Photoshop Tutorial - Making a Wood Texture
In this tutorial we’ll create a wood texture:
1. Start by making a new file with the Width=612 and Height= 612.
2. Make a new layer and fill it with #765838.
3. Then apply a noise filter Go to Filter->Noise->Add Noise and use the following settings:
4. Apply a motion blur effect Go to Filter->Blur->Motion Blur and use the following settings:
5. Adjust the Brightness/Contrast Go to Image->Ajustments->Brigtness/Contrast and set the Brightness to -15 and Contrast to 50.
6. Now we have to remove the sides. To do this Go to Image->Canvas Size and set the Width=512 and the Height=512 and the anchor point in the center:
7. Make a new layer and set as the main color #7c5617 and as the second color black, then Go to Filter->Render->Clouds, set the layer blending mode to Color Dodge and the opacity at 50%.
Make another layer and set as the main color #442f1d and as the second color white, then Go to Filter->Render->Clouds, set the layer blending mode to Multiply and the opacity at 50%.
This shoult be the result:
8. Make a new layer and fill it with white then Go To Filter->Noise->Add Noise and set the Amount=96, Distribution=Uniform and Monocromatic checked, set the layer blending mode to Overlay and the Opacity=10%.
9. Now we will make some scratches: Grab a 2 px hard brush with the opacity=11%, then on a new layer draw some random lines.
10. Make a new layer then make a selection as in the image below then fill it with black.
Move the selection down below the black line and fill it with white. Press Ctrl+D to deselect then Go To Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 1.5, Set the layer blending mode to Soft Light. Then duplicate the layer and move it down.
The result should be like in the image below:
June 29th, 2008 at 8:35 pm ;
Very clear and easy to understand. I like the technique with the black and white lines - seems more natural-looking than using, say, a bevel.
An improvement might be to distort/bend some of the grain so it’s not perfectly straight in all places. I’m not sure what the best way to do this would be - perhaps a distort filter?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:32 am ;
Although this tutorial is pretty good, the best way to make a good looking wood texture would be to paint it yourself. Using two brown colors, some smudging, burning, and also dodging.
Sort of like this: http://i30.tinypic.com/28heid5.jpg
That wood texture was painted manually without using any filters.
August 25th, 2008 at 4:01 pm ;
I like this idea - I’ve used this for the neck of a guitar (sorry can’t post link) I used slightly darker colors for the base wood but the same cloud effects.
I don’t agree with Sean that it’s easier to paint oneself, ’cause I do not have the drawing skills (or patience) to make something like that come to life. But of course - if you can it might be easier
This tutorial is a very good substitute 
.. The wood comes to life with the cloud effects.
Thank you for this =)
October 20th, 2008 at 3:50 pm ;
Absolutely amazing, really good tutorial. I am very impressed with your understanding of the blending modes, it’s one of those things I still don’t really get.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm ;
Fantastic tutorial, really helps
nice and easy to understand with clear instructions, more like this please 
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm ;
Really great work i love that wooden texture so much and ur way are really great
i will come back for more tuts again thank you so much .
November 28th, 2008 at 11:51 am ;
Just great
February 20th, 2009 at 8:31 pm ;
Really good tutorial… it was very easy to follow. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
May 24th, 2009 at 2:48 am ;
Is every body blind? This shitty-plastic-looking-90-like texture…
May 24th, 2009 at 4:34 pm ;
Szymon: I want to see you making a better one.
June 19th, 2009 at 1:14 am ;
you got no WOOD lol. gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!