Abstract Windows 7 wallpaper

In this tutorial I will show you how to create abstract Windows 7 wallpaper using Adobe Photoshop basic techniques. Let’s get started!

Final Image Preview

Let’s create a new file (File>New), having 1920x1200px/72ppi with white background. Then choose theRectangle Tool (U) and represent a rectangle as shown:

Set Fill to 0% and go to Layer Style by clicking on this layer on the layers’ panel:
Styles>Gradient Overlay

Gradient Editor:

Using the same tool, try to create the next layer for the background.

Set Fill to 0% and select Layer Style to add Gradient Overlay

Gradient Editor:

Continue, applying the same tool (Rectangle Tool (U)) and fill our background with new gradient:

Set Fill to 0% for this layer, go to Layer Style and add Gradient Overlay:

Gradient Editor:

Next we’ll put together all those three layers of the background. Hold in this case CTRL button, select the layers and press CTRL+E to Merge Down. Make a copy of this layer and apply on it Filter>Render>Lighting Effects

Set the Blend Mode for the layer containing the lighting effects to Screen.

… and also blur this layer using Filter>Blur>Gaussian blur

Create a new layer and using the next brush paint the bottom part of the layer. The brush’s color is R:5, G:80,B:210.

Add a Layer Mask to the layer by clicking on the Add Layer Mask icon on the bottom part of the Layer panel. Make sure you have the Layer Mask selected by clicking on its icon and using a brush of black color with Opacity– 30%, clean out the blue color on the necessary parts of the background:

Set the Blend Mode for this layer to Luminocity.

On the next new layer we’ll apply the same brush of white color (Opacity 10%) to light out the bottom part of the picture:

Set the Blend Mode for this layer to Overlay.

Next we’ll select the Pen Tool (P) to draw 7 on the middle part of our wallpaper:

Set Fill to 0%. Go to Layer Style and select Drop Shadow

Add Inner Glow

Set the Gradient Overlay

Gradient Editor:

Add the Stroke

Gradient Editor:


Next we need to insert in a new layer the Windows Flag icon. I used this icon from deviantart. I would like to thank the author of this icon. The sizes may be changed, applying Free Transform option:

Go to Layer Style and add Drop Shadow for the layer containing the Windows icon:

Set the Outer Glow

Add the Inner Glow

Set the Bevel and Emboss

Add the Gradient Overlay

Gradient Editor:


Create a new layer and use here the Line Tool (U) (weight 1 px) to represent several lines around the figure 7 and around Windows icon:

Put together the lines’ layers. Hold CTRL button, select the layers and press finally CTRL+E to Merge Down. Go to Layer Style and add the Drop Shadow


Click on the same layer on the bottom part of the layers’ panel on Add a Mask option and choose a brush of black color (Opacity 20%) to erase the lines’ edges:


Create a new layer, applying here a brush of white color to represent the lines on the top part and on the bottom part of the Windows icon.


Click on the same layer on the bottom part of the layers’ panel on Add a Mask option and choose a brush of black color (Opacity 20%) to erase the lines’ edges:


Create a new layer and use on it the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) to represent a round marking zone the same way demonstrated below:

Click on the right mouse button inside the marked zone and select Stroke.


Set Fill to 65%. Go to Layer Style and add Drop Shadow


Make two copies of the last made layer and apply Free Transform option to change the copies’ sizes, placing them the same way demonstrated below:

Click on each layer containing the circles on the bottom part of the layers’ panel on Add a Mask option and select a brush of black color (Opacity 20%) to clean out the circles the same way demonstrated below:



The final result!