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EFFECTS

Creating a Mac-Type
Background in
Photoshop
by Collis Ta'eed

14 Sep 2007

171 Comments

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.
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Step 1:
We begin with a blank canvas and then add a plain red background of color #780000

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Step 2:
Add a NEW LAYER
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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.

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Step 3:
Add a NEW LAYER
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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.

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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:
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#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.

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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
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selected, as it makes a difference with the output.

Set the Opacity to 30%

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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.

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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
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really dark around there.

Step 8:
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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%.

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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
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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.

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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.
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Next change the blend mode on this layer to Overlay and opacity to about 45%.

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Advertisement

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.

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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
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inner shadow) from the sample PSD download on the top right.

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About Collis Ta'eed

Hi I'm Collis and I work at Envato making

Modelling & Rigging a Cartoon

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awesome websites and generally

3D & Motion Graphics

wandering about the internets!

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Year Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
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171 Comments

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Hailey

6 years ago

This Comment only confused me on PSD even more!

You need to HELP with your own tutorials
1

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Teddy Wyatt > Hailey

a year ago

The tut was clear and concise to m and many others.. :D Sorry u failed
1

J > Hailey

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5 years ago

Yes this confused me as well.....

RizkyDesign

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4 months ago

This is not an MAC type background showed in title and thumbnail ????

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Mateusz Sanzo Cichosz

6 months ago

hello, could u update this tutorial, cause it's different than a photoshop file, which is available is this page.
different tutorial ;C

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albatross

2 years ago

Very nice tutorial.. clear and concise with great results. Thanks!

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Karthik

2 years ago

nice tutorial

RC

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2 years ago

Great tutorial. I am new to photoshop, yet could follow using CS6. Tnx

lucy

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2 years ago

Great tutorial, I usually use Flame Painter for these abstract backgrounds, it's a great tool and then make
composition in Photoshop.

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Anquish

2 years ago

Sorry, but i dont understand what this means "Now again, take your Polygonal Lasso Tool and do a simila
but back and against it (like shown)." the "but back and against it" part confuses me ? Cool background th
great job. Best regards.

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cody > Anquish

2 years ago

He means kind of mirroring the previous triangle

1
mohan karthi

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2 years ago

super

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Lina

3 years ago

Great tutorial, to the point and very useful, thanks a lot :)

lisa

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3 years ago

That the best back ground ever

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Isabel Stumpf Mitchell

3 years ago

Very good this tutorial! There was a time looking for one of these curves. Despite being a little laborious w
because in addition to learning how to make this background with curves, you can learn about amis Pen T
Paths.
Att
Isabel Stumpf Mitchell

Waleed

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3 years ago

I am a new to photoshop an would appreciate some helo if possible.

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venomboy

4 years ago

A really big thanks for the tips

anika

Reply Share

4 years ago

I'm in my very beginning to learn photoshop. Here I came and Start learning. As I'm totally new. I have no p
knowledge about various tools of photoshop.
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Rawan

4 years ago

Thank you so much! The tutorial is very easy to follow, and the techniques are so easy! I can FINALLY ma
wallpapers now that I know some good methods. :)

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haarison

4 years ago

great lessons thank u sir

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Pattaya Guide

4 years ago

great tutorial. I really happy with the result. :) thank you very much.

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Josh Booth

4 years ago

Another great tutorial on a different style of design, good to get out of the comfort zone once in a while. Ch

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uriel

4 years ago

Very good... Thank you !!

Henry

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5 years ago

Excellent tutorial, easy to understand, and I had a great result! Thanks!!

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Basim

5 years ago

great tut!

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keer

5 years ago

Awesome tutorial. I practised it and did some changes. It looks cool.

kumar

Reply Share

5 years ago

simply awesome, thanks for tut

Gil

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5 years ago

This is a really awesome Mac background... thanks for the help with the Photoshop! xD

Iris

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5 years ago

Awesome tutorial, I love it! xxx

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Vxplus

5 years ago

Thanks you a lot I've been looking to do something like this for a wild but never found how, thanks again.

vadikar

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5 years ago

thanks for tutorial I like it very much i am a new in photo shop send me full guide line

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kraesmom

5 years ago

Very nice! Thank you so much. I was able to use your techniques and explore my creativity and made a b
for a powerpoint presentation that our company is giving. It looks very slick, but doesn't interfere with read
Thanks for sharing!

jaka

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5 years ago

great :)

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Rafael

5 years ago

Nice tut, really great!

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5 years ago

I'm just learning Photoshop. How do you set Overlay???

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Vexiphne

5 years ago

Really great tut. I love it :)

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vinay

5 years ago

very nice

blank
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5 years ago

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cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
explenation. ITs SOOOOOOO easy

Killua

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5 years ago

Huh..Awesome keep it on ^^

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Magnus Prime

5 years ago

I don't get how to make nice curves like that...That's the only reason I haven't managed it yet..SOMEONE
HELP!!!

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morteza

5 years ago

thnkas for your tutorial........ but the link download is broken. please put other link for download

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gusdv16

5 years ago

Very good tutorial

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Pugi

5 years ago

hai

manju

Reply Share

5 years ago

http://slidegeeks.com/
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Reply Share

manju

5 years ago

that,s good desinning but my background desing very besy plase see
http://slidegeeks.com/

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Rawda

5 years ago

thanks for the tut ;)

nadia

Reply Share

5 years ago

this is one perfect and clean tutorials, thanks for sharing

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www.besttrendsshop.com

6 years ago

ugg boots sand

ugg sand
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uggs sand

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Admin > www.besttrendsshop.com

5 years ago

i would appreciate if you didn't advertise here.

Jitu
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6 years ago

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Another great tutorial thanks. Love the website. Keep up the good work

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