The Wood Grain

1. Open a new Picture

• 400 * 400,

• 144ppi

• RGB

• Transparent.

2. Set color pallete:

• set foreground colour to hex #996633 a light brown. 
• Set background colour to hex #5C0A0A a dark brown

3. Add a new layer = Layer 2

4. Click Filter / Render / Clouds
5. Click Filter / Noise / Add Noise - Set to 8, Monochromatic and Gaussian
6. Click Filter / Artistic / Dry Brush -

• Set to Brush size 10
• Brush Detail 10
• Texture 2

7. Click Image / Adjust / Brightness Contrast -

• Set Brightness to -15
• Contrast +35

8. Duplicate the Layer = Layer 2 copy, and Click the EYE to turn it off

You should now have  3 layers, a transparent layer (Layer1) and 2 Identical Layers (Layer2 and Layer 2 copy).

9. Select Layer 2.  Click Filer / Distort / Shear, you will see a grid, on the first horizontal line drag the line to the right side so it touches. Where the line crosses the 3rd horizontal grid drag to left side. Where the line crosses the center line drag to left side. Where the line touches the bottom drag to 3rd vertical line. Click Wrap Around on. 
 

10. Duplicate Layer 2 = Layer 2 copy 2. Click Filter / Blur / Motion Blur - Set to

• Angle =0
• Distance = 999
  

11. Click Filter / Distort / Polar - Set to rectangular to polar
 

12. With your circle marquee tool select the center circle. (about 100 pixels in diameter)

• Click Filter / Sharpen / sharpen
• Click Filter / Sharpen./ Sharpen.  This will bring out the rings.
• Click Select / Inverse
• Press the Delete key. This will leave the "Knot"
• Press Ctrl + D to deselect

13. Click Edit / Free Transform and drag the right side of the KNOT to the right edge

14. With the Move Tool position the KNOT over the grain loop on the right. You will have to play with the Knot till it looks right.
15. Change the KNOT layer (Layer 2 copy 2) to Opacity of 70.

16. Click Layer Merge down

17. Select the "Clone Stamp Tool"  and use it to blend the knot into the surrounding area by using Alt + left click select an area outside the knot that you like and blend the edges of the knot

18. Delete Layer 2 copy. So you have only Layer 1 (transparent) and Layer 2 with the Image.

19. File and save your wood grain image you may want to use it as a base for other work.

This tutorial is used for the wood frame tutorial here