Photoshop :: WindowsXp Effect (tutorial)

1) Create a new image

2) Take pencil tool and draw a straight line of 1 pixel, then draw another 31 pixels lower
The color is 102/102/126

3) Take the magic wand and select the part between the two lines.

4) Set forground color to 168/167/191 and background color to white

5) Take gradient tool, hold shift, move from top to bottom and release your mouse

6) Deselect and make a new selection. Make it 3 pixels high and move it so you got the dark blue line and one light blue line above your selection.

(close-up)

7) Take the gradient tool again, take the gradient that sais foreground to transparent and make a gradient in the selection.

8) Take pencil tool again. Take color 188/189/205 and draw a line above the bottom blue line
Take color 228/227/227 and draw another line above the one you just drew.

(close-up)

Now if you want some color variations just go to Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation and play with the settings.