Creating a simple background in Photoshop 7 as a base for a more complex graphic.  Download the complete Photoshop CS file (4.9MB zipped) with layers for this image below.

by  Daniel Ledarney

Summary: Here you will show you how to create background which maybe used as a base for a more complex graphic - as seen above.  Download the complete Photoshop CS file (4.9MB zipped) for image above. Choose a file; filter clouds and different clouds, invert, colour balance adjustment, change mode to colour dodge on duplicate layer.

General
You may use Photoshop techniques to create a  varied of backgrounds.  This is only one among many.  More latter...

1. Create a new file.
Create a new file (Carlen) in RGB mode with a resolution of 72. I made mine 350 x 350 (pixels). Name and save the file. On the tools palette set your foreground color to white and background color to black.

2. Filter - Clouds - Different Clouds.  
Go to Filter > Render > Clouds. Go to Filter > Render > Different Clouds. Go to Image > Adjust > Invert (Ctrl+I)

3. Adjust Levels.
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels. Move the middle arrow from the center all the way to the right as indicated by the red arrow. Merge Visible Layers - so Adjustment Layer and inverted clouds layer become a single layer.

4. Blur Filter & Colour Balance.
Now go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Set it 
to 999. I used a positive 38 degrees for the 
angle in this case.  Do this twice.  Now, to add color go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Colour Balance. I used setting of  -63, -1, and +65 respectively with the Midtones and 
Preserve Luminosity Opacity switches on 
under the Tone Balance subheader. Make sure your preview switch is turned on.  

5. Result of Colour Dodge.
Merge the two layers once happy with your colours.  Double click on the background layer to unlock it -- name it if you wish.  Ctrl+J will copy the background layer and place it in its own layer above; now, set this new layer to colour dodge.

Click "Download" to get the Photoshop Layer Development Zip file for the image at the very top.