1. Create a new Document

• 50 x 50 Pixels
• RBG mode
• White background

Select the entire image area: Select>all

Choose Edit>Stroke

Enter a setting of 2 - inside

2. Choose the Line tool (Under the custom shape in the toolbar)

• 4 Pixels
• Black
  
• Choose the fill pixels option from the options bar
• Turn anti-aliasing OFF

Draw a horizontal line through the middle

Add another vertical line through the middle on the top half only (as shown)

With the marquee tool select the outside border at the top left and delete it (press the delete key)

Repeat for the right top as shown

 

 

3. We have now created a pattern for our bricks

Select>All

Edit Define Pattern and then name the pattern bricks

You can now close the bricks document, we don't need it anymore

Create a new Document - This is where we will use our pattern to create a wall

• 400 x 300 Pixels (You can use any size)
• RBG mode
• White background

Choose the channels palette and create a new alpha channel

4. Choose edit>Fill

Select pattern and find our bricks pattern

5. Here is the basic brick pattern applied to the channel.

Can you believe this is where some tutorials end? Not this one, lets make some texture and depth

6. We are going to round the corners of the bricks

Choose Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur

7. Now choose Image>Adjustments>Levels

Move the sliders closer to gather to create the hard edges, rounded corners

The shape is now complete - Depth time

8. Choose Filter>Gaussian blur

Blur it so that the edges are still visible but the bricks are kind of gray. This is going to make the bricks look rounded in 3D space

Click OK and then DONT TOUCH ANYTHING!

9. Choose Edit>Fade (If you touched anything since the last step this is not available)

Choose 80% and Linear Burn

Notice the blur will blend into the shape of the bricks

10. Final part of the texture preparation

Choose Filter>Noise>Add Noise

Use 12% or less, we just want a hint

11. Choose the layers palette and click on the background to return to the normal display thumbnail

Select 50% gray for the foreground and white for the background colors

Choose the linear gradient tool

Drag the gradient tool from the bottom to the top of the image to create a gradient

12. Choose Filter>Render>Lighting effects (Enter the settings shown)

Choose the Alpha 1 from texture channel to load our bricks texture

Select a spotlight and choose a brick red color from the top color picker

Click ok

13. We now have a pretty good brick texture, but lets take it further...

Open the channels palette

Hold down the ctrl/Cmd key and click on the alpha 1 thumbnail - You should see a selection around the shapes of the bricks

14. Return to the layers palette

Make sure the Background is active by clicking on the thumbnail

With the selection (Bricks outline) still active Press Ctrl/Cmd + J -This will copy the bricks to a new layer

Choose the background and select Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation

Move the saturation slider to the left to reduce the color of the mortar to a nice gray

15. As a final touch add a drop shadow to the top layer

Choose the eraser tool and make the brush one of the "splatter" presets

Dab the edges of the bricks to erode them a little bit.

There you have your realistic bricks!!!!