Wallpaper Effect

The first step is to define a new pattern.

Start a new document: 60px wide, and 10px high, and for contents, select "Transparent".

Use the zoom tool to zoom your canvas so we can see it a little better.

Now use the rectangular marquee tool to draw a 30px by 10px selection on your canvas.

Then fill it with black. Then Press CTRL+D to deselect.

Now, go to Edit->Define Pattern, a screen will popup asking for a name, name your pattern "Stripe" then click OK.

Now you can close this document.

Now, start a new document.

Width: 600px Height: 600px, Content: White

Create a NEW LAYER

Then go to Edit->Fill in the Fill box, Use: select Pattern, and in the Custom Pattern options, select the pattern you just created in the previous step. Leave the blending options alone.

Your canvas should now be filled like the screenshot on the left.

Now, apply the polar coordinate filter.

Filter->Distort->Polar Coordinates

Options: Rectangular to Polar

Now apply this gradient overlay layer style to the layer.

Create a NEW LAYER, link the new layer and this layer together, then go to Layer->Merge linked.

Now duplicate this layer. (right click on the layer in the layers palette and select "Duplicate Layer"). Change the Blending Mode to "Multiply"

Now go to Edit->Transform->Rotate. Then just rotate this layer by just a few degrees to offset it from the original.

Repeat the above 2 steps, several times but change the Blending mode to "Overlay" and "Screen" and "Normal".

Now link all the layers together (except the background) and go to Layer->Merge Linked.

Now just fill your background layer with a color and experiment.

You can move the top layer around to create the crystal spikes look or just leave it in the center for a warped effect type background.

In the image to the left, I simply applied Filter->Blur->Radial Blur, method: Zoom , and amount by about 40.

Click to enlarge

Click here to download my .psd file.

Here's more images I made using the associated filters:

Filter->Distort->Spherize (3 times)

Click to enlarge

Filter->Distort->Twirl (2 times)

Click to enlarge

Filter-Distort->Polar Coordinates (Rectangular to Polar)

Click to enlarge