Background collage secrets Part 1: Preparing the background and scanlines

PART 1

Click to download Wallpaper
We are about to embark on a 6-part voyage that will teach you how to create the high-tech multilayer backgrounds that make you go "wow". This is probably the most requested tutorial that I have been asked to write. I put it off because there are so many steps. At the end of part 6 you will have created the BG you see on the right. Download it and use it for your screen wallpaper if you desire.

At the end of this tutorial you will have completed the image to the right. This will be the base of the collage. Substitute a different image if you wish. At the end of 6 weeks you will be able to adapt these techniques and produce stunning backgrounds of your own. Because of the steps involved, these tutorials are going to take on a slightly faster pace than we are used to.

This series is the first of our new "Super Tutorials"

6-week Curriculum
1: BG Prep Grids, Blur and scanlines
2: shapes and text
3: blended clouds
4: 3D text
5: High Tech Shapes
6: Tiny Paragraph text

1

Open the image "Dune.tif" It is located in the samples folder that installed with Photoshop:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop 6.0\Samples

If you prefer, you could use any image you like.

Resize to fit a desktop. I chose 800X600. To resize uncheck the "constrain proportions" box.

Click OK to apply

2

Filters>blur>Gaussian blur.

I used a setting of 19. We need the background to be really soft so it doesn't compete with the foreground elements we will add later.

3

Create a new layer.

4

Press shift+Backspace to open the fill dialog box.

Choose pattern and choose the scan line,
(If you haven't completed the scan line tutorial, see how to define a scan line pattern here)

Press OK to fill with the pattern. It should look like the image on the right.

5

Change to screen mode in the layers palette. You should be able to see the background shining through now.

Add a layer mask to the scanlines layer. (Add the layer mask by pressing the add mask button at the bottom of the layers palette.)

6

Select the gradient tool. Press the "D" key to reset the default colors.

Choose the linear, foreground to background gradient.

Drag the gradient tool at an angle, as shown.

7

You should now have the scanline effect fading out on one side of the screen.

To make the effect even more subtle, drop the opacity to 42%

8

Now we want to add the grid.

Create a new layer and fill (Shift+backspace) with a pattern. This time choose the grid pattern that we created in the grid tutorial. (See how to define a grid pattern here)

9

You should have the grid filling the image now.
(If your grid is not white, then define a new grid pattern. 10PX square and white 1 px stroke.)

10

Change the grid to "soft light" mode.

11

Drop the opacity down to 17%. Now it blends nicely with your scanlines and background. You don't want this effect to be overwhelming. Subtle is the key.

12

Add a layer mask, and this time run the gradient tool vertically from top to bottom.

13

After seeing the result, I have decided to lower the opacity of the scan lines further.
Select the scanline layer (layer 1) and reduce the opacity to 10%

There! Your background should resemble this. A perfect canvas to apply all kinds of cool effects