Wire-frame(ish) sphere in Photoshop.

A new approach to the pseudo-wire-frame sphere in Photoshop.

Step 1.    Create a ‘new’ document  (ctrl + n)
                I chose 800 x 800 pixels 180-dpi, but it doesn’t really matter.

Step 2.    Create a new layer (shift + ctrl + n), this will be called “Layer 1”

Step 3.    Using the ‘elliptical marquee’ tool, make a circular selection
                (hold shiftWhile dragging the selection for a perfect circle). 
                Make it about as big in relation to your canvas as seen in
                “Figure A”.

Figure A.

Step 4.    With “Layer 1” active,  go to > Edit < Stroke
                (settings – “Figure B”) – click ‘ok’.

Figure B.

Step 5.    Place a selection around the newly stroked circle, and go
                to <Edit < Define Brush.  Click ‘ok’.

Step 6.    With the original circle still selected, hit ‘Backspace’ to
                delete it.  Now do a Ctrl + D to deselect.

Step 7.    Select the brush tool, and pick the brush you just
                created (bottom of the List).

Step 8.    Go to the ‘Brushes’ window
                (> Window < Brushes * if you don’t already have it up).
              “With brush tip shape” highlighted on the top left of the
                brushes window, change the “spacing”  to 5%. “Figure C”

Figure C.

Step 9.    Hit “D” to set your colors to black (foreground)
               and White (background).

Step 10.    Using the paintbrush, hold ‘Shift’, and paint a
                 horizontal line.  Let go of The mouse button, but
                 do not let go of the ‘Shift’ key.  Now paint a line
                vertically downward.  Now you should have an
                image that looks like “Figure D” on "Layer 1".

Figure D.

Step 11.    Grab the ‘elliptical marquee’ tool,
                  and make a circular selection
                (“Shift + drag” for a perfect circle) over the
                corner where the vertical and horizontal
                 brush strokes meet.  “Figure E”

Figure E.

Step 12.    Now go to > Select > Transform Selection,
                 and grab one of the corner 'Transfom' squares
                 while holding “Shift + Alt”.  Now bring the selection
                 In so it fits tightly around the sphere in the corner.
                 Hit “Enter”.

Step 13.    Hit “Ctrl + Shift + I” to invert the selection.
                 Now hit backspace to delete all the extra junk.

Step 14.    You’re done, now you have a dumb sphere thingy.
                 Make it into a brush QUICK!  (marquee around it,
                 >Edit > Define Brush) 
                That way you’ll never have to do it again!

Final result © tomledin.com