How To Create A Retro Style Joypad Using Photoshop

In this straightforward guide, we’re diving straight into creating a retro-style joypad using Adobe Photoshop.

Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out with Photoshop, this tutorial will walk you through each step of the design process.

We’ll focus on creating a sleek and functional representation, eliminating any unnecessary complexities. So, let’s jump in and start designing your vintage joypad!

How To Create A Retro Style Joypad Using Photoshop?

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Step 1 – Creating The Joypad Basic Shape

Create a new (Ctrl + N) document 800 x 600 pixels with a background of your choice. Select the “Ellipse Tool” (U) with the shape layers option selected then create a medium sized ellipse.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Still with the “Ellipse Tool” (U) selected press the plus sign on the keyboard (+) which will add to the shape area. Now create another ellipse on the opposite side, this time make the ellipse slightly smaller.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Next select the “Rectangle Tool” (U) then press the plus sign on the keyboard to add to the shape (+). Join the ellipses together with the rectangle.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Next using the “Ellipse Tool” (U) again create two inner ellipses inside the first set of ellipses you made.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Now select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) and create a small rectangle.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Once the rectangle has been created press “Ctrl + T” to free transform the shape. Holding down the shift key rotate the button anti-clockwise until it snaps into place two times.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Duplicate the rectangle layer and position them on the joypad.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Step 2 – Creating The Base

Select the base layer, then bring it to life by adding the following layer styles.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Your base layer should now look something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Next we’ll make the remaining 4 shapes look like there indented. Add the following layer styles to the two ellipses and the two rounded rectangles.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

You should now have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Step 3 – Finishing The Base

Were now going to finish the base part of the joypad. Lets start by adding another more realistic shadow. Duplicate the base layer then select the base layers layer from the bottom of the stack, right click and select “Clear Layer Styles”. Now add a black color overlay to the layer.

Were now going to add a motion blur to the layer. Go to “Filter > Blur > Motion Blur” then use the settings below.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Set the shadows opacity to around 30% then move (V) the shadow down and across to the right until no shadow can be seen edging out at the top of the joypad.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Were now going to create the wire, first select the rectangle tool and create a small rectangle at the top of the joypad.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Add a beveled layer style to the rectangle.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Now for the wire, select the “Pen Tool” (P) and create a swirly path.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Once you’ve created the swirly path select the brush tool (B) and select a 1-2 px hard brush then select the pen tool (P) and right click the canvas, select “Stroke Path” from the menu.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Now add the following layer styles to complete the cable.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

You should have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Step 4 – Creating The Left D-Pad

Select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) with a radius of about 15 – 20 pixels then drag out a vertical rectangle.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Add to the shapes layer by press the plus sign on the keyboard (+) then create another rectangle only this time make it horizontally.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Repeat the same process as above only this time make the shapes about 5 pixels smaller. Small enough to get another set of rectangles inside the ones we just created.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Finally select the “Rectangle Tool” (U) and create four directional lines on each of the rectangle faces.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Select the first shape you created and add the following layer styles.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

To the smaller shape add the following layer styles.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Finally, add a color overlay using the color #9e9fa3 to the little lines on the D-Pad. You should now have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Step 5 – Creating The Colored Buttons

Select the “Ellipse Tool” (U) and create 3 ellipses inside the right circle.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

We now need to make these ellipses indented. Add the following layer styles to each of the ellipses.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

You should have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Using the “Ellipse Tool” (U) in Adobe Photoshop again create another 4 ellipses inside the 4 we just made, only this time make them slightly smaller.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Now add the following layer styles to the new smaller ellipse.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Change the stroke layer style and the gradient overlay to reflect your desired colors. You should have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

On each button add a symbol of your choice, then add the following layer styles to the symbol.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Change the colors to reflect the color of the buttons. You should have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Step 6 – Creating The Middle Buttons

Create two smaller rounded rectangles inside of the two small indented area’s we created earlier.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Now add the following layer styles to the two smaller rectangles.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Add two text labels underneath the two buttons using the “Type Tool” (T). You should have something like this.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

Finally label your joypad with a name of your choice.

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

How To Create A Retro Style Joypad Using Photoshop – Conclusion

Alright, we’ve navigated through the essentials of crafting a retro-style joypad in Adobe Photoshop.

With focused steps and a bit of creativity, you should now have a sleek, vintage joypad design under your belt. Remember, the key here is to keep things simple and functional.

Don’t hesitate to experiment with different textures and details to make the design truly yours. Happy designing!

Learn How To Create A Retro Joypad

About Author

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.