Metallic backgrounds can come in very handy because the have many potential uses. They can be created to use them as seamless textures for your backgrounds when you are designing your websites and they can also be incorporated in your everyday drawings or projects. Whatever the reason is, we are going to show you how to create a very interesting mesh background in only a few steps. For this Photoshop Tutorial, we are using version CS4. Please adjust accordingly.

Step 01:
To create this mesh background we will start with a document of any size you want. Press D to set the default colors. Now go to the channels palette and hit the New Channel Icon to create one. Once you press the icon, a new Channel will be created and it will be called Alpha 1.
The canvas will be filled with black after you create the New Channel. Now hit Filter-Render-Clouds.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 02:
We now start to create our pattern. Click on Filter-Pixelate-Crystallize and select the size of your texture. I am going to go for a medium size and will choose 120. Click OK.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 03:
Next, lets go to Filter-Stylize-Find Edges and then click on Image-Adjustments-Levels.
What we are trying to do here, is to make the lines that define the shapes a little thicker. This will vary according to the size of your document. I suggest you start with my values and then increase or decrease them to suit your needs. Once you find the needed texture, click OK.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 04:
Now lets use a little Gaussian blur by clicking on Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur and set the radius appropriately. Start with my settings and then go up and down as needed until you find a texture like the one you see in the picture.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 05:
Now go to Image-Adjustments-Levels o and lets make the lines a little more defined. As usual, start with my settings and then work your way up or down accordingly to get the texture we want.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 06:
Hit Image-Adjustments-Invert to invert the shapes. Now control-click the Channel 1 Layer to select the shapes and go to your Layer palette. Create a new layer Layer-New-Layer and then select any color you want your mesh to be.
Use the Bucket Tool to fill the selected shapes. I am going to use a golden color d2b43e.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 07:
Now go to Layer-Layer Style-Blending Options and lets select the Bevel And Emboss option. After you finish with your selection, click OK.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 08:
Duplicate the layer Layer-Duplicate Layer and then merge down Layer-Merge Down. As you do this, notice how your drawing gets better resolution. Repeat this process until you get a very defined shape. I did mine three times and this is what I get.
Now lets go back to the Layer Styles. Click on Layer-Layer Style-Blending Options and select the Inner Glow. Because my mesh is of a golden color I need to find an appropriate color for the inner glow. The rest of the settings will be determined by the size of your shapes and document. Do not click OK just yet.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 09:
Move on to the Bevel And Emboss and look at the options in the following picture. Once you get the needed texture, click OK.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Step 10:
And hopefully after all that work, you ended up with something like this.

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes

Create a metallic mesh background with random shapes