Create an Elegant/Vintage Compass Icon in Photoshop

Learn how to create a Elegant & Antique Compass Icon in Photoshop!

Final Result

1. Create a new document that's 600×600 pixels. Double click on the background layer to go into Blending Options and put in the Gradient Overlay below.

2. Select the Ellipse Tool and draw a large circle while holding down the Shift Key (to keep the shape perfect). Double click on the circle layer to go into Blending Options and put in the options below.

3. Draw another smaller circle and place it in the center. Double click on the layer to go into Blending Options and put in the following:

4. Again draw a smaller circle and place it in the center, double click into Blending Options and put in the following:

5. Duplicate the smaller circle by dragging it to the new icon layer. Remove the Blending Options & make the circle white. Set the Blending Mode to Multiply so the circle is invisible.

6. Download & open this Vector World Map, to make it larger open it in Illustrator (if you have it), select a map with the Selection Tool and drag an edge up while holding down the Shift Key. Copy & Paste the Map directly over the invisible circle layer, right click the image layer & Create Clipping Mask. This will crop the map down to the invisible circle.

7. Double click on the map image to go into Blending Options and put in the Color Overlay below:

8. While holding down the CTRL Key click on the invisible layer thumbnail (circled below), to activate the shape. Using Elliptical Marquee Tool select the bottom half of the activated shape while holding down the ALT Key to remove it. With the shape still highlighted go to Select > Modify > Contract & Contract by 10px.

9. Create a new layer and fill in the highlighted shape white. Set the opacity to 35%.

10. Click on the Ellipse Tool & set it to Paths (circled below) & draw a circle (while holding down the shift key). Select the text tool and click on the circle path, using the '|' sign repeat it  around the circle path.

11. On the Ellipse Shape go back into Shape Layers Mode. Draw 2 white circles (like below) and set the Blending Mode to Multiply. Double click into Blending Options and put in a Stroke.

12. Get this Compass Click Art and place it on the canvas. To make it smaller press CTRL+T and drag a corner down while holding down the Shift Key. Set the Blending Mode to Multiply so the white background disappears.

13. Press CTRL+' to bring up the Grid. Elsewhere on the canvas, using the Pen Tool draw 2 parts of the arrow like below using the grid as a guide. Holding down the CTRL Key select the 2 arrow layers and drag to the new layer icon to duplicate. With the duplicated arrow layers selected go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Place the duplicated arrow on the right side and change the colours to below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.  Put the arrow layers into a folder, and place the arrow on the center of the Compass.

15. Using the Ellipse Tool draw a small circle and place in the centre of the arrow. Double click into Blending Options and put in the Gradient Overlay below.

16. For the drop down shadow create a new layer and draw an oval shape using the Elliptical Marquee Tool and fill it dark grey. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and make it 9.8.

17. Optional: You can get this Antique Map and paste it on the background of the compass. Rotate the map by pressing CTRL+T and rotate an edge. Set the Opacity to 30%.

Final Result