How to make a metal-effect

[PatrickB]

In this tutorial I want to show you how to make a quick and easy way to a metal effect. Although I dislike to publish numbers I will included them in this case very often because even tiny things in the curves for example can make a huge difference!

This works with Photoshop 7 and above. [details]

[DannyRaphael]

Thanks for building this tutorial, Patrick. Well done.

[Leah]

Thanks, Patrick.

Using curves to create metal effects is particularly useful when the object has detail or form you want to retain so that the "standard" method of rendering metal using Layer Styles alone produces an effect that's too flat.