Create a Photo-Realistic Realistic Hourglass

Step 1

Create a new document of dimension 1900 x 1440 pixel and fill the background with color # ededed. Select pen tool and create the upper shape of hourglass. Make sure to turn shape layer on.

Step 2

Change the 'Fill' to 0% just below the 'Opacity' option in layer palate. Apply inner glow layer style with color #bdc1c2 and opacity 50%. Name this layer to "outer glass".

Step 3

Duplicate "outer glass" layer, right click on the layer and choose 'clear layer style' to remove all layer styles. Press ctrl + t to transform layer, click on 'Maintain Aspect ratio' icon between width & height option and set the height to 98%. Name this layer to "inner glass" and apply inner glow layer style with these settings;

Step 4

Duplicate "inner glass" layer, group all layers and merge the group into a single layer. Name the group to "upper glass". Now create another shape inside upper glass, make sure to turn shape layer on and apply inner glow layer style of color # 43494a, size 125px and opacity 75%. Name this layer to "glass shadow".

Step 5

Now we will create some lights and reflections, to do this create a new shape with the help of pen tool. Set its color to white, change its blending mode to soft light & opacity to 40%. Name this layer to "reflection top".

Step 6

Create two more shapes to create other reflections, set their color to white and rename both layers to "reflection top left" & "reflection top right".

Step 7

Create lower glass by following steps 1 - 4 and step 6. Create another shape to create reflection on the top of lower glass. Change its color to white and set its blending mode to soft light with opacity to 40%.

Step 8

Now we are going to create middle part of hourglass for this, press P to select pen tool and create a shape with 'Fill' 0%. Ctrl + click on the layer to get its selection, select a soft brush of color #d2d2d2 and paint along the left and right edges. Name this layer to "middle".

Step 9

Now merge "outer glass" layer into "inner glass" layer in both upper and lower glass. Create a layer mask and hide the edges in the centre part. The hourglass will look like this:

Step 10

Now we will create