This tutorial is about making a textured red background and using Photoshop’s Shape Tool to add a design element. You can download the sample PSD file from the link at the bottom of the tutorial.
Step 1:
We begin with a blank canvas and then add a plain red background of color – #780000
Step 2:
Add a NEW LAYER
Using the Custom Shape Tool (U), choose a shape to use as our design element. I chose this nuclear symbol because it looks kind of neat. If you don’t have lots of things to choose from, you can load in a few more libraries by clicking on that little arrow icon in the top right and then choosing Load Shapes.
Step 3:
Add a NEW LAYER
So now I have my shape. Note that when drawing the shape, you want to make sure that you are actually drawing a shape and not just making a path or making a shape with path. You can change this setting in the top tool bar when you have the shape tool selected. You’ll see three icons: one for paths, one for paths with fill, and one just for filling pixels (that’s the one you want).
Also I’ve used white, but it doesn’t really matter as we are going to go over it in a second with something else.
Step 4:
Now flat color backgrounds look a bit crappy, so we’ll add a Radial Gradient. To do this, first make sure your foreground color and background color are set. I chose:
#830506 – Foreground Color
#370000 – Background Color
Now select the Gradient Tool and then click on Radial Gradient in the top left of the toolbar and draw a radial gradient starting from the center out.
With radial gradients (and gradients in general), it’s always a good idea to keep the color differential subtle.
Step 5:
To start to get some texture, duplicate your gradient layer and go to Filters > Render > Fibers and use the default settings. Make sure you have your red colors still selected, as it makes a difference with the output.
Set the Opacity to 30%
Step 6:
Now Duplicate the layer with the Fibers and hit Ctrl-T for the Transform Tool. Hold down Shift and rotate the layer 90 degrees.
Then place it down again. This will give a bit more texture.
Step 7:
To heighten the gradient/light effect, in a new layer select a big fat soft brush and using black – #000000 – just add a bit of black around the edges so that it gets really dark around there.
Step 8:
Now we want to add a bit more oomph to our nuclear symbol, so create a new layer BELOW that one. Then hit Ctrl and click on the nuclear layer. Then change to the layer below and go to your menu and choose Select > Modify > Expand.
Choose a value of 8 pixels and hit OK.
Then fill that area with black – #000000 – and set the opacity of the layer to 25%.
Step 9:
Now as I mentioned previously, flat colors are your enemy because they look dull and boring. So let’s add a radial gradient to our symbol. Create a new layer, then hold down Ctrl and click on the nuclear layer again to select it.
Then click on the new layer and add a radial gradient starting from near the top (but not quite at the top) and going out. I’ve used these colors:
Foreground color – #fffefe
Background color – #b4b4b4
Remember, it’s great to be really subtle with your gradients as it gives a more natural look.
Step 10:
Now create a new layer above all the others. Fill it with Black – #000000 – and then go to Filters > Render > Lens Flare and add a nice bright lens flare.
Next change the blend mode on this layer to Overlay and opacity to about 45%.
Step 11:
While on your lens flare layer, go to Filter > Distort > Wave and play around until you get a nice wave distortion. At this point, you could add a few of these layers and play around with them to make it look kind of smoky.
Step 12:
Finally I’ve dimmed out the lens flare layer slightly and applied a layer effect to the nuclear symbol. You can get the layer effect settings (I think it was a shadow and inner shadow) from the sample PSD download on the top right.
Sample PSD
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Nice tip mate …thx !
You’re welcome! Glad you liked it!
Really great work :)
These are great tutorials – and congratulations on making the move to WordPress!
Also, I love this theme!!
YOU ROCK!
COOL : )
nice effect, thanks for tutorial…
For some reason i can’t seem to get Step 8 to work
Nevermind, i got Step8, your tutorial is GRRRRRRREAT !
hey, i cant get step 8 to work either, any ideas?
haha yup i got it too, if anyone else gets stuck, you must hold down ctrl then click on the layer thumbnail, not the layer name. these tutorials are all awesome
great texture background, good tut.
Great!! I like it.
I need help in step 10 11 and 12
this tut is fantabulous baby!
espero que me pueda llegar a mi correo
i got lost… first of all… what version of Photoshop are we talking about? i cant find ‘Fibers’ on Render effects… i got 3d transform… clouds… difference clouds… lens flare… and ligh effects… ill try cluds and then a motion blur…. and some opacity to this layer….
really hazardous. I am addicted to this stuff guys…
how did u get all those shapes ?? ihave very few
thanks, really helped me out
I followed the tutorial almost exactly, but with a different shape, and it worked out beautifully. However, on trying it again, on a green fibered background, I cannot render the fibers. The option to render is greyed out. Do you know what I am doing wrong?
I really like the tutorial though.
Awesome. I just made one & love it. As a matter of fact, i changed it a bit & it looks impressive. Thankz Mate.
I dont need the PSD but just to support you, i’m downloading one for sure.
Just a quick question… to save a custom shape does it HAVE to be done as a pen tool path??? because I’m not very good with the pen tool but I have an awesome shape in mind
Great tutorial!
cant get step 10 to work…
great work…
Help! Where do you get that Nuclear Symbol? I have very few shapes! And by the way, your tutorials are GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!
Need help with the Gradient! It is Grayscale and not Red!!! HELP!
Nevermind!
Well, I would’ve Expected those to be Moderated out… But, great Tutorial!!! I made it into a Brushed steel effect, and my friend set it as his Wallpaper. Collis, you have skill!
i downloaded the psd :D thx
very good!
nice tutorial,
thanks
Needs more details for the novice users like myself and others that learn best through visuals.
i need to see how the author got from one step to another then the image after the steps.
Can some one please explain me step 4 when I select the layer which has shape and I apply the Gradient to it My shape is over shadowed by the Gradient
step 8 doesn’t work at all.. I do allot of tuts but when this appears I never seem to get it right.. how do I have to do that..? please help..
thank collis….. When you continue the “5″ series you finished only two! :(
laranz.joe@gmail.com
nice effect. i tried out with different shapes and the result was eye catching!
Great tutorial!!!
Thank you sooo much!
15/10
really lessons for really students
Cool Tutorial!! But where can i find those custom shapes?
HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE CANVAS BACKGROUND!!!!!!!!
i need a full on step by step tutorial
wow amazing..that was cool..
here’s my version!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37976892@N08/3527785849/sizes/o/
I had a bit of difficulty trying to do steps 3 and 4. Drawing with Custom Shape Tool (with the Fill Pixels selected) didn’t draw anything. So I had to fill the layer with a color, then I used the Shape Tool, selected the pixels (with Ctrl), deleted the background, inverted the selection , and painted over with white color. O.o
I gave this one a go, mine looks just a little different.
Thanks!
very simple and yet very nice! love it, awsome!
great! .. and now I know how to use the radial gradient properly! thanks.
very nice…….i got new Good idea……
i also love this them