Step One :In this edition, we will teach you how to use Adobe PhotoShop to make your own backgrounds. This technique is only intended to show you one of the many ways that you can use a Graphics Application to better your project. First, create a new document.

Step Two: This technique shows you how any image you have can be used to create a custom background. Open an image or scan a photograph, then select all and copy that document.

Step Three: Paste that image into your document. In this example we are using an image of former President Clinton, you can use anything, because when we are done it will not look anything like the original image.

Step Four: Go to filters, blur, gaussian blur and then put in a high value. For this example, we used a setting of 40. Notice how this effect completely distorts the pasted image.

Step Five: Next, we are going to add color to this document. You can do this several ways. You can paste a color over the image and apply varying modes to the color layer. You can use the brush tools to paint in color. For this example we are using the often overlooked Hue / Saturation tool. Press control U on the PC or command U on the Mac, and then change to colorize. Experiment with these settings.

Step Six: Now that we have this blue background. We are going to add some texture to it. This can be accomplished several ways. Usually with a simple filter or effect. We are going to use the sponge filter. It is located in filters, artistic, sponge. Notice how the filter adds a much needed texture to the background.

Step Seven: There are several other filters that will allow you to acheive this effect. PhotoShop has many interesting filters that have been added over the years. Please, experiment with these, you will be amazed at the wonderful things you can create.

Step Eight: Now when you add your text or other images to your artwork, they will be much more appealing than just a plain background.