Difference Blending for Backgrounds

[NMarti]

This one is very simple and very fun. (I did this in Elements 3 so you may have to adjust slightly for your version)

Create a new document 8x8 or whatever size you are using, with a white background. Duplicate the background [Ctrl(cmd)+J] so you have a new layer filled with white.

Choose the gradient tool and make sure linear gradient is selected (the first one). Now change the blend mode of this layer to DIFFERENCE in the box to the right of the linear choices. Pick a gradient with lots of color - the Spectrum gradient in the default set is what I used. Draw a gradient across the page in any direction. The first pass you won't notice much happening. Now draw the gradient again on the same layer in very short strokes anywhere on the page. The more you continue to make short strokes the more dramatic it becomes. Vary the stroke sizes for totally different effects as well. The important thing is to stay on the same layer as you draw each new gradient. You can even change your choice of gradients for a different effect. Draw one with spectrum then switch to the orange/blue one for a very different look (but stay on the same layer).

Caution - if you see a design you like you should save it before continuing to draw because it's easy to get carried away and lose a design you like. I ended up with about 30 of these. Here are a couple from
very simple (a simple pink/blue gradient drawn side to side
and then again top to bottom):


to a little more involved (one stroke all the way
across the page with a second full page stroke on
top of it):


to very complex (each bar on the page is a
new stroke with the gradient):

[SumScrapper]

Thanks again!

[troush]

Very nice. Thanks for the Tut, Nancy.

-Trish

[Kay]

Thanks, Nancy! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the photo part of PSE, that I forget about all the things that you can do like this to really enhance your backgrounds. I'm saving your tut now!!

[Fulltimer]

Nancy - thanks so much for sharing the tutorial & all you knowledge. Your star is so beautiful.

[NMarti]

You're all quite welcome. Please post some of your results so we can what you came up with.

[Sallie K]

Woo Hoo! What a lot of fun this one is! I use PSCS2 and it works just great. I stacked up several layers of BGs that I made and then changed blending modes on the stack. More fun results. Thanks so much! Very therapudic!

[Sissy]

Here's a sampling from an afternoon's playtime:








This last one was done using the same background as above but then applying various settings on the liquify filter.



Thanks for the tutorial, Nancy.

[NMarti]

Sissy
Those are awesome! The last one looks a bit like a 60's flashback!

[Fulltimer]

Nancy
Thank you so much for this tutorial as these stars are so much fun.
I hope to be uploading a layout into My Gallery, using them, this week.
Lois
See One here, guess I have forgotten how to get the picture to load here.
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pi...k9xUZSFpVYq7M0