Wire Tutorial

Start with a new document , 400 pixel width and 200 pixel  height with transparent background. 

Fill the background with a matte color. I have chosen a background with following values:

R:0 G: 79 B: 168

Go to channels and create a new channel.

Now use the Pen Tool (P) and draw the path below as described.

Right click on the path and chose stroke path. Be sure that your foreground is white and you have chosen a proper width brush size for you wire. I have chosen 25 pixel brush but you can chose another one if you want.

You will end up with an image like below.

Go to Image > Adjust > Levels menu.

Shortcut : Ctrl + L

Move the arrows where the image loses its blur and becomes a solid smooth line.

Click on the image to see the menu options I used.

Hold Ctrl and click on the alpha channel to make a selection around the image. Don't lose the selection. We need it in further steps.

Apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur to the selection.

Now switch to Layers from Channels and create a new layer. Fill it a darker color. (You can use any color if you want, I chose a darker blue than Background.) Don't loose the selection yet.

Go to Filter > Render > Lightning Effects.

Click on the thumbnail to check the values I have set.

Important : Light type will be Directional and Texture channel will be Alpha 1 

You should end up with an image like below. 

Go to Select > Modify > Contract and contract the selection by 1 pixel.

Go to Select > Inverse and inverse the selection and hit delete.

Shortcut Shift + Ctrl + I . I did this to get rid of the mess around the wire.

Choose lasso tool and make a selection as shown at the image.

Hit delete to cut that part. Do the same thing for the other edge also.

Zoom it to %400 and create a Rectangular selection.

Select  Gradient tool (G) and and edit a new gradient.  

Create a gradient something similar to the image below. 

Create a layer between the wire and background and select that layer.

Fill the the rectangular selection with the gradient you created.

Turn the selection and place it properly under the cable.

Edit > Transform > Rotate

Shortcut : Ctrl + T

Repeat the same process for the other edge also.

Select paint brush , %30 capacity , black foreground, and pass one time on the highlighted area. Choose burn tool and pass one time on the selected area close to the wire. It is up to you to set the values. Trial and error.

Apply the same process for the other end.

Select the wire layer, hold ctrl and click on the wire layer to make selection around the wire. Apply Filter > Noise > Add Noise , amount %1.5 with Gaussian Distribution

And here it is. You can enhance it by smoothing the wire, adding drop shadow and adding background etc.