All designers will need to create metallic patterns at some point for different reasons. Some people think that the shiny and smooth texture of the metal is an excellent background to accompany the designs, while in other cases a brush is necessary to texturize metallic works, such as bridges or machinery. No matter what use you want to give it, the important thing is to have the right metal background when you need it.

Metal is a versatile material. It can be molded in many ways, and as it cools, it becomes strong and flexible. It is one of the favorite options in modern constructions for all these characteristics, being the fundamental pillar in structures.

Many technological devices use metal for the construction of heat resistant cases, and with the proper polishing, these become true pieces of art.

It’s hard to imagine modern life without metal, which is why even graphic design must include it. The good thing is that you don’t have to spend hours trying to draw a metallic surface, as there are many metal backgrounds on the internet that you can use for free.

From rusted to polished metals, the following list is a compilation of some options that you should save for your future projects.

Metal background images to check out

High Quality Steel Texture for Designers – Perfect for constructions

Galvanized steel is the preferred choice for the manufacture of plumbing parts because it does not rust with water and can withstand high pressure. This type of steel is characterized by having a corrugated texture and a glossy finish, which looks ideal in photographs for backgrounds.

Metal Texture Pack – Everyday metals

Metal is a versatile material, whose composition is modified depending on the needs of each buyer. This makes each sheet different, even visually. So that you can cover all these possibilities, here you will find a group of eight metal background images of 4,252 x 2,835px resolution.

Scratched Metal Texture Seamless – Excessive polishing

The best metallic finishes are polished. These shine exceptionally, making every detail on the surface clearly visible. To create large, realistic surfaces, there is nothing better than this seamless texture, full of gradients and scratches.

Spaceship Texture – Sci-Fi cladding

The movies have created a curious image of spaceships. These are constructed of many overlapping metal sheets of different colors. You can achieve that effect in your projects with this metal texture PNG.

Two High Resolution Old Corrugated Iron Metal Backgrounds – Full of stains

Over time, the metal also begins to deteriorate. The rust becomes noticeable, and almost transparent stains appear all over the surface. Like concrete, if the metal is not cared for, the layers of paint on the surface begin to fall off, as in these two photos.

Rusted Metal Crate Texture – For 3D models and frames

The image of this rusty metal box has an eye-catching screw-filled border, which you can trim to create a decorative frame. Alternatively, this texture can also be used to create 3D boxes in modeling programs.

Radial Stainless Steel Background Texture – A perfect record

Metal can be polished in any direction, not just linear. In this image, for example, it has been radially polished like a disc, creating a series of slits perfect for reflecting light.

Free Gold Foil Textures to Glam up Your Design Projects – The beauty of gold

While not all that glitters is gold, this doesn’t prevent gold from being a classy option for any project, especially when accompanied by a bumpy texture like the ones in this set. In total, you can download four metal backgrounds of 1,200 x 1,200px.

Black Metal with Holes Texture – For the air to circulate

This close up of a computer case reveals an impressive metal mesh, which is used to circulate air within the CPU. Top-focused lighting makes the tiny holes glow exclusively from one side as they move away from the center.

Seamless Metal Panel Texture – Sheet ceiling

If you’ve ever seen the roof of industrial storage shed, you know that the preferred material for these structures is corrugated sheet metal. These are light, and thanks to their shape they do not bend easily, allowing them to cover large areas. Here is a seamless photo of this type of sheet.

Free Brushed Metal Texture Backgrounds – Different polishes

This is another polished metal alternative for your collection. The four images in the set have been polished with the same technique, but all in a different direction, causing the light to shine in varied patterns. An excellent option to decorate websites thanks to its resolution.

Old Gray Tin Metal Texture – To bake cookies

After being used countless times, this baking sheet has started to lose its original shine, giving way to a stained, dark brass. With this silver metal background, you can give character to your rustic projects.

Scratched Metal Texture For Photoshop – Shine is over

Rustic textures are ideal for vintage projects or with antique finishes. The cracks in this metallic foil have started to fill with dirt, resulting in a strong contrast between the black lines and the gray background.

5 High Quality Tileable Metal Textures (PSD) – Digital style

These metal PSDs show five flat colored metallic designs with perfect geometric shapes. Since the figures are simple, they can be infinitely repeated on larger canvases without the joints showing.

Black Metal Cross Grid Texture – Woven pattern

The metal can also be interlaced as if it were cloth, with the difference that the result is much more resistant. This mesh filled with squares is the seat of a garden chair, which supports very well the weight of people and the weather conditions.

With a few tweaks, this 3,888 x 2,592 image can become a great background or texture.

Iron Metal Frame Background Texture – A sturdy frame

This metal frame PNG has a sturdy look due to the metal bezels and screws. If you need to frame an image, this frame will be ideal.

Metal Textures – Huge gallery

Don’t search multiple websites for all the references you need to create realistic metal. It will be enough for you to review this gallery filled with different elements built in metal, such as manhole covers or rusted walls. You can also download them if you want to directly use them.

Water Drops on Metal – A radical design

Excellent image of a set of water droplets scattered over the entire surface of a black metal sheet. The random pattern that the water creates will help you achieve a striking variety in your design projects.

Grunge Corrugated Metal Sheet Texture – Wear stains

This is another perfect metal sheet alternative for 3D ceiling modeling. The metal background of this link shows a close-up of a corrugated and galvanized surface. You can apply it directly to fill any type of industrial coating.

5 Rusted Metal Sign Textures – Be careful with your hands

Direct contact of the wounds with rust can cause serious illnesses; after all, this is a chemical reaction that breaks down the metal. You can appreciate it from a safe distance with these five textures of a wall that has started to fall apart.

Peeling Green Paint and Rust Texture – The trace of humidity

In this free-for-any-use photo, you can see how moisture has begun to damage the underside of the metal sheet, corroding even the paint layer. Thanks to the way the elements of the image are divided, you can use it to decorate websites or even as wallpaper.

Old Copper Metal Texture Free – The end of the copper

After a long time, this copper block has started to show signs of aging, filling with holes as if it were melted.

Aluminum Foil Texture – Flexible design

Even aluminum foil works to represent the beauty of metal, with the only difference being that it is easily foldable and very shiny, like the one in this photograph.

Old Rusted Metal Surface Texture – The ship’s hull

This is what a ship’s hull looks like when rust begins to eat it up. Of course, you don’t have to use it exclusively for texturing a ship, you can edit it for other things as well, like fonts.

If you’re not sure which metal background you need, you can always download several from the list to create a collection to prepare you for any situation. As long as you can solve your design problems with them, it won’t matter which one you use.

If you enjoyed reading this article about metal background images and textures, you should read these as well:

• The best retro and vintage texture examples for Illustrator and Photoshop
• Abstract background images and textures to download
• Grain texture images that you can use in your designs