40 Excellent Photoshop Textures and Backgrounds Tutorials

Published in Design, Photoshop Tutorials

When it comes to creating backgrounds for websites, posters, and other types of designs, Photoshop provides unlimited potential. Textures are often used in backgrounds in addition to abstract effects. Textures can sometimes be created from scratch using filters and other features of Photoshop, or they can be created with the help of photographs.

In this post we’ll link to 40 tutorials that will show you how to create impressive backgrounds and textures for your own work. Follow along with of few of these tutorials and you will be creating awesome backgrounds and textures that make your designs look great.

Unique Textures without Using Brushes

This tutorial from Bittbox shows how you can easily create awesome textures of your own. You can then use these textures for all different purposes in your own designs.

Unique Textures without Using Brushes

Quickly Build an Abstract Background of Colored Bars

Abstract backgrounds can be useful in a wide variety of settings. This Psdtuts tutorial shows how you can create an attention-grabbing background in just a few minutes.

Quickly Build an Abstract Background of Colored Bars

Texturing of Old Paper

Paper textures are so incredibly versatile. This tutorials is definitely worth following.

Texturing of Old Paper

The Ultimate Wood Texture Tutorial

Want to create your own wood texture from scratch? It’s possible with the help of Photoshop and you can learn the process in this tutorial.

The Ultimate Wood Texture Tutorial

Fabric Folds

Here you’ll learn how to create realistic-looking folds.

Fabric Folds

Wrinkled Up Paper Tutorial

While this paper texture is not a realistic look, at can be very useful in the right situation.

Wrinkled Up Paper Tutorial

Creating a Mac-Type Background in Photoshop

With this tutorial you’ll learn how to create an awesome abstract background that you can use for wallpapers, websites, and other projects.

Creating a Mac-Type Background in Photoshop

Windows Vista Aurora Effect Photoshop Tutorial

Another awesome abstract background effect.

Windows Vista Aurora Effect Photoshop Tutorial

Textured Crumpled Paper

With this tutorial you’ll work with textures to create this realistic look.

Textured Crumpled Paper

Grungy Metal Texture

Creating a stunning grungy background can be quite simple, and this tutorial shows how you can do it.

Grungy Metal Texture

Marble Texture

Here you’ll learn how to create an interesting marble texture that has sort of an abstract look.

Marble Texture

Photorealistic Rock and Stone Textures

A realistic stone texture can be created from scratch in Photoshop.

Photorealistic Rock and Stone Textures

Texture of Black Bubbles Effects

This is an abstract background that can be pretty easy to create.

Texture of Black Bubbles Effects

Use Texture Effects to Create Beautiful Compositions

This tutorial shows how to use texture to compliment a beautiful design.

Use Texture Effects to Create Beautiful Compositions

Waves Background

Another awesome and abstract background can be created by following this tutorial.

Waves Background

Water from Below

A semi-realistic water texture can be replicated by following along with this tutorial.

Water from Below

Creating a Rusty Surface Texture

Here you’ll create a realistic rusty texture from scratch in Photoshop.

Creating a Rusty Surface Texture

Crumpled Paper Bag

Another not-quite-realistic, but still very useful paper texture.

Crumpled Paper Bag

Creating a Cool Brushed Metal Surface in Photoshop

Brushed metal can have a nice subtle texture.

Creating a Cool Brushed Metal Surface in Photoshop

Stone Texture

Another approach for creating your own stone textures is covered in this tutorial.

Stone Texture

Create a Seamless Pattern Tile for Christmas

Sometimes a pattern can serve as the best background option.

Create a Seamless Pattern Tile for Christmas

Creating Colorful Disco Lines Effect

This tutorial from 10steps shows how to create a colorful abstract background that will certainly get attention.

Creating Colorful Disco Lines Effect

Create Smoke Effect on Grungy Wallpaper

This smokey effect has a nice texture to it.

Create Smoke Effect on Grungy Wallpaper

Creating an Abstract Background for Poster

Another option for an abstract background is covered in this tutorial.

Creating an Abstract Background for Poster

How to Create Mosaic Effect in Photoshop

Mosaic abstract backgrounds can be an excellent choice, and this tutorial will guide you step-by-step.

How to Create Mosaic Effect in Photoshop

Creating Cardiac Rate Effect with Photoshop

This is another abstract effect that may prove to be useful.

Creating Cardiac Rate Effect with Photoshop

Custom Wood Texture in Adobe Photoshop

Here is another approach for creating your own wood textures from scratch in Photoshop.

Custom Wood Texture in Adobe Photoshop

Create a Futuristic Abstract Wallpaper

This futuristic effect is another option for abstract backgrounds.

Create a Futuristic Abstract Wallpaper

Hexagon Bokeh Effect in Photoshop

The highly popular bokeh background is slightly adapted here with hexagon’s instead of circles.

Hexagon Bokeh Effect in Photoshop

Colorful Light Effect in Photoshop

Lighting effects can be an excellent choice for impressive backgrounds.

Colorful Light Effect in Photoshop

Creating an Embedded Concrete Effect Using Only Layer Styles

Here you’ll learn how to create this beautiful textured effect.

Creating an Embedded Concrete Effect Using Only Layer Styles

Enhancing Your Portraits with Textures

Textures can also be used to give a different look and feel to your photos, and it’s easy to implement.

Enhancing Your Portraits with Textures

5 Awesome Techniques for Using Textures in Your Designs 

Learn how to apply texture to this colorful retro design.

5 Awesome Techniques for Using Textures in Your Designs

Guide to Creating Bokeh Textures

Another approach to creating a bokeh background.

Guide to Creating Bokeh Textures

How to Make an Awesome Grungy Paper Texture from Scratch

Bittbox shows how to make this standard paper texture much more awesome.

How to Make an Awesome Grungy Paper Texture from Scratch

Reverse Grunge: Easy Texture Technique in Photoshop

Using the eraser tool you can create interesting and unique textures.

Reverse Grunge: Easy Texture Technique in Photoshop

Create an Abstract Liquid Effect

Learn how to create beautiful, colorful backgrounds.

Create an Abstract Liquid Effect

Create Bright Abstract Diagonal Lines Background

Yet another abstract background option.

Create Bright Abstract Diagonal Lines Background

How to Create Abstract Wormhole Background

An abstract space-inspired background.

How to Create Abstract Wormhole Background

Create a Pulsar Star Inspired Digital Abstract Artwork

Another space-inspired background technique is covered in this tutorial.

Create a Pulsar Star Inspired Digital Abstract Artwork

 

Bundle Box

Get a free icon & vector bundle (worth $54) just for subscribing to our weekly newsletter!

47 Responses

Simon Ward June 2nd, 2008

I really like this one Steven, I will use some of these with my ICT classes. Cheers.

Vandelay Design June 2nd, 2008

Great! Thanks for the feedback Simon.

Scott Fillmer June 2nd, 2008

Great list, thanks for sharing. You really know how to come up with the goods in photoshop. I have been using photoshop (CS2) for years and year with my photography, still learn something new all the time.

Vandelay Design June 2nd, 2008

Hey Scott,
Thanks. I’m glad you found some useful tutorials here.

Ricardo June 3rd, 2008

Good selection.

Biodun June 3rd, 2008

Thanks for sharing this nice tutorial, Smooth Silk Texture is great man…

Charles Lumia June 3rd, 2008

That list is amazing, thanks.
I literally just started using photoshop, as such I am pretty much completely ignorant as to how to use it properly. I’m sure that all of these tutorials will come in handy as I continue my learning.

david June 4th, 2008

wow, these are great … i plan on using some of these as wallpapers to give out to friends.

thanks for sharing

david
http://www.davidsmeaton.com

Karl Hardisty June 4th, 2008

For some reason I see some use in our future for the scan lines effect. I have no idea why.

Oliver Blake June 5th, 2008

Thanks for the list. Will have to have a look at the tutorials in more detail and im sure they will come in handy sometime soon.

Raymondo June 5th, 2008

I found tht really interesting thanks! Come back after one of your other photo tutorial lists got me hooked.

andy June 7th, 2008

Good tutorials. The wood one is the best. Always interested in getting better with photoshop.

jones June 9th, 2008

those are some pretty good background, you are skilled with the brush.

http://www.websitesubmitcenter.com/

Sangesh June 19th, 2008

Great collection of tutorials mate. Specially I liked the Grungy Metal Texture.

Jenny June 22nd, 2008

those are nifty. I’m gonna try out some of them and see how I do.

Kraken November 22nd, 2008

Nice pc desktop backgrounds.

rohan January 18th, 2009

thanks for this super article

Karen Leach February 25th, 2009

Fabric folds tutorial: missing steps?!?!? a new drag of the gradient tool just overwrites the last step. how do you get multiple gradients??

Vandelay Design February 26th, 2009

Karen,
You’d have to ask the tutorial author… Have you tried using multiple layers? If you’re on the same layer it will just go over top of the last gradient.

mohita nagi March 21st, 2009

A excellent site to learn photoshop in so easy manner.Thanx for giving so comfortable step to understand the concepts of designs.I am eagerly waiting to learn new.thanx and oblige.

Mohita Nagi,
Architect Asstt.
India

Alana July 30th, 2009

Hey these are incredible..thanks so much for the help

Kev August 1st, 2009

This is the best collection of Background Tuts I’ve come across. Going to now check out your other links and the rest of this site. Well Done !!

Avinash August 7th, 2009

excellent tutorials

Justin August 12th, 2009

Excellent tutorials, for some fresh hi-res textures all in 300dpi check out http://www.lovetextures.com they are all free to download

Vishnu.C.Nair September 23rd, 2009

great work buddy:))

Andy November 12th, 2009

Some useful good quality textures here, more please!

saç ekimi December 16th, 2009

That’s all great wallpapers. Thanks a lot. My desktop is more attractive

Erika Troncoso December 23rd, 2009

Hmmm im new to photoshop and i was trying to make the smooth fabric texture, but its not coming out right at all…..help :(

Rabin Chatterjee January 11th, 2010

its really great Steven. thanks for share these. realy you r brought minded person.
may I know how can I get psd layer file of these design. really I like it boss..
thanks..

Vandelay Website Design January 11th, 2010

Rabin,
You can get a layered PSD from some of these tutorials, click through the links. Some of the tutorial authors make them available.

Mermer March 10th, 2010

Nice background designs, thanks for sharing ;)

Brad March 20th, 2010

Damn,

The only one I like ‘Clean Background Effect’ is no longer!

Poop!

Kitty April 20th, 2010

This is the most amazing site for photoshop. I have been using about 2% of it’s true capacity but after using this – am now at 5% (which is a huge start after using it for about 5 years). I can’t believe how simple you make it seem. Thank you so much for doing these, it really is appreciated.

grace April 30th, 2010

Do you get any files that can be downloaded? as a collection, that would be more wonderful!

Sumeet Chawla May 19th, 2010

Nice collection… The fabric fold tutorial really helped me a lot :) And all thanks to you..

Alicia May 29th, 2010

Great collection! I recently started creating my own photoshop project and these resources will come in handy.

Blaine Stewart October 26th, 2010

All are wonderful.,Very innovative and attractive. Thanks for sharing with us.

dimple.vaghani01 October 27th, 2010

The only one I like ‘Clean Background Effect’ is no longer!

Darren February 23rd, 2011

Hi great collection! Just what I have been searching the net for. I have bookmarked this webpage for future reference.

Many thanks
Darren

erick March 9th, 2011

nice!! thanks for this…. currently building my own website and this is a big help……….

Julia March 27th, 2011

Particularly like water from below. Really excellent. Thansk for sharing these with us!

Archetypus May 26th, 2011

Terrific collection of tutorials. I do lots of designing and these are very useful in many different applications.

Saeed Neamati November 8th, 2011

None of these patterns IMHO suites any website design. I think a soft, noisy, texturized pattern which would be repeated is the best choice.

Vandelay Website Design November 8th, 2011

Hi Saeed,
It’s not intended specifically for web design. Other types of designs like posters, wallpapers, flyers, etc. can use backgrounds too.

Nathan Adver November 29th, 2011

Wow, such a great number of tutorials, i can spend whole day reading them.
Thanks!

And i’m disagree with Saeed.the modern technologies in webdesign let us use not only seamless patterns/textures but the whole images as a backgrounds for webpages. i think noone uses dial-up anymore :)

Roberto Farren December 26th, 2011

Great read, thanks for all the info!! The tutorials were just what I had been after! Thanks again. Regards, Rob

Leave a Reply