Icy Background

Here you're going to learn how to make a nice icy background, just like this one:

Step 1: New Image!

Yup, start off by opening up a new image (As always, I used 200x100). Create a new layer (Layer > New > Layer..) and then Fill this layer with a pattern. To Fill, you need to go to the Edit menu, then click Fill. Choose the pattern "Bubbles". It should look like this:

Quick Notes: New Layer > Fill > Pattern "Bubbles"

Step 2: Spatteration

Now we're going to use a filter... Go to the Filter menu and click 'Brush Strokes', then choose the filter; Spatter.
From here, you're going to have to set the Spray Radius to 10 and the Smoothness to 5. It should know look like this:

Quick Notes: Filter > Brush Strokes > Spatter [Spray Radius: 10, Smoothness: 5]

Step 3: Colouring in the lines!

Ok, another colouring lesson. Go to the Colour Balance screen by click the Image menu, then Adjustments and then clicking Colour Balance. From here, you should see a small screen with 3 bars on it.
Move the top bar all the way to the left (Where it says Cyan)- The number at the top should say "-100". Now, move the last bar to the right (Blue) until the number at the top says "+70".
These values aren't set in concrete though... keep changing the colours around until you find a blue that you like. Now, it should look like this:

Quick Notes: Image > Adjustments > Colour Balance [Cyan 100% - Blue 70%]

Step 4: Another Filter...

Yup, another one. Go to the Filter Menu and select 'Blur' this time. In the drop down menu, click 'Blur More'. You don't have to set any values for this one, so that's it for this step! It should look like this:

Quick Notes: Filter > Blur > Blur More

Step 5: Distorting

One last filter! Go to the Filter menu and click on 'Distort'. From there, click on the filter; Glass. Now, set the values as shown: Distortion: 16, Smoothness: 9, Texture: Frosted, Scaling: 110%. Now, it should be looking like this:

Quick Notes: Filter > Distort > Glass [Distortion: 16, Smoothness: 9, Texture: Frosted, Scaling: 110%]

Step 6: Blurring

Ok, I lied... this is the last filter. Repeat step 4 again by going to the Filter menu, then click Blur, then choosing 'Blur More'. Again, you don't have to set any values... It should now be finished and look like this:

Quick Notes: Filter > Blur > Blur More

and you're done! Congrats!

Problems? Questions? I'll be more than happy to walk you through if you Contact Me.