Making a Grungy Background

Here, I show you how to make this cool background from scratch - with no starting materials! Wondering how? Read on..

Open up a blank file in photoshop. Set the resolution to 300 and have any size you desire. Set the selected colours in the tool bar to white and black or some shade of grey. Next, to add clouds, go to Filter > Render > Clouds. . You will get something like this.

Next, to add noise, go to Filter > Noise > Add noise. Enter these parameters.

You will get a granier image like this.

Now we will give it a little depth. So go to Filter > Stylize > Emboss. Enter these settings.

It will turn out something like this.

For the next effect, go to Filter > Distort > Diffuse Glow.

You should get something to this effect.

Now, we will use the palette knife. Go to Filter > Artistic > Palette Knife.

You will get a nice textured image like this.

We have our base ready. Now to apply some colour. Make a New layer and fill it with a colour of your choice. Make sure it is on TOP of the background layer you were working on all this while. Change the layer mode to Multiply as shown.

You will end up with something like this.

Next, make another new layer on top and fill it with black as shown.

Use the eraser with a brush of your choice and an opacity of 30% and rub off the black in parts to get a final finish like this. Cool isn't it?

You can get a whole variety of colours by simply replacing the middle layer with another one of different colour. Make sure the layers mode is change to multiply. Enjoy!