creating a mac type background

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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.

EFFECTS

Creating a Mac-TypeBackground inPhotoshopby Collis Ta'eed 14 Sep 2007 171 Comments

1 1


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%.


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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.


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Difficulty:

Intermediate

Categories:

Effects

Adobe Photoshop

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About Collis Ta'eed

Hi I'm Collis and I work at Envato makingawesome websites and generallywandering about the internets!

Creative Lighting Effects in AdobePhotoshop

$15

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171 Comments Psdtuts+

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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

Reply

Teddy Wyatt a year ago> HaileyThe tut was clear and concise to m and many others.. :D Sorry u failed

1

Reply

J 5 years ago> HaileyYes this confused me as well.....

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RizkyDesign 4 months ago

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

Reply

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. It's totallydifferent tutorial ;C

Reply

albatross 2 years ago

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

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Karthik 2 years ago

nice tutorial

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RC 2 years ago

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

Reply

lucy 2 years ago

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

Reply

Anquish 2 years ago

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

Reply

cody 2 years ago> AnquishHe means kind of mirroring the previous triangle

1

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mohan karthi 2 years ago

super

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Lina 3 years ago

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

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lisa 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 worth it,because in addition to learning how to make this background with curves, you can learn about amis Pen Tool andPaths.AttIsabel Stumpf Mitchell

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Waleed 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 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 properknowledge 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 make my ownwallpapers 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. Cheers.

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uriel 4 years ago

Very good... Thank you !!

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Henry 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.

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kumar 5 years ago

simply awesome, thanks for tut

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Gil 5 years ago

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

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Iris 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.

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vadikar 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 backgroundfor a powerpoint presentation that our company is giving. It looks very slick, but doesn't interfere with readability.Thanks for sharing!

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jaka 5 years ago

great :)

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Rafael 5 years ago

Nice tut, really great!

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J 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 5 years ago

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coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolexplenation. ITs SOOOOOOO easy

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Killua 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 PLEASEHELP!!!

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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 5 years ago

http://slidegeeks.com/

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manju 5 years ago

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

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Rawda 5 years ago

thanks for the tut ;)

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nadia 5 years ago

this is one perfect and clean tutorials, thanks for sharing

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Jitu 6 years ago

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

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creating a mac type background

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