This tutorial will teach you how to create a beautiful dark menu that actually looks different from the usual normal web 2.0 styles displayed across the web while keeping a minimalistic, clean feel.

Begin by representing a new file of 800x600 px and 72 dpi. Select then the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill the new file with black color.



Next we shall choose the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) with a radius of 20 px to draw the menu’s panel and then press Alt button while using again the same tool, but this time with a radius of 10 px to cut out 4 openings the same way demonstrated next picture:



Select the next parameters by making a mouse click on the processed layer on the layers’ panel. The layer’s parameters: Fill 0%
Blending Options>Inner Glow



Blending Options>Gradient Overlay



Gradient’s parameters:



Blending Options>Stroke

 



Using the earlier applied Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) (radius of 10 px), it’s possible to represent the indicator of switching on menu’s button. The layer’s color is #EB2127



Make three copies of the indicator’s layer, changing the color of the copied layers on #58595B.
Select Free Transform option to place the copies the same way shown below:



Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool (G) (radius of 15 px), try to draw a highlight on the indicator representing the switching on button.



The layer’s parameters: Fill 0%
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay