Background collage secrets Part 2.
shapes and text - Photoshop Tutorial

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

PART 2

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

Add some white type with the text tool.
Some good fonts are available from www.1001freefonts.com I use Gunship and courier.

2

The next thing I did was to make some huge letters using Futura medium condensed.
To give a neat effect change the blending mode to Overlay and drop the opacity to 33%.

3

Notice how it interacts with the background?

Drop the opacity of all the fonts and experiment with different blending modes.

Now I will show you how I created my Hexagons.

4

Select the shape tool. In the drop down menu, select the Polygon tool.

5

On the top tool bar, choose these settings:
For sides, choose 6. The default is a five sided Pentagon.
Select the 3rd option on the far left. This will draw a filled shape rather than a path.

6

Create a new layer.

Set the foreground color to white.

7

Draw the shape.

8

As soon as you release the mouse it will be filled.

9

Change to overlay mode and 26% opacity.

Now we want a solid white outline.

10

Create a new layer. (Layer 5)
Ctrl/Cmd+Click on the thumbnail of the hexagon layer. (Layer 4)
The selection will load. Make sure that the new layer (layer 5) is active as shown.

11

Edit>stroke

Choose white, 1 pixel and center.

Press OK.

12

Now you have a semi transparent hexagon, with a solid white outline.
I really like this shape.

 

13

Link the shape and the outline.(Layers 4 and 5) together.

Select merge linked.
Now the shape and the outline are merged onto 1 layer.

14

To duplicate the shape press Alt/Option Click on the shape and drag out a copy.
Do this as often as you want to keep duplicating the shapes. Tip: Holding down the shift key will keep the bases aligned. (Alt\Option+Shift)

15

Keep playing around with the shapes until you have something that resembles this.

Next week we are going to add some depth by blending in some clouds.

 

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