	width:192px;
	text-align:center;
	display:block;
	z-index:51;
}
.nivo-controlNav a {
	background:transparent url(img/button.png) no-repeat center center;
	display:inline-block;
	height:14px;
	width:14px;
	text-indent:-9999px;
	cursor:pointer;
}
.nivo-controlNav .active {
	background:transparent url(img/button_active.png);	
}

Final Result + Download

This is our final result, click here to see the working demo.

Create an Image Slider in Photoshop and Code it Using Nivo Slider jQuery

Can’t achieve certain step? Here are the result’s PSD file & complete project for you to test and play with.

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