metal

Today, I show you how to create brushed-metal text in Photoshop. I'd tell you more, but lynda.com content curator Colleen Wheeler did such a brilliant job of it that I figure I'll just turn you over to her:

This week's free Deke's Techniques falls into my favorite category of effects: those that create something from nothing. In this case, the "something" is elegant, cool, weighty letters that appear to be made of brushed stainless steel. The "nothing" is a window full of black pixels (to which you apply a couple of Photoshop filters to make a pattern), a few text and shape layers, some layer effects, and a couple of very important blend modes. Read more » 

Today's installment of Deke's Techniques shows you how to create an entirely automated background pattern using a trio of smart filters and a pattern overlay. Here's the official (and extremely awesome) description:

It's another week and time for another quick technique from Deke. In this week's episode, Deke shows you how to create something heartily substantial from something virtually nonexistent. Specifically, Deke creates a hammered metal background (featured behind last week's gold type) from insubstantial clouds and glass. Leave it to Photoshop (and Deke) to create such opportunities for irony.

Start with a field of black pixels, apply some smart filters, and top it off with a little rusty metal pattern, and you have a wall of textured metal that will support any creation you want to build on top of it. And because you're using the Clouds and Difference Clouds filters, which are based on random fractal noise, your wall of steel won't look exactly like anyone else's when you put it to use in your own projects. Read more »