The First step is to create a canvas the size you want the metal to be. i chose 1024x768 because it is going to be a wallpaper for my friend....

2. Go to 'Effects' in the menu bar, and then go to clouds in the drop down menu. I used a scale of 350, but anywhere around that will do, set roughness to 100.

3. Go back to 'Effects' then 'Blurs' and then do a motion blur, make it 200 pixels long.

There you go, Brushed metal in 3 easy steps!

I've never used Paint.NET, but in Photoshop it's pretty similar, rather than making clouds you do Generate Noise. Then a motion blur.

It's the same thing in GIMP for the most part

haha, I didnt know anyone besides me used PDN here. Good Stuff

I use PhotoShop if i have time, but i use PDN if i just wanna do something