Vexel Layout

Want to learn a quick dark wood layout with an amazing colour splash? Follow along to create a similar result that looks like this! I will also be using Photoshop CS5 for this tutorial. Please not that the brushes used in this tutorial were not created by me. I learned how to make the layout from outspoken-kate, and now I’ll teach you how to make yours the way I did it.

Open up a blank document with the dimension of 900×300. Fill it up with: 1e1e1e. It looks black but it’s actually not.
Now use your Rectangular Marquee Tool to select half of the layout, fill that half with this wood patten. Double click on the layer and add some drop shadow. Make the
Distance 1 and the Size 1. Also add stroke with the size of one and the fill to be 2a2a2a
We should have something like this:
Now we want to add some color to it. First we are going to add some curves. Change your settings to mine:
RGB: Output: 115 , Input: 153
Leave everything else the way it is.
Now we want to add this selective coloring setting to the layout:
Create a new layer (layer » new layer) and add this sparkle brush. Add it as much times as you want. This is what I have so far:
Now we’re going to create the colorful layers. Create a new layer and call it splatter brush. Download this brush set and use it on the layer. You can use whatever color you want. I will be using orange and green.
We are going to add swirls to it now. Create another new layer and name it swirls. Download this brush set to use. I’m sticking to the colors I started with because we wouldn’t want to over do the colors.
Create another layer and call it dark swirls. Use this brush on it. Use a white or grey on it and set the layer to Linear Burn.
Now I’m going to a line brush, you can use the vector swirls that you downloaded before. This step is optional. After that I’ll add this sparkle brush again but in a dark color.
Now pick a vexel from fuzzable.com. I’m using the 2nd one. Do not forget to credit. Add it to the middle of the layout. Erase whatever you do not need.
We are almost done. Now you the layout looks kind of dull. So we’re going to add a little brightness. Paste this texture from 99mockingbirds.com and set it to soft light. Erase all the necessary parts. And you get this:
For finishing touches, just add this dirt brushes. Add your site name and navigation. Then you end up with this: