Abstract Backgrounds

[Sylo-X-]

Okay. Please bare with me. This is my first attempt at a tutorial.

This will(or should) guide you through the prossess of making an Abstract Background or Banner.

At this time please excuse any grammer or spelling mistakes.

Resources:
[url=\"http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/16817557/\"]Spazz Brush Set[/url]
[url=\"http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/20961468/\"]GR3Z Abstract Set 4[/url]


We will be making this image. [url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/Final.jpg\"]http://www.killanet.net/uploads/burstangel.jpg[/url]


Step 1.

Open Photoshop. I am using Photoshop CS2.
Go to File>New. Set the page to to 1024x768.

Step 2.
Start brushing with the Spazz Brush Set(any brushest will work just fine though)
Make sure you are using the color black.
It should be turning out somewhat like this
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut1.GIF\"]IMAGE[/url]
As you can tell I am using a different brush set.
Keep brushing till you get something like this,
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut2.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]
As you can see we want it nice and dark.

Step 3.
Set you color to white.
Grab the GR3Z Abstract Brush Set and we start with this,
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut3.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]
Keep brushing with all the brushes in the set til you end up with something like this,
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut4.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]

Step 4.
Time to add a render. A render is an image that has no background. I'll be using this render,
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/burst-angel.png\"]IMAGE[/url]
Open the render in photoshop by going to File>Open. Resize the render as you see fit by going to Image>Image size. I resized mine to 1024x768.
Select the whole render by pressing CTRL+A and then copy it by pressing CTRL+C.
Now you want to paste it into you background. Go back to you background and press CTRL+V and it will paste your render into the background. Should look like this,
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut5.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]
You can move the render where ever you want on your background.

Step 5.
Now we need to make the render black and white to match the background. we do this by going to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Change your setting to match mine,
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut6.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]
This should be your result.
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut7.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]

Step 6.
Now we need to add some color to things. Go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Color Balance. The default name will work just fine (Color Balance 1) so just hit okay when that pops up.
You should now be looking at this.
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut8.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]
Play around with the color balance. Dont forget to change the Highlights and the Shadows too. I'm doing mine red.
This is what i got
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut9.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]
Now we can add some brightness and contrast. go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Brightness/Contrast. Again the default name should be just fine. Just play around with the sliders til you get what you want. You can even skip it if you want but I always like to add a little bit more contrast.

Step 7.
Now we are bassicly finished unless you want to add some text. I'll be using a font called "A Theme For Murder" which you can find at www.dafont.com.
Add the text where ever you want. If you want the same effect i got go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Check Drop Shadow and Stroke. Leave the default setting for Drop Shadow and set your setting fro Stroke like mine are.
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/tut10.JPG\"]IMAGE[/url]

Save your file.
This is the end result
[url=\"http://www.killanet.net/uploads/Final.jpg\"]FINAL IMAGE[/url]

Yours will not look exactly like mine but thats okay. Use originality.


The same method can be used for banners and siggnatures.

I hope this helped everyone who read it.

-Sylo-X-

[Adrasteia]

[quote]Time to add a render. A render is an image that has no background. I'll be using this render,[/quote]

where did you get the render from? is there a site that is good to find these at or did you make it yourself?
am going to try this tut but wanted to search out a good render first
Nem

[Sylo-X-]

Im not too sure where i got this one. But you can get some good renders at www.gamerenders.com also deviant art has some good renders.

[Josh]

The only problem with gamerenders.com is that they seem to always have a white background and when you try to extract the render from the white it\'s sometimes hard because when you use the magic wand tool to select the white it will select part of the render too... so you have to manually add a selection to parts that overflow into the render... I\'ll keep a watch for more free render websites. <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

[Sylo-X-]

Yea ive had the same problem. Ive found a few that have not had a background but. There are quite a few that do. I say the best bet is deviant art