Here I'll explain a simple technique in making a forest in your backgrounds. This is to encourage those having trouble with backgrounds to try and take that leap into wanting to make them rather than just taking the "shortcuts" or just gradienting their backgrounds.
Gradients
Now I know a lot of people probably REALLY needs help with backgrounds in their pictures. In fact, it's a little bit annoying that people can't or won't try their hand at it more. What most people do (especially in photoshop) is gradient them instead. My advice: DON'T GRADIENT BACKGROUNDS
If you're not familiar with Gradient, it's a fill tool in photoshop and a few other computer programs that allows a "blind" from one color to another. Very useful when you're making skies and the like. Some people will use it as opposed to actually try and make a background, and maybe add some basic Brushes to the gradient in an attempt to try and compensate for it.
Backgrounds
Backgrounds in itself is an art form. As an Artist, one should at least try to work at it. I've made a tutorial from awhile ago that shows some basic things to do, like mountains, wood and wood grain, and....a poo rock xpx.... I need to update that later. Right now though, we shall be working on Forests on the next page!
