1. Create a new 600x600 image. Set the foreground color to black and the background color to white. Set your background to the following gradient.

Settings used:

• Gradient = Foreground-background
• Angle = 90
• Repeat = 1
• Invert = Unchecked
• Style = Linear

Select the Rectangle Tool to draw a rectangle anywhere on the canvas. Make sure Create On Vector and Anti-alias are checked. Width should be set to 1. Now, in the Tool Options palette, press the Edit Mode button. Enter 80 for Width and 600 for Height. Center the object by going to Objects | Align | Center in Canvas.

2. Press O to select the Object Selection Tool. Hold Ctrl and place your cursor on the top-right corner of the Object. Drag the cursor left until you get a cone shape.

Convert the Layer to Raster.

Go to Effects | Texture Effects | Blinds... Use these settings.

Settings used:

• Width = 30
• Opacity = 40
• Color = Black
• Horizontal = Checked
• Light from left/top = Unchecked

3. Duplicate the current layer. Go to Effects | Texture Effects | Sculpture... Use the "Icy" preset, but change the elevation to 50. (If you do not have the Icy preset, download the zip and unzip the file to your Presets folder)

Gaussian Blur by 2 then change the layer to Overlay. Merge Down the layer. (Layer | Merge | Merge Down)

(To do spikes, go to 4a. To do tentacles, go to 4b.)

4a. To create spikes, press Ctrl+R to Rotate. Use the following settings.

Settings used:

• Direction = Right
• Degrees = 90
• All Layers = Unchecked
• Rotate singel layer on canvas center = Checked

Go to Effect | Reflection Effects | Rotating Mirror. Use the Default settings.

4b. To create tentacles, Go to Effects | Distortion Effects | Wave... Use the following settings for Horizontal displacement:

Settings used:

• Amplitude = 5
• Wavelenght = 85

And for Vertical displacement:

Settings used:

• Amplitude = 0
• Wavelenght = 1
• Edge Mode = Transparent

5. Go to Adjust | Brightness and Contrast | Curves... Use the Darken preset. If you don't have the Darken preset, follow these steps: Click the Reset to Default button. Add 3 points to the line from left to right with the following settings.

Settings used:

• Point 1 = Input 70, Output 20
• Point 2 = Input 160, Output 100
• Point 3 = Input 230, Output 190

That's it! Now you can create metal spikes or tentacles.