This tutorial is designed to help you create a fairly standard metal surface, using the layer features of Photoshop. In following this particular tutorial, you should have a basic understanding of what a layer mask is. Without it, you might easily get lost. Ready or not, here we go.

    The first thing we're going to do is make a new blank image, 256 pixels wide by 256 high. Next, set your foreground and background colors to pure white and pure black respectively. Now go to your filters menu and choose Render > Clouds. You should have a fairly blotchy-looking, non-descript image of black and white fog.

    What we are going to do now is move to the Image > Adjust > Brightness / Contrast... option. Try setting your brightness to -10, and your contrast to -85. Next, go to your Filter > Noise menu, and choose Add Noise... from the list. Set the noise amount to 2.5%, and make sure that "Uniform Distribution" is selected, and that "Monochrome" is checked. When you are through, the image should look similar to this.

    Now things are going to get interesting. Go to your "Rectangular Marquee" tool (use the "M" key), and draw a selection around the entire image (alternatively, you can press "CTRL + A" to make a selection box around the image). Copy it (hit "CTRL + C"), create a new image (make sure that the dimensions are identical to the original image), and paste ("CTRL + V") your creation into the new canvas. Next, go to Image > Adjust > Hue / Saturation..., or press "CTRL + U". You will want to give your metal a "slightly rusted" hue, similar to this. You can try using my settings shown here.

    Here's where things get a little bit sticky for newbies, so pay close attention. Let's copy and paste your colored metal onto your original image, and then create a "Layer Mask", using the "Add A Mask..." button located at the bottom of the layers window. Make sure the layer mask is selected (if you're not sure, look at the example given here), and go to Filter > Render > Clouds. Next, choose Filter > Noise > Add Noise..., and change your settings to reflect the example given here. Now we're ready to start blending the layer with the background.

    Select your top layer again, and sort through your blending filters until you come across the "Color" blend filter (usually second from the bottom). Now change your layer's opacity to 75%. Your image at this point should look something like this. Looking pretty good so far huh?

    We're almost there! With your layer still selected (not the layer mask), go to your Filter > Render menu and choose Lighting Effects... from the options. I would suggest using the settings shown here, but you can make adjustments if necessary. You may even try repeating the filter (press "CTRL + F") once or twice to obtain different looks to your rust. Once finished, your final product should look something like this. I would even suggest playing with the "Brightness / Contrast" settings a bit, you can get your rust layer to appear more corroded.

    Those are the basics of a plain metal texture. Using this as a base for other textures is a great way to create some nice details for your projects. I hope this tutorial does some good for you. Feel free to write me with questions and comments.

Questions or comments? E-mail Mr. Lake