The textured background
Below is the background I'm talking about. It uses different elements combined, stacked in different layers on top of each other, using different opacity values and layer modes. There is no exact method on how you create such a background. It comes down to trying different things out and see where you end up. The only reoccurring fact, at least for me, is that I mostly end up using a combination of different elements stacked on top of each other.
It's a matter of using your creativity in combination with some experimentation really. When doing so you sometimes create surprising results. That's the beauty of experimenting. However there are always a few tricks that can help you along the way. While building up your experience in Photoshop you'll get better at estimating what the outcome could be if you apply certain effects, layer modes etc.
The different layered elements
Each element sits in its own layer using a certain opacity value and layer mode. Below I show you an image of the different elements this texture is made of:
- The background layer using a color that influences the layers on top.
- An image of the texture of old paper, whose colors have been tweaked a bit to achieve the required result using Hue & Saturation and Levels. The layer of this image is set to 80% opacity and in Multiply mode.
- Random color effect using a big soft transparent Brush. I've used a very flashy pink and orange and added a layer mask to erase and soften the effect a bit. Then I reduced the opacity of the layer to 60% and used Overlay as layer mode. I added a Hue & Saturation adjustment layer on top to reduce the saturation a bit (of all layers below).
- An image of the texture of jute, whose hue has been set to -100. Could be that I tweaked the levels of the image as well (I don't remember) to achieve an extra textured effect. The layer of this image is set to 35% opacity and in Overlay mode.
- Just to finish things off, I added 2 different layers with some transparent grunge brush effects. For one layer I used a very light color, and for the other a slightly darker color. Only the darker one uses an opacity of 75%. Both layers use Normal as layer mode.
Experimenting is key
The above explains only how the creation of this particular texture. As mentioned before, every texture is created differently, and built on pure experimentation. Trying out different settings, different effects, different colors, all kinds of texture imagery, in combination with different combination of layer modes and opacity etc. There is no rule of thumb. Experimenting is key, and by doing so you might end up surprising yourself. If you are looking for a free stock photo site you could use Stock.XCHNG to find a picture of old paper for example. I hope that this example gives you ideas and inspiration to try some stuff out yourself.