Futuristic Tech Background

Now drag this layer to the new layer icon several different times. Once you have three new duplicates, select each layer in the layers palette one at a time and holding the Shift key with the moVe tool, drag each layer down a vary distance from the original as shown.

Now link all of these layers in the layers palette as shown and go to Layers: Merge Linked or Ctrl E. This makes them one layer.

Drag this new layer to the new layer icon to create another version. Holding down the shift key, drag this layer of dippy dots down to a color spot on the document and change the blending mode to something light. Note how it instantly creates a different 'shade' of light for each dot? This is because on linear dodge it is mixing the light with the light values of the layer beneath which you can see is in varying values.

What you're doing now is just creating some minor additional touchups that help 'fulfill' the image. The beauty is just accented by the attention to detail that you can create. Now add some really small text (also a universal standard in this genre).

If you want you can rotate the entire canvas (document) under Image: Rotate Canvas...as shown.

Go to your Shapes tools 'U'. Let's grab some more custom vector elements that we can synergize into the design with. The arrow is used a lot in techno-stile circles of design worldwide.  You can get this .psd (iPSD file b/c you can interact with the finished design) by signing up for the PSDer ezine.  You'll also like 'Derrty Dozen' from the iPSD Directory. 

In the options bar, keep it on shapes layers, drag to create the vector shape layer.

Now change the blending mode to overlay (or something else you like).

Choose another different vector shape and add it to the design on it's own shape layer. Remember to use the Free Transform (or the menu under Edit: Transform...) to create the 3-D effects.

Here I've created another arrow and used the Ctrl 'T' and then Ctrl key to skew. Doing this adds more depth and dimension and makes it more naturally fit into our design rather than just sitting there like a unopened Christmas gift.

 

Feel free (of course) to experiment around. Here I've created a transformer looking shape and changed the blending modes of these two arrows. This was all recorded live with absolutely no pre-planning to this move (or the entire process actually).