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Abstract Background


Ok this tut is a simple one. It will introduce you to the use of blend modes and filters.... so open up photoshop and get going.

1. Open a new canvas (ctrl+N). For this tut I am going to use width-400(px) and height-400(px) with resolution 72(pixels/inch). Make sure u set the mode to RGB Color. I am setting the contents to 'white'.

2. Make a new layer (shift+ctrl+N). Get the Paint Bucket Tool(G). Sometimes the gradient tool comes up so simply right click it and select the paint bucket tool.

image 1

Make your new layer black.

3. Go to Filter>Render>Lens Flare.

image 2

Make a flare anywhere on your canvas. Do this 3 more times. Make the flares anywhere on the canvas.(The flares and the black background should be on the same layer(layer 1)). Here's how mine looks-

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

4. Go to Filter>Distort>Wave. Mess around with the settings till you get what something you like.Here are my settings-

image 4

5. Duplicate the layer (ctrl+J). Go to Filter>Distort>Wave. Mess around with the settings again. Use the randomize button to get different results. The more different this wave is from the last wave, the better.

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

6. Change the blend mode. I put mine to Color dodge but you can put it to whatever mode you think looks best.

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6. Here's how mine looks-

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

8. You can also Try out different filters. I duplicated one layer and did filter>brush strokes>sprayed strokes. I kept the layers blend mode color dodge. here's how mine looks-

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

9. To add color go to layer>new adjustment layer>color balance, and mess around with the settings.

image 9

10. Now to add text. Select the text tool(T) and click anywhere on the canvas(this should make a new text layer).Type whatever you want. Here's how mine looks-

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

11. Your basically done now. Just make sure you add a border to your piece. A border can be as complicated or as simple as you want. To make a simple border make a new layer(ctrl+J), Press ctrl+A (should select the outside edges of the canvas). Go to edit>stroke.Set the size to one pixel and the Location to 'inside'.

Here's my finished result-

Abstract Background Tutorial: Final Result

Here's what I did earlier using the same method-

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

Quick Summary

Duplicate Layer- ctrl+J
New canvas- ctrl+N
New layer- ctrl+shift+N
Paint bucket- G
Text tool- T
Select all- ctrl+A

Adding color layer- layer>new adjustment layer>color balance
Adding color to layer- ctrl U
Adding color to layer- ctrl+B



Author's URL: Force
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Reader's comments
comments digitalmarks June 27, 2006 says:
Abstract Background
AWESOME I mean tolotally AWESOME. There is now an opportunity to create the most beautiful and very wild and crazy backgrounds that I always wanted. Thx :shock: