A couple of unique techniques to make psychedelic backgrounds.
Both techniques make use of layer styles, filters, and a couple of lesser-known methods.
- Create a new image, 300x300px, then create a new layer ('Layer > New > Layer'). Fill the new layer with any color using the paint bucket.
- Double click the new layer in the Layers window and add a Gradient Overlay. Click the gradient to modify it (circled in red below):
- Change the settings shown to create a noise gradient. If you do not like the colors of your gradient, keep clicking the Randomize button until you're happy.
Here is what I came up with:
- Right click your new layer and select 'Merge Down.' This will combine the new layer and the background layer, and apply the gradient so it is not a layer style anymore.
- Go to 'Filter > Blur > Radial Blur' and enter the following settings:
- Here is the final image. Try different gradients and settings for the blur for different results.
- Now let's turn it up a notch. Save your image if desired, then create a new layer and fill it with any color with the paint bucket. This time, add a Pattern Overlay Layer Style. Use the Nebula pattern.
- Your new layer should look like this. Just like before, right click the new layer in the Layers window and select Merge Down. You should now have one layer.
- Go to 'Filter > Stylize > Glowing Edges' and enter the following settings:
Here is the result:
- Now go to 'Filter > Liquify' and when the Liquify window comes up, keep clicking & dragging around until you get a nice outcome. I like to drag from the middle towards the outside. If you make a mistake, you can use 'Ctrl+Z' to undo. Here are the settings I used:
And here is the final result:
- If you come up with something cool and want to show it off, send it in here: Gallery Submit.
Travelling is my life
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