Folder Icon in 5 Minutes

July 4, 2007

I often see folder icons in web applications, so I thought I would write a quick and easy tutorial for creating one in Photoshop.

Create a rectangle with a tab using a gradient similar to mine.

Folder Icon

Create a new layer, then make a lighter colored rectangle above.

Folder Icon

Skew (edit > transform > skew) the second rectangle to an appropriate angle.

Folder Icon

Then do the same to the bottom rectangle and give the top rectangle a white outline. I did this by simply duplicating the layer, moving the bottom one 1 pixel to the right, and 1 pixel up, then increasing brightness so it looks almost white.

I also fixed the tab in this stage.

Folder Icon

Add a light shadow and you’re finished!

Folder Icon

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