Hello class today we are going to make a Grunge Background. Mind you this technique being used is pretty basic and leaves a lot of room to expand and use for more than just grunge. Grunge just happenes to be the easiest.

I am assuming that you know how to create a layer, switch brushes, and switch colors, and set layer modes. If you don't well you need to learn before going any further with this tutorial.

With that said lets get started!!

Step One:
Create a new file 400x150 with a white background.

Step Two:
Create a new layer. Pull out some of your grunge brushes (there are a lot of sets out there) Start brushing in this layer with black. Fill the layer up.

example:


Step Three:
Now do a motion blur on the layer:
Motion Blur Settings
Linear
Length: 256
Angle: 0,
Do another motion blur on the layer
Angle to 180

example


Step Four:
Create a new layer now switch to white and start brushing this layer with white grunge. Fill it up like you did the black one.

example


Step Five: Now do a motion blur on the layer:
Motion Blur Settings
Linear
Length: 256
Angle: 0,

Repeat this step but change the
Angle to 180
Set the layer mode to overlay.

example


Step 6: Crete a new layer brush a little black and a little white.
Now do a motion blur on the layer:
Motion Blur Settings
Linear
Length: 125
Angle: 0,
After the motion blur do a Gaussian blur on the layer
Set the strength to 15
Set the layer mode to overlay.

example


Step 7
(Creating The Color Balance Layer):
Ok create a new layer render some clouds. Filers>Render>clouds>solid noise
Step 8:
Click Layer>colors>color balance.
Play around with the settings till you get a color you want.

Example


Ok Class you have now created a base. You can use this base for any grunge backgrounds you do from here on out. Just change the color balance layer.

Creating the Grunginess

Step one:
Create a new layer. Pull out some grunge brushes. Set your color to black and start brushing. Switch brushes a lot. Fill the layer up but don't get to dark. This part takes some practice so have fun and play around with it. Once you have brushed the layer to your likings set the mode to overlay.

Example


Step Two:
Repeat step one but set the color to white.

Example


Step Four:
Repeat Step one than step two just don't brush as much. When you are brushing black avoid getting to dark and when brushing white avoid getting to light. It takes practice, but if you practice enough you will get a great looking background.

Step Five: Create another color balance layer. Change the color to what ever you want!

Example


From this point on you can repeat the black layer step, than white layer step, than color balance step till you get it the way you want it. Just remember switch brushes, and brush sets a lot. You can paint once with a brush than switch and paint once and switch. Also be careful not to get to light or to dark. Play around with it.

Comments, critisimis always welcome. Post what you have created with this. I would love to see it!

Coming soon more advanced brushing techniques!!

Awsome tut. Really nice effect.

this is nice I'll ave to use this it even looks like a pixel stretch too

that is a great tut i am going to use it for my next gfx i am going to make.

Nice tutorial, droz!

Thak you all. Been meaning to post this for some time.

I like a larger variety, and this was a great tut. I'll be sure to use it, thanks.

omg great tut look at this best thing i ever made

Nicely done tolop. I am glad my tut could help out.

thanks, that helped a lot :h:

Good work, someone! Welcome to gimptalk.

Looking forward to seeing more of your efforts.

Art

thanks, i'm fairly new to gimp, i got it a while ago, but i tried it without any tutorials and gave up fast, now, i tried working at it again about 2 months ago after i found the pixel2life site, and i found this forum through pixel2life :l:

some of my pictures can be found in this section of the forum i am on

http://photobucket.com/albums/d146/someone1_2_4/

anyway, i'm very glad to be here :h:

-edit, i got a photobucket account, so now my pictures should be in there

Unfortuantely, your link doesn't work.

works now

i'm going to go make a sig

Actually, it doesn't...the link sends you to a login page. Which is what i was referring to in my last post. Sorry for not being more clear. Is there a way we can see your work without registering?

Art

oh, i'm sorry, i didn't know what you meant

maybe i will just get an online photoalbum to upload my work into, such as a photobucket account.

I just joined today, and I'm not really sure which tutorial to post this in because I think I used about four or five to make this sig *g*

So I'll post it here since I'm positive I remember using this tutorial on the background ^_^

Thanks .. Very nice tutorials..

Ah, so that's how you get that effect.

Thanx man, helped a lot, and helped me furthur my knowledge of Teh GIMP

Hey Im new and i have to say that was VERY easy to follow.

Thanks a lot

Okay, this was sweet. A must have technique to use on my next graphic creation. LOL.

(Droz, great graphics forum by the way. I might think about joining. )

Thank you so much! This tut really helped me out. Here's what I got:

Oh it's the best I've done so far, I'm soo proud. ^^

Thank you!

Good work! btw I posted this on my PSP.

I love this tut! I did two more:

That's a pretty good effect.