Create a new layer in Photoshop and fill it with a light brownish, slightly orange color. Try different colours depending on the type of wood grain you want to create.
Goto Filter->Noise->Add Noise and add some noise with the following settings.
Goto Next goto Filter->Blur->Motion Blur and use these settings
Your image should look something like this. Next take the following steps
- Duplicate the Layer
- Goto Image->Adjustments->Desaturate
- Set the layer's blending mode to soft light and give it a low opacity
Then select the duplicated layer and goto Filter->Artistic->Poster Edges. Use the default settings.
Now the wood is starting to look somewhat realistic, but its not quite a there yet. The problem is that the photoshoped wood is too perfect (more noticeable with a larger sized picture). Real wood has knots, wane and other irregularities in it.
Goto Filter->Liquify
The best way I have found to create the knots with the liquify filter is to take the following steps
- Select the spot to create the knot
- Use the nudge tool to create push out the wood texture on both sides of the spot you selected
- Then use the spiral tool in a slight up down motion to create a realistic knot.
Then you should have your result, a nice realistic wood texture.
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