1. Open a blank image and make a new layer. Use the ellipse tool to draw a thin ellipse (size doesn't really matter, i like to start things fairly big)
2. Select the lower half, cut it (ctrl+X) and paste it in a new layer (ctrl+shift+V). Use the arrow keys to move it up several pixels, so the narrow ends become more "pointy".
Merge both layers (ctrl+M) & delete the excess lines.
3. select the shape (diamond) and copy paste it (in a new layer), use the arrow keys the move it down (and merge down). Repeat until you have 4, make sure they're all at exactly the same distance apart.
4. Re-size canvas (ctrl+shift+R) to a square and align object to middle center. Duplicate layer and rotate 90°. (both in the effects tab)
5. Use the (L&R)arrow keys (in combo with ctrl) to move both layers apart and merge both layers.
6. (here i doubled the canvas size) Rotate 45° (ctrl+shift+Z), fill the canvas using the move tool, mirror/rotate. duplicate layer after mirror/rotate zoom in (ctlr+scroll) and use existing diamonds as a reference. it's very important to be meticulous here, since we'll be creating a repeatable pattern even a pixel off can mess the whole thing up.
7. Using the bucket tool, fill the lower (white) layer with dark grey, create a new layer above that one and fill it with light grey
8. go to the top layer, select the "empty" space in between the diamonds with your magic wand tool. keeping it selected go to the light grey layer and hit the delete key.
9. duplicate the (light grey) layer. Select all the diamonds using the magic wand tool (click on a diamond in global mode or in flood mode click on the empty space and reverse selection, ctrl+i)
go to effects>>selection>> Bevel selection
Personally i think it only looks good on half of them, that's why we duplicated the light grey layer. select all diamonds on the other layer and repeat the effect with alternate lighting direction.
10. select all the "bad" diamonds in the top (light grey) layer using the lasso tool (you can select all at once holding down the ctrl key) and delete, then merge both layers.
11. Now we have to create a repeatable pattern, which is not so difficult, but kinda hard to explain. start with selecting an (undefined) amount of your image
using the move selection tool increase the selection in size and place the edges roughly at similar places in the diamond pattern (avoid the actual edges of the image, since the beveling kinda screwed'm up there) make the light grey layer invisible and zoom in to the top edge of your selection near the center nub. place the edge of your selection on an easily recognizable place according to the diamond pattern.
scroll down to the lower edge and place that edge on the exact same place
do the same for the left and right edges and crop to selection (ctrl+shift+X)
(if somehow this doesn't work out, you weren't precise enough in step 6)
12. make all layers visible and flatten (ctrl+shift+F), resize (ctrl+R) the image to 25%
13. resize canvas (ctrl+shift+R) to 200% keeping the original in the (upper left) corner
14. duplicate the layer and using the move tool or (ctrl) arrow keys to place both next to one another.
merge down, duplicate and move it down to fill the canvas and merge down.
15. Repeat steps 12,13,14,13,14 (or any other variation till you get to the size of the diamonds and of the canvas you desire)
16. duplicate the metal plate. create 5 new layers, 2 above and 3 below the plates. Make the plates invisible
17. lowest layer: effects>>render>>clouds (see pic for settings)
18. layer above that: effects>>render>>clouds (see pic for settings)
set the opacity of this layer to 110 the blend mode to darken
19. layer above that: effects>>render>>clouds(see pic for settings)
set blend mode of layer to lighten
20. make the metal plates visible, set the blend mode of the lower one to darken, of the top one to overlay.
21. the layer above the plates: fill it with light grey (same as beginning) with the bucket tool
set the blend mode to reflect and lower the opacity to 133
22. top layer: select black as color and with the paintbrush tool at a very high width (i used 55) draw a thick line following the edges of the image
23. apply a Gaussian blur (effects>>blur) of 180
24. Flatten the image (ctrl+shift+F) and you're done.
NOTE: Diamond metal plates can be either diamonds, 4 pointed stars, or rounded diamonds (such as i used) in 2, 3 or 4 rows. Many variations are possible, some plates only have the rows in one direction in stead of both (as used here)
Experiment with clouds, colors, blurs& blend modes to acquire the texture you desire
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