Pulling off the line stretch

This an effect that is often abused and poorly done. This tutorial will take a different approach on it with a pattern instead of an actual stretch and then do modifications to make it more usable.

Prerequisites

Please know how to do the following before using this tutorial.

Making and using patterns

Objective

Original

Finished Result

Tutorial

Copy and paste the image of your choice onto a new canvas. We want to make sure there is a Background layer underneath the image.
We want to add more height to the bottom of the image. Go to Image >> Canvas Size and increase the height. Also be sure to anchor the image to the top middle.

Now it looks like this.
Using the Rectangular Marquee tool , select the very bottom 1px of the image.

Use the Zoom tool to help you if needed.
Create a pattern (Image >> Define Pattern) out of this selection. (Tutorial: Making and using patterns)
Fill (Edit >> Fill) the Background layer with the pattern you just created.

It will look like this now.
Notice how disconnected the image and the background seem to be. Let's smooth that out. Using the Rectangular Marquee tool , make a selection that covers the bottom part of the original image.
Select the layer the original image is on (the top layer). Go to Select >> Feather and set it to about 30px. Then, hit Delete once or twice on your keyboard.
This still isn't very usable because the colors contrast a lot. It would be hard to read anything on top of that background. So, let's fade some things out.

Make a New Layer underneath your original image.
Using the Rectangular Marquee again, make a selection around the darker areas. You can hold Shift on your keyboard to make multiple selections.
Make sure the new layer you just created is selected. Use the Paint Bucket tool to fill the selection in with a light color, like white.
Now set the Opacity on the layer to about 50%.

The dark colors are lighter now.
The basic background is done, so just add what you need, and it can be used as a layout!

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