In this tutorial I will show you how to create an abstract background image using Photoshop only. The design has a cool wavy pattern with interesting lighting effects, like the Blackberry 9000 wallpaper. This is a tutorial you can sit down and complete in less than an hour. Let's get started.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click the screenshot below to view the full-size image. As always, the full Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership.
Step 1
Create a new document, using a black color for the background.
Step 2
With the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), create a rectangular selection. Then select the Gradient Tool (G), and use red for the color of the gradient for both the start and the end, but use 100% and 0% for the Opacity so the gradient will go from red to transparent. Then create a new layer and fill it with the gradient, as in the image below.
Step 3
Go to Edit>Transform>Distort and distort the rectangle, as in the image below.
Step 4
Go to Edit>Transform>Warp. Then select Flag and use 20% for the Bend.
Step 5
Create another Rectangle and fill it with the same red to transparent gradient. Set the height smaller than the first one. Then repeat the Warp command; however, this time make it to the opposite way, as in the image below.
Step 6
Lets add a Layer Style to the shape. Go to Layer>Layer Style>Inner Shadow, use a light pink color (#ffb3b3). Set the Angle at -90 degrees, Distance 45px, Choke 0%, and the Size 70%.
Step 7
Now go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur, use 2px for the Radius.
Step 8
Repeat Step 6 for the other shape.
Step 9
With the Pen Tool (P), create some paths, as in the image below. We will use them to create some light effects.
Step 10
First create a new folder, and rename it "Lines". Then change the Blend Mode to Screen. Thereafter select the Brush Tool. Grab a basic brush with 0% Hardness and 13px size. Then with the Direct Select Tool(A), select a path. With the right button of the mouse choose Stroke Subpath. Then the dialog box will open. Make sure that Simulate Pressure is not selected and Press OK.
Step 11
Lets create a Layer Style for the lines. Use Inner Glow with Color Dodge for the blend mode. Set white as the color, 100% Opacity, Choke 0%, and size 8px. After that select Color Overlay and use pink for the color (#ff5c78).
Step 12
Repeat Step 10 with the other paths. Always create a new layer for each path. You can vary the size of the brush, and you can use Simulate Pressure with some paths, as I did in the image below (1, 2, and 3).
Step 13
Let's Mask some paths, and create new ones duplicating existing paths. With number 1, select the layer of the path and go to Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal all. Then select a brush with 0% Hardness and a medium size, like 50px. Then select black for the color and start masking that line. Repeat this with numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Step 14
Here we'll make some adjustments to the shapes. Yet again, select the Shape Layer. Then go to Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal All. Then with a black brush, start masking some areas of the shapes. Tip: you can simply delete the layer as well. Just use the Eraser instead of masking it.
Step 15
Create a new layer beneath the lines but above the shapes. Then select red and select a big 100px brush. Make sure that the Hardness is 0%. Click 1–2 times, only click enough times to create an effect like the one in the image below.
Step 16
Go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Hue and Saturation. Make sure you select Colorize and use Hue 11, Saturation 82, and Lightness +4. Then go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels. Follow the image below for reference. After that go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Photo Filter. Use yellow, and Density of 85%. Make sure that you select Preserve Luminosity.
Conclusion
In this tutorial we created an abstract design similar to the new Blackberry's wallpaper. It shouldn't have taken you more than 40 minutes to finish. Even though it might look simple, this tutorial has very useful techniques. You can use them to create some nice lighting effects and wavy designs. Besides that, you will be able to create a Vista-style wallpaper using these techniques as well (as some readers requested), just change some colors and Layer Styles and you'll have it.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )TommyP May 20th
amazing!
( )Paul Roman May 20th
Great tutorial!
Thanks !
( )Tony May 20th
Very Nice Tutorial !
( )Craig Snedeker May 20th
Great tutorial! I love it!
( )Danny May 20th
Simple tutorial but fantastic effect, my favourite kind. Fabio’s are always great
( )Erika May 20th
Awesome.
( )Nate May 20th
Pretty cool effect. Thanks fabio
( )Andrew May 20th
Very cool, effect! Thanks.
( )Rijalul Fikri May 20th
Great tutorial as usual
( )Adam Griffiths May 20th
This is a really useful tutorial. Fun to go through too.
( )comarcks May 20th
simple but nice
( )godonholiday May 20th
back to what this site is about! great work
( )Lamin Barrow May 20th
It looks pretty good. Well done Fabio.
( )Christian Mejia May 20th
Excellent! I look forward to trying this one out!
( )Adrian Rosebrock May 20th
Very nice, I love the effect. PSDtuts rarely disappoints.
( )giackop May 20th
cool.. i’m gonna try it now..
( )Mihai May 20th
Hehe kickass like always
( )Constantin Potorac May 20th
Prety nice.
( )Toxel.com May 20th
Nice! I like the colors used.
( )goldenthunder May 20th
So cool! I love it! Thank you!
( )Mark May 20th
is it just me or are the tuts on this site getting worse
(
( )ZaFaR May 20th
Well, it’s looks better!
( )Jimizm May 20th
Very simple. But I like the effect.
( )glsmaster May 20th
Wow, very cool.
( )Dan May 20th
@Mark: I think I agree with you. Also, I could swear you’ve done a tutorial VERY similar to this one before Fabio.
( )xylon May 20th
Whoa this is cool!
( )bzsolt May 20th
Hi Fabio!
I have photoshop CS3, but I don’t find the gradient tool
. I press the G button select the paint bucket tool, not gradient tool. Do yo know gradient tool still exist my Photoshop version?
Sorry, my english is very poor!
)). Thank you you answer!
Zsolt,
( )from Hungary
Daniel May 20th
Want to try it out tomorrow…
Daniel
( )Amy May 20th
screenshots of the layers palette would be helpful, as sometimes it’s hard to tell what layer you are supposed to be working on.
( )Amy May 20th
Zsolt,
Press G to get to the paint bucket, then Shift+G to get to the gradient tool. Alternatively, you can get to the gradient tool by clicking and holding down the paint bucket tool button.
~Amy
( )bzsolt May 20th
Hi Amy!
Thank you, I find it! Thanks your help
)!
( )Ben Griffiths May 20th
Thats a really nice effect, thanks!
( )D. Carreira May 20th
Thanks! Today I was looking for a brush to do a business card with a similar effect.
Now I will create this effect instead of using a brush.
David Carreira
( )Snorri3D May 20th
thanks for sharing
( )aGS May 20th
Cool! Light effects! Again! Yahooooo!
( )Dave May 20th
@Dan and @Mark: I agree, it starts to be pretty repetitive here, also the quality isn’t as high as when the site started.
Once again I think the result is fine, ok, but how about the tutorial itself? There are no new techniques you could learn, all the stuff used here was explained in previous tutorials.
And again: please guys, don’t just give step-by-step instructions, please do include some explanations, tips and tricks, because that’s what matters.
( )For example:
“Step 8: Repeat Step 6 for the other Shape.”
You can just copy the layer style here. Copy, and paste into the layer of the first shape, voilà !
jerry May 20th
Damn it !!!!
Why do I use Adobe PS 7.0 ?
It totally doesnt have wrap function…
( )macias May 20th
lika a lava ! sexy lava! i like it !
( )Isaac May 20th
It’s not horrible or anything, but when I’m paying $9 a month it’s not the most encouraging thing to log in and see.
( )Maicon May 20th
I learned a lot!
( )soulWasted May 20th
so easy and basic steps, but so quite amazing result. nice!
( )lefiath May 20th
Doing this without complete pentool work is useless, you loose quality and that gaussian blur killed it. I’m using pentool for this and i think that i get better results: http://lefiath.deviantart.com/art/Tutorials-pentool-wallpaper-84849246
( )salva May 20th
awesome again
( )Joefrey Mahusay May 20th
Great effect Fabio as always. Thanks
( )Louie May 20th
Perfect!
( )NourShow May 20th
hey fabio; u r the best man
( )thank u a lot for ur tutorial.
Bruno Gurgatz May 20th
Thanks! really nice effect!
( )Elvis May 20th
hi
( )the tutorial is great
but
for some reason
when i do the FLAG thing
it doesnt look quite like the one you make.. not matter how many times i try…
can you help?
Terry May 20th
a big fan of the site, but lately… i dunno…
can anyone tell me how big of a leap the plus stuff is over the regular stuff?
i’ll keep checking it again.
once again tho, good workflow, nice effect.
( )kamel May 20th
what would happen if we could have all these tuts in video?:)
wouldn’t it be easier for you guys and also us to learn?
awesome tut
( )kbryhl May 20th
bzsolt > Also remember that all the icons in your toolpanel, with a small arrow on have more options – try click them and keep holding your mousebuttom on em’. That will give you some new tools
Fabio > Very nice one mate! As always you bring the best tips evah
( )Arnaud Alves May 20th
Beautiful !
( )sun_ May 20th
great effect and so easy to do!
n1
( )Chris May 20th
Nice effect! Thx for sharing.
( )SKhan May 20th
That is an amazing tutorial, i dont know that themes can the be designed in such a way. Thanks!!
( )Jeff May 20th
Not to sure about this one. Its good but nothing mind blowing.
I agree with others, this site is kinda going down hill. I was going to sign up to the PSDTUTS Plus but I don’t really see the point anymore.
( )Andy May 20th
Can’t say I was too impressed with this one, this is reason I don’t get a Plus subscription. Bit of a random tutorial, didn’t learn anything new, would be fine if I actually wanted to learn how to make a wavy background. Not all that well written either, few of steps are pointless like using hue saturation then photo filter?? and also ‘repeat step 6 for the other shape’?? PSDTUTS should diversify cos we’ve all seen the glowing /transparent etc. stuff before. Also I don’t have anything against Fabio, in general his tutorials are great.
( )Jaunzim May 20th
sadly, I agree with Jeff…
( )Johan May 21st
Thank! I like it
( )Carlos May 21st
I feel that some of these comments are a little insensitive to the fact the the site has just had a change of manager and that it takes time to learn the way around a site. Yes I agree the sites tutorials are lacking in comparison with when it started out, however i thinjk we need to give Sean a chance and let him work things out.
I personally feel that we should NOT have video tutorials as they get on my nerves, however if you guys want to see quality tutorials, you may have to start creating them yourselves. PSDTuts runs off of community and without it there woudl be no tutorials, so instread of complaining why not submit a tutorial.
( )Jeff May 21st
@Carlos
The reason there is a section to comment is so we can leave our own veiws on tutorials and other aspects of the site.
I feel a lot of the tutorials added lately haven’t been great.
I THink Fabio is great and love a lot of his work.
I do agree with you when it comes to video tutorials. They are very annoying.
( )Alberto May 21st
Actually not a bad tutorial but I’m sorry to say, it’s quite boring, nothing new: all techniques already seen, also here in psdtuts.
QUOTE:
Dave weote:
@Dan and @Mark: I agree, it starts to be pretty repetitive here, also the quality isn’t as high as when the site started.
Once again I think the result is fine, ok, but how about the tutorial itself? There are no new techniques you could learn, all the stuff used here was explained in previous tutorials.
And again: please guys, don’t just give step-by-step instructions, please do include some explanations, tips and tricks, because that’s what matters.
( )For example:
“Step 8: Repeat Step 6 for the other Shape.â€
You can just copy the layer style here. Copy, and paste into the layer of the first shape, voilà !
Mads May 21st
Great tutorial! I just miss some more tutorials in the “text” section :-/
( )Fabio Sasso May 21st
Hey guys, I agree that some of the techniques applied here are not new, however the end result is different. As I said, I’ve done this effect using very different techniques but this one was the easiest in my opinion, that’s why I thought it would be nice to share with everybody here.
@mads, I will work on some text effect tutorials,
Thank you all for the comments and suggestions for tuts are always welcome
( )Rjton May 21st
really nice effect i’ll try it
( )Isaac May 21st
The fact you’re talented Fabio is the main reason I’m dissapointed.
Use the force.
( )Osiriums Ventaka May 21st
I don’t know why, but I can not stroke the path
Any ideas? I know that I’ve do something before (After configurated the brush), but i don’t know o what…
( )Osiriums Ventaka May 21st
Ok, I think that the problem was the mask mode…
( )Real Estate Graphic Design May 21st
Thanks, learned a few new things to keep in mind. This is my result: http://weliketobuild.com/images/pinkwave1024×768.jpg
( )jerry May 21st
Ok, upgraded to CS3, SATISFIED ?!?!!!
My result -> (added some MONSTEEERSSSS) http://www.funkydangers.cz/andy.jpg
( )wildwise May 21st
great, once again
( )Alex May 21st
cooool one i was relly wanted to know haw is it abd know fainaly i did it
( )Saulo May 22nd
Very usefull!!!!!!! Thanks
( )Andrew D May 22nd
Great effect!
( )Diesel May 22nd
This helped me heaps. Thanks for a simple but brilliant tutorial!
( )Alex May 23rd
thx a lot mate
( )Suresh May 25th
Its very easy to learn………and it is very useful to me…I love this tutorials
( )Adee May 25th
Awesome stuff dude……..
( )this is simply gr8
thnx a million
Andy May 25th
Hi,
( )I’ve spent some time here reading your tutorials but never left a comment. Now all I want to say is that your tutorials are outstanding! I like them all because they unveil some secrets of good design, a lot of tips and tricks and they are very inspirational. Thanks!
Kyle May 26th
Very nice!
( )Tutzor May 27th
sweet effect, I always wanted to know how to create those cool looking background waves, good job once again.
( )Tutorials Directory May 28th
Great tutorial!
( )Tee May 28th
It think it will help me improve on my sklls in designing. Thank you and wish you all the best in your endeavors
( )Daniel May 29th
very useful techniques with sharp and clean result, thanks a lot Fabio!
( )John May 31st
This tutorial is so badly worded, doesnt explain how to do things well at all.
( )Danny June 2nd
I think it’s worded pretty well…
( )Cole June 2nd
I got lost after step 10.
( )Kai June 3rd
How do you reverse the flag effect????? anyone?!?!
( )webthese June 3rd
Great tutorial, thank you
( )Paco June 3rd
Hi, i have seen a lot of comments about the quality of the website, and i think the site and its contents is cool, and great, i only have a couple of weeks using photoshop, and ive learned a lot, i only haved been at your website since last wednesday.
Keep the good work, and remember that not all the people that comes to your site is a pro, so be more specific with some steps.
( )Qbrushes June 5th
i just tried this tut, very nice outcome!
( )Can Ata June 5th
Great tutorial. Thanks
( )vicky June 5th
hi this is vicky from india – jharkhand state – jamshedpur city.
( )really when i made this effect through deliver from me in your given instructions i was golly.
vicky June 5th
fabulous
( )Tahmid June 13th
Hi, Tahmid form Bangladesh. I am a graphic and web designer. Its a great site of tutorial and I am loving it.
( )Thanks
erik June 21st
cool!!
( )joe June 21st
Lost me at step nine (9) Not everyone is a pro
( )ezequiel June 26th
hi, I love this tutorial, but i have some trouble with the step 12, i can’t made the simulate pressure thing, i made the path and then i click the simulate pressure box, but the line still the same, is not with the end line blur, excusme but i’m from Argentina and my english is very poor, i hope you can understand me, if someone can help i will apreciatte, thanks a lot !!!
( )Mansoor July 24th
Thanks for Posting.
( )Great Tut.
gLENN July 26th
Excellent! now I can make my own wallpaper hehe
( )Marcos Lima July 30th
Show, brother! Muito boa sua arte. E o step-by-step também!!! Abçs
( )Brent August 16th
Hey,
So for some reason i can’t stroke the subpath, i followed everything you said and it didn’t work. Also, i didn’t see mention of when to create new layers, if at all in the tutorial. CAn someone please send me an e-mail as to why i may not be able to stroke the subpath?
bburghdorf@gmail.com.
Thanks!
( )baris August 21st
please , Turkish tutorial …
help
( )Kevin August 21st
C’mon guys, cut some slack.
( )I know my way around Photoshop CS3, and this tutorial was easy to follow for me.
That being said, if you have an older version, things can / will be different. If you find a difference, post it and be HELPFUL to other users, don’t bitch & moan. If you don’t like it, don’t read the site.
Eppe tot September 18th
Seems this tutorial was ripped without credit here:
http://www.okapixel.com/2008/06/create-wavy-blackberry-style-wallpaper.html
Not a nice thing to do….
Eppe
( )Skoolbus September 29th
Thanks so much! Greatly appreciated, your skills are helping others better their paychecks!
( )Ali October 9th
Hi there, welldone Fabio
Just a comment if I may, I did read few comments in here and thought of mentioning the fact is that there are always “others” who are trying to learn Photoshop; new commers looking for these tutorials.
why do we always have to expect from others? for 9 dollars a month? come on; you guys have learned alot from this spectacular site, you think they’ve run short or out of new stuff? No creativity or inspiration? OK, why don’t you say, at least “thank you” and try to give and share your tips and tricks you’ve learned in a unique way in the site? Or maybe you’ve just learned to get rathar than to give from time to time.
As about vedio tutorials I think it would really be a pain in the neck for many ppl who often suffer from internet connection and how slow it might be.
Thank you very much Fabio
( )malcolm swaine October 16th
Very nice, thanks for sharing
( )Kazeliju November 14th
Hi!tgnn! http://uwpdbrof.com jfijq rusqc http://yeqjyxhh.com wmenc fxiyi
( )Kvelda November 24th
Really really useful, and so well explained. Thanks!
( )vijiraj December 4th
Thx, for the nice tutorial, the outcome was so satisfying
( )Noshin December 21st
why cant i find ‘warp’ in edit>transform? all i find is scale, rotate, scew, distort, perspective.
( )Rob G December 28th
Thanks for the tutorial.
_______
( )Rob G
Macworld Editor
nemo January 23rd
1st tutorial i read here and its amazing! Thanks!
( )mpho March 2nd
hey ,fabio that is brilliant, good stuff man
( )T-blan March 6th
I thing t your methods are great i’ve one ofyour method b4 the “Magic Hat” and i like that on too
( )OC March 8th
Very nice tutorial, but this tutorial doesn’t explain some steps as well as they should be explained.
( )Programmi Gratis March 8th
This is a nice tutorial, but unfortunatelly i cant find the wrap function. I use photoshop cs maybe i shoul use cs2.
( )ocePUNKgalak March 31st
i liked . black and red
( )simple and alegan
Newbie April 28th
Hmm. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do step 3 for an hour now. The problem is, the gradient doesn’t rotate with the distortion, but the gradient stays horizontal, and just the borders of the layer move around. I wonder if I created the new layer in step in a wrong way or something?
There isn’t enough information in this tutorial.
( )oleGey April 29th
Simlpe and Cool !!!
( )samir May 4th
Hi…i have a question…
( )“I don’t find warp in step 4 ??? and i do not compelete this step…
i use photoshop CS3…
please guide me…
ibn Ezra May 24th
“So for some reason i can’t stroke the subpath, i followed everything you said and it didn’t work. Also, i didn’t see mention of when to create new layers, if at all in the tutorial.”
I also bumped into this minor obstacle this morning… you need to have and active layer in order for the Stroke Subpath command to appear in the contextual menu.
So, your question already contains the answer!
( )SISSI June 5th
thank you so much, that’s what I was searching for!
( )nice work and thanks again.
khalil June 10th
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks abduzeedo, always genius !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( )crush June 19th
hi…how to create a layer..and i am not able to use this pentool in a way that you have used..one i select pentool its being for all the lines.!?
( )crush June 19th
is that we have to create a layer for every shape of the line or else once we have to make all the lines nd create a layer to name it as lines???
( )i thought its like line1 line2 line3 layers so on..!! and then how to get this subpath layer??
papadefung June 30th
exellent……
( )6stringevil July 2nd
Hey man. Thanks a lot. I am an Upcoming Designer and this tutorial has really taught me a lot. Safety & Peace to you Friend. !!!
( )Jairo July 4th
Thanks for you tutorial, excellent and easy yor explanation.
( )Vasan July 9th
That was a great tutorial!
Is there any kind of decisions, like where which tool is used to create which efffect?
Like, Cloud -> Fog, Cloud, Smoke, etc. Something like that
( )kreza July 25th
thanks for your tutorial,,its beutiful art
( )JoelKyo August 12th
I can’t get step 11. The colors are switched… can anyone PLEASE help me??
Instead i have a white border for the preview and pink on the inside
( )I don’t seem to have done anything wrong… but it just doesn’t turn out O__O
Olivia August 23rd
Easy to follow with nice results- Thanks!
( )Jan September 18th
very very nice !
( )Prabahar September 29th
lookin great and useful
( )Mahmudur Rahman October 4th
Very Nice and simple tutorial to Create a Blackberry Style Wallpaper. Thanks for shearing this nice tutorial.
( )Manu October 8th
Great tutoriyal..Thanku..
( )Steve October 27th
great! thank you very much!
( )jmarreros October 28th
thanks for the tutorial, it was cool
( )BuyungR November 29th
wow nice..simple,like it vry much!
( )nadia December 15th
i love all your great tips, tricks and tutorials, thanks for such excellent information!
( )playgroundlurve December 15th
this is one perfect and clean tutorials, thanks for sharing
( )rameshb December 22nd
very nice design
( )rameshb December 22nd
please give some sesision for every for creating new backgrounds
( )fillion February 1st
Really nice and useful. THX All
( )