Here is what I made in seriously 5 minutes after reading your post yesterday (btw, to get one any better you should use multiple programs, not just photoshop):
Here is how to make it:
(I suck at writing how-to's so you can send me a AIM or MSN message if you have any questions, check my profile)
I usually make images for the web at higher DPI then downsize when I save. Just better that way.
Grid can be drawn easily w/ line tool. I used 2 pt for sample.
To get the sphere affect on the image or grid draw a circle marquee around part of image you want spherized using eliptical
marquee tool. Once you've drawn the circle goto
Select > Save Selection and name it whatever. DO NOT deselect circle.
Go to
Filter > Distort > Spherize
Adjust to how much you want...
Make a new layer and move it to bottom of layers. Make sure your have it selected.
For the highlight and background color part goto your channels palette (sp?) and click holding CMD key (I don't know on PC, I'm on a mac) the Alpha Channel you saved in step 2. That will bring back your circle selection.
Now select whatever color you want as BKGD color in one color box and a lighter version in other color box. goto
Gradient Tool and make sure you are on circle gradient. Now draw gradient a little off center in circle selection. You'll see how you can make a highlight once you try. You might need to switch your color boxes around though, if so hit X key.
Now for the shadow just reselect same circle. Use the paintbrush tool on big setting and draw around the opposite side of where the highlight is, then change the opacity to whatever you want.
I did some other crap to my image shown here but it's advanced color layer stuff that I don't know if I can explain. Your image should be fine w/out that crap though. I used a normal map to make the map part and the grid was just a bunch of criss-crossed lines. I hope this helps.
