BitRot - Just For You

Abstract artists have all the fun. Where else can you throw a random mess of paint on a canvas, claim it represents "the fragility of the human soul", and rake in thousands of dollars from gullible patrons?

I'm going to let you in on the scam. With Photoshop, you can create awesome works of abstract art 10 times better than anything Jackson Pollack ever shitted out. And it's easy as pie, too! Let's begin:

To get started, you need a Photoshop 6 or above. If you have an older version, you can still accomplish the same tricks, but it's harder and longer. In any case, begin by creating a new file, in whatever size you want. Since the obvious use is desktop wallpaper, it's best to start in 1024x768, 1600x1200, or whatever your native resolution is.

Next, create a new layer, filled with white. Double click the layer name, or choose Layer -> Blending Options. From there, choose Gradient Overlay. Pick a gradient that looks nice to you.

Make another new layer, also filled with white. On the Layers palette, reduce the Fill percentage to 0. Again, go to Blending Options, and Gradient Overlay. Choose a different gradient, and set the style to 'Angle'. Go to the Blend Mode, and try all the different styles to see what effects you get. When you get one you like, hit OK.

And now you have the beginnings of some abstract geometry. Make more layers and repeat as often as you like. You can double-click any layer at any time to go back and adjust the colors or the position. When you're satisfied, hit Layer -> Flatten Image so you can work on the whole image at once.

Go into the Filter menu, and try out some filters on your image. Useful ones include Polar Coordinates, Lighting Effects, and Cutout, but you should try all of them to get an idea of what they can do for your picture. Often, great works will happen by accident or simply trying something new. In this case, I applied Poster Edges and Patchwork to my image:

And there, that's one funky image!

Always keep in mind the three things you're looking for in abstract art: color, form, and motion. Here's another lightning-quick example to show how easy it is:

1. Start with a simple gradient. 2. Use the Polar Coordinate filter to create new shapes. 3. Duplicate the layer, rotate it 180 degrees, change it to Overlay. Gives us a 'barbed wire' look. 4. Add a color gradient, and the Ink Outlines filter to define the edges. We now have the beginnings of a decent concept.

Your first try might not look very good, but keep at it. Making a random image should only take a couple of minutes, so there's no need to get frustrated if something doesn't turn out your way. Some people play Solitaire when they're bored on the computer, I make random art - it's just as mindless yet more rewarding.

The other thing to remember is that you have a lot of options. There are hundreds of filters and gradients to choose from, and more importantly, you should try out the different blending modes (Multiply, Lighten, Difference, etc). The Blending Modes are an essential part of Photoshop, no matter what kind of work you're doing, and this is an easy way to get familiar with them. The more you know about blend modes and filter effects means the easier it is for you to get the concept you need later on, when you're doing serious work.

Finally, the variety of effects you can accomplish without a single brushstroke is staggering. If you aren't impressed with the examples I've shown here (and you probably shouldn't be), I've posted a gallery here to inspire you on to greatness. Every picture in that gallery was made using the techniques I've described here, so you can see the range of style you can now create.