Making Textured Backgrounds:

This tutorial assumes that you have some knowledge of photoshop. Its also aimed as more of a guide, you do not have to follow it exactly.

1. Firstly make a new image, 400x600 pixels, you may use bigger if you wish.

2. Fill the background with a dark grey to white gradient. Foreground: 383838 Background: FFFFFF Gradient Settings: screenshot 1

3. Make a new layer

4. The next part requires some experimenting with what is known as stock photos A stock photo is simply an photo that has been taken and is available for use in work, be careful of usage restrictions. I reccomend www.sxc.hu for them. Thats where the photos used in this tutorial will be from, I will link you to them but you should really look yourself for some. Using the textured images is the key here, pipes, metal, rust, trees, concreate are good search items. The following images were used:
1.http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=199700 2.http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=248079 3.http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=245503 4.http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=187161

5. With these images you need to experiment with diffferent blending modes, see the layers tutorial if you are unsure about this part. I got something like this: screenshot 2 Here's how:

6. You can position the images how you like, you don't need to follow it to exactly how I got it: [hr] First Image: Mode: Overlay Opacity: 63 %

Hue / Saturation adjustment layer (Layer>>New Adjustment Layer>>Hue/Saturation) screenshot 3

2nd Image: Mode: Multiply Opacity: 24%

3rd Image: Mode: Overlay Opacity: 28%

Brightness contrast adjustment layer (Layer>>New Adjustment Layer>> brightness / contrast) screenshot 4

Color Fill layer (Layer>>New Fill Flayer>>Solid Color) Hex: A5E68B Mode: Lighten Opacity: 10%

4th Image Mode: Multiply Opacity: 34%

Curves Adjustment Layer (Layer>>New Adjustment Layer>> curves) screenshot 5

There you have it: screenshot 2

Incase you got a bit lost, here is what my layer palette looks like: screenshot 6

Remember to experiment, don't just copy settings look at how it works.