If you want to create a realistic wood grain effect, here are a couple of things I found helpful. First, find yourself a few photo references. Image resolution isn’t super important, but you have to at least be able to recognize the details. Second, start with a great tutorial.

Why reinvent the wheel?

There are plenty of great reference sites and blog posts out there where people generously share their techniques. And, since most of our ideas as designers are not quite as revolutionary as the wheel, we might as well start with the path of least resistance. Plus, if you’re like me, it’s inevitable that you’ll do some tweaking of your own anyway. With that in mind, here are a couple of posts I found useful in creating the effect on the image above.
Here is one for Photoshop. And, here is one for Illustrator.

So, now that I just helped you, can anyone recommend a great reference for the brushed metal effect?