BackGround fx
Creating a Funky Background
for your Text or Images
Before we begin I'd just like to say that, since this is a random effect, you probably won't get the exact
pattern that I obtained in my picture. But that's ok! There's plenty of randomness out there for everyone.
I'm sure you'd much rather have something that's completely your own anyway, right? Also, you may want to
create your Funky background on layers in the same .psd file as your text/graphic image.
That's fine, but make sure your computer can handle the processing. You may end up with quite a few layers
in one file; unless you merge your BG FX layers together. You'd do better to create this background first, then
create your text/image on layers above it; so that your background images are on the bottom of the layers
palette.
I will be giving these instructions as if you were creating your background as a new picture, by itself.
It can then be dragged into another image with less hassle.
step 1
A) Start by creating a new picture. Make it either the same size as the text or graphic image you intend
to put it behind, or perhaps bigger if you want. Make the background white & the resolution 72 dpi.
When your canvas is ready, create a new layer.
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l B) Now select your gradient tool and apply the settings you see in the picture below.
C) Now find the closest point to center and click and drag to
the edge of your canvas. You can also obtain a different
finished effect by starting your gradient off to the side if you'd
like? You should now be seeing a multi-coloured gradient:
starting with red in the middle and ending with red around the
edges.
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D) When you're satisfied with your gradient, set this layer to -
OVERLAY - at 100% opacity. Name this layer COLOUR.
Now click on the eye to turn this layer off for the time being,
until we've done our next step.
STEP 2
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B) Open the filters menu and go down to render. Choose clouds.
Apply it once. Repeat this, but instead of clouds choose difference clouds. Apply this at least 4 to 6
times. We need a somewhat marble-like effect, with black being the dominant colour. In other words, we
need more black in our clouds than white.
When you've got the effect you like, apply the Auto Levels filter to your clouds. This will create more
contrast in them, and bring out the white highlights even better.
Win = (Shift+Ctrl+L) - Mac = (Shift+Command+L)
Before you mutilate your clouds, grab the Lasso tool and draw a very rough shape close to the edges
of the canvas on your clouds layer. Make your lines squiggly & giggly & jagged!
Generally, if you make your selection a bit thinner than it is wide you'll get better results. But don't make
the selection too small.
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C) With that done, open the Select Menu and choose Feather. Set it to 10.
Now inverse your selection (inverse is in the Select menu also) and hit the delete key. Now you have a
big fuzzy glob of clouds! Right?
Ok, now you can click on the eye of the COLOUR layer again to make it visible.
STEP 3
A) Before we continue with the displacement of our clouds, re-invert your selection marquee so your
clouds are selected. (Win - Ctrl+Shift+I) (Mac - Command+Shift+I)
Now that you've got your clouds layer feathered & deleted & selected, to the size and shape you like,
let's move on to the displacement of this layer.
Next, open the filters menu and choose distort / displace.
When the Displace dialog window opens, change the settings to match the ones in this image.
Click the OK button and browse to this directory: Photoshop\Plugins\Filters\Dispmaps
There you will find your displacement maps. Open the Dispmaps folder.
Now here is where the fun begins!
NOTE: Every map can yield an interesting and original effect, but...
we are looking for an effect that will "rip holes" in your clouds!
What I mean by this is that all of the white area in your clouds will become the holes.
The hole effect will actually happen automatically, because we also have white as our background layer colour.
It's this part of the procedure that really makes the effect work.
