Custom Textured Background With Filters

Our objective here is to create a custom textured background. You will be introduced to new techniques including Blend Modes, Filters, and the Custom Shape tool.

You will be doing this by following the tutorial below. The result looks like this:

1. Open a new Document: Default Size of 7x5...call it "texture practice".
Note: Please follow this practice, including all the settings. You will be able to do your own afterwards.
2. Filter>Render>Clouds...do Ctrl+F a few more times until you like what you see (it won't look exactly like mine.)

3. Convert your layer to a Smart Filter. This helps you keep track of your filters. (See screenshot.)

4. Go back to your menu and find Filter>Sketch>Bas Relief...or you can choose Filter Gallery.  Use the same settings as shown in the screenshot: Detail=15; Smoothness=1 and Light=Bottom Right.

5. See the Effects and notice the Layers palette.

6. Custom Shape (U) Tool: Click/hold the tool so you can find the Free Form shape beneath the Rectangle. Go to the Options bar and locate the default Arrow shape. Drop the arrow to access more shapes. Locate the right arrow and find the word "All" to bring in all the shapes. Choose "Append". This will add all the shapes to the end of your list.

7. Use the Neon Green color from your Swatches palette. Drag out the Custom shape onto your canvas. Notice the position and size. You can use Ctrl+T to scale up and rotate.

8. Reverse the look: Use your Path selection tool (A--black arrow) and go up to the options bar to select the Subtract from shape. (See screenshot.)

9. Go to the Shape layer and change the blend mode to Multiply. This will allow for the texture to show through the color. (See screenshot.)

10. Add a new layer, Use Default colors (D--Black over White), fill it with white (Ctrl + delete), and change blend mode to Overlay. This will lighten up the overall picture. (See screenshot.)

11. Use your Polygon Lasso tool to create the shape you see in the screenshot. It will be used to create a ray of light.

12. Once you see your ants, use the following keys to inverse your selection: Shift+Ctrl+I and Fill it with black.

13. Deselect your ants (Ctrl+D), and choose Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur...choose about 25 pixels to apply.

(Note: I decide to reposition my radioactive shape. I also lowered my layer opacity to about 45%...see screenshot.)

Finished Result: