Posted by: Josh on: January 8, 2009

Photoshop Retro Grid Background
Step 1: Create a new Photoshop document 18 pixels wide by 18 pixels high at 72 pixels/inch. Make sure to set the background contents to “Transparent”.

Step 2
Step 2: Fill Layer 1 of the new document with solid black. Edit > Fill.

Solid Black Fill

Solid Black Fill
Step 3: Select the Move Tool (M) and hit the left arrow on your keyboard seven times and then hit the up arrow on your keyboard seven times.

Step 3
Step 4: Create a new layer above Layer 1 (Layer > New Layer) and fill it with solid white. Edit > Fill.

Step 4

Solid White Fill
Step 5: Select the Move Tool (M) again and use your keyboard to move the solid white fill left 7 pixels and up 7 pixels.

Step 5
Step 6: Select the entire image. Select > All.
Step 7: Crop the image to remove the excess areas outside of the artboard. Image > Crop. You now have two 11 pixel by 11 pixel squares to play with.
Step 8: Select the Move Tool (M) one final time, and nudge the white square 2 pixels to the right and 2 pixels down.

Step 8
Step 9: Set the opacity of the white square layer (Layer 2) to 14%.

Step 9
Step 10: Set the opacity of the black square layer (Layer 1) to 60%.

Step 10
Step 11: Define your new pattern. Edit > Define Pattern.

Step 11
Step 12: Close the pattern document.
Step 13: Create another new Photoshop document.

Step 13
Step 14: Fill the background layer of your new document with medium red (R 117, G 0, B 0). Edit > Fill.

Step 14

Medium Red Background Fill
Step 15: Create a new layer to hold your pattern. Layer > New Layer.
Step 16: File the new layer with your grid pattern. Edit > Fill.

Step 16

Pattern Fill
Step 17: Set the opacity of the pattern layer to 25%.

Step 17
Step 18: Add a gradient fill layer above the pattern. Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient. Choose the black to white gradient fill (usually third one from the left).

Step 18

Gradient Fill Layer
Step 19: Finally, set the blending mode of the gradient fill layer to “Multiply” and the opacity to 65%.

Step 19
Done: Download sample file(s).

Final Result
Extra: Play around with the Transform tools and Distort filters to give your pattern some perspective.

Distorted Pattern
Great work….Easy to understand……Its really impressive….
keep it up….and thanks a lot….
hi
[...] – Photoshop Retro Grid Background [...]
Great tutorial
That was a nice and simple tutorial. Very useful too. Thanks for sharing…and looking forward to seeing more stuff from you.
[...] Photoshop Retro Grid Background [...]
[...] Photoshop Retro Grid Background [...]
[...] – Photoshop Retro Grid Background [...]
looks like a hundred of mirrors in the building.. hahaha but nice tutorial anyway!
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Good clear tutorial… but now how do I use this as a textured background in a Flash site. (trying to fill background with a texture rather that simply selecting a color in the >modify document area
Fantastic tutorial
[...] Photoshop Retro Grid Background [...]
1 | ghawyy
January 11, 2009 at 3:49 am
great tut and wat make me like it cos its sample and clear one really thanks bro great work