Seamless bg image help

[autumn_whispers2me]

I can do a lot of neat things with PS and graphics, but I can't make a seamless background tile! lol Sheesh.

Can someone tell me where I might find a tutorial that shows how to make a seamless bg image using a photo or textures other than a noise filter?

I've tried quick tile, and don't like the end result because it ends up looking like 1st generation "oh my god!" burn your retinas backgrounds. Have tried the offset option in PS and I just end up with those seams, that boxy look. Also tried the pattern maker and it's even worse.

Any suggestions??

[D3mon]

The offset method is the only way I know of, but it does require some work to manually smooth the edges of the 'cross' that appears in the middle.

Repeating backgrounds have moved from being 'cool' to 'passe' to 'not cool' to 'dated' over the last few years. Are you sure that's the direction you want to head in? Consider perhaps using a *very* suble repeating design or just a simple colour fill for that 'fresh/clean design' look.

[autumn_whispers2me]

Well, I agree. I don't use bg images on my sites, except for one page and it's a gradient color (grayish black) that really makes the page appear to have a strange light effect.

What I'm wanting to use the bg image for is OE stationary. I prefer left borders or top images, but I've had a couple of requests for tiles.

I personally don't like most backgrounds. EXCEPT the one done by Port-All, which is a bg image for a board template I'm using on a new board. It's awesome.

http://www.ghostinthelens.com/inthedarkroom