Which Method Is Best?
Although a little cumbersome, creating a Gradient Fill layer, adding a
Pattern layer style, then creating a Vector Mask seems to be the best
method possible. This can be used to create flexible, scalable and editable
single-layer UI elements with texture. As a bonus, Gradient Fill layers can be
dithered and so also produce the highest quality results (Gradient layer
styles cannot be dithered).
We’ve created some examples below and included the source document so
that you can see how they were built.
Download the PSD (.zip)
Rounded Rectangles
Rounded rectangles, or “roundrects” as QuickDraw so fondly calls them, are
standard fare on a Web and interface designer’s utility belt. They’re so
common that it’s rare for Web pages or apps to not contain a roundrect or
two. Unfortunately, pixel-locked rounded rectangles can actually be fairly
difficult to draw in Photoshop. (By pixel-locked, I mean that every edge falls
on an exact pixel boundary, creating the sharpest object possible.)
Experienced Photoshop users will probably already know one or two ways
to draw a roundrect. Hopefully, after reading this article, they’ll also know a
couple more, as well as which methods produce pixel-perfect results.