Final Image Preview

Step 1

Start by creating a new document with 600×600 pixels. Fill layer with color #0593a4.

Step 2

Select the Custom Shape Tool and select one of standard Photoshop shapes (Registration Target 2), which you can see on the picture below. Set up foreground color as #02a0b3 and create shape similar to mine that you can see on the picture below.

With new layer selected, rasterize shape by going to Layer > Rasterize > Shape.

Step 3

Apply Filter > Distort > Twirl.

Step 4

It is time to add inspiration phrases. I’m going to add text by curve line. For this effect get out the Pen Tool (you need to make sure that you’re working with Paths instead of Shape Layers). Draw out your line using paths:

Now you need to type text across the curve line. Update foreground color to white color (#ffffff). Select Horizontal Type Tool, move cursor perpendicularly to circle’s line and when it will be similar to waht i have on image below type the text you want.

After typing, go to Layer > Rasterize > Type to rasterize layer. Add more lines of text repeating all steps to get something similar to what i have.

Step 5

We need to add more decorative elements to our frame. Before we start adding decoration elements, select Brush Tool and choose one of standard brushes (Flowing stars) from Photoshop brushes gallery. If you can’t find brush start by resetting brushes so standard ones appear first.

Press F5 to change other values for this brush:

Set foreground color to #a0d6dc. Select Pen Tool (you need to make sure that you’re working with Paths instead of Shape Layers) and draw a new curve line:

Create a new layer. Right-click on line and select Stroke Path.

Choose Brush on next dialog box. Make sure there is a tick next to Simulate Pressure.

Right-click again and selecte Delete Path. Repeat process a few more times to have something similar to image below.

Step 6

We just need to add one dark spot to focus attention. Create a new layer above background layer. Select Elliptical Marquee Tool to create selection in the middle of canvas and fill selected area with color #005964.

Remove selection by pressing Ctrl+D and apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Final Image

This tutorial is now complete.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

Create a new document with 1000×1000 pixels. Press D to set up foreground and background color as black (#000000) and white (#ffffff). Fill layer with black color (#000000).

Create a new layer, name it “Planet” and apply Filter > Render > Clouds.

Step 2

Apply Filter > Artistic > Plastic Warp (Highlight Strength:20, Detail:15, Smoothness: 2).

Apply Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates.

Apply Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates again but changing option to Rectangular to Polar.

Use Filter > Distort > Sphesize.

Apply Filter > Distort > Sphesize one more time updating Amount to 50%.

Apply Filter > Distort > Pinch.

Step 3

With Elliptical Marquee Tool select planet. After that invert selection with Select > Inverse.

Press Delete to clear selected area and remove selection with Ctrl+D.

Go to Edit > Transform > Scale to reduce planet size a bit (keep pressing SHIFT to maintain proportions).

Step 4

Duplicate “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and apply Filter > Brush Strokes > Dark Strokes (Balance: 5, Black Intensity: 2, White Intensity: 2).

Update layer mode to Soft Light on current layer.

Step 5

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Apply Filter > Sketch > Bas Relief (Detail: 13, Smoothness: 2, Light: Bottom Right).

Update layer mode to Soft Light on current layer.

Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 30%, Size: 40px) and with a soft round brush remove the relief of ice surfaces.

Step 6

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Apply Filter > Sketch > Note Paper (Image Balance: 25, Graininess: 10, Relief: 11).

Update layer mode to Overlay on current layer.

Select Eraser Tool again (Opacity: 30%, Size: 40px) and with a soft round brush remove too monotonous plots.

Step 7

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Apply Filter > Sketch > Plaster (Image Balance: 20, Smoothness: 2).

Update layer mode to Darker Color on current layer.

Select Eraser Tool again (Opacity: 30%, Size: 100px) and with a soft round brush clean almost all layer content leaving only some areas to soften edges.

Step 8

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Update layer mode to Hard Light on current layer.

Step 9

Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Update layer mode to Screen, select Brush Tool (Opacity: 10%, Size: 90px) and lighten up darker water areas with white color.

Step 10

Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Update layer mode to Color. Set foreground color to #47639a, select Brush Tool (Opacity: 10%, Size: 400px) and start applying to ice areas of the planet. If necessary increase or decrease a little brush opacity.

Step 11

We need to add stars around the planet. With Brush Tool selected and a soft round brush (Size: 5px to start) press F5 to access brush presets.

Set foreground color to white, create a new layer on top and draw the stars. Keep updating brush size.

Step 12

Create a new layer on top. Press D button to set up foreground and background colors as black and white and apply Filter > Render > Clouds.

Update layer mode to Linear Dodge.

Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 30%) and clean layer so that the result should be similar to mine.

Step 13

To finish tutorial, create a new layer on top and update layer mode to Soft Color. Select Brush Tool with soft round brush (Opacity: 15-20%), choose color #263c35 and start decorating nebula. Keep updating brush color like i did and you will have a great result.

Final Image

Final Image Preview

Resources

• Majestic King

Step 1

To start our Photoshop tutorial we need to create a new document with 500×500 pixels where we will create two brushes. Apply Filter > Render > Clouds.

Select Polygonal Lasso Tool (Feather: 30px) to make selection similar to mine on screenshot below.

After creating selection, just invert it with Select > Inverse.

Press Delete button to clear selected area.

Create new layer under the current one and fill it with white color. Select layer with clouds and resize it a bit with Edit > Transform > Scale.

You can see that you need to fix brush borders. To fix this select Eraser Tool and choose a soft edge brush.

Once you have clear all borders you can delete layer with white background.

Now save brush with Edit > Define Brush Preset.

Close current document without saving. With Brush Tool selected, press F5 and apply these settings:

Create new brush with name Clouds 2 by clicking on button on right bottom side.

Step 2

Open photo in Photoshop. Unlock background layer by clicking twice on layer thumbnail on Layers panel.

Create a new layer. Select colors #192559 (Foreground) and #91aac8 (Background) and create a linear gradient (Foreground to background) using Gradient Tool.

Step 3

Move gradient layer below lion layer. Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 56%) and select Clouds 2 brush and start erasing background on lion layer.

Step 4

After you finished cleaning background around the lion use Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Step 5

Apply Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast:

Step 6

Apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur:

Step 7

Apply Filter > Blur > Smart Blur:

Step 8

Apply Filter > Blur > Motion Blur:

Step 9

Change layer mode to Soft Light for current layer.

Step 10

It’s time to add some clouds. Create new layer, select Brush Tool (Opacity:10%) and select Clouds 2 brush with white color (#ffffff).

After adding some clouds change brush size and add a few more.

Step 11

We need to add shadow to the clouds so they look more natural. Create a new layer on top and change layer mode to Overlay. Apply Brush Tool (Opacity: 10%) with Clouds 2 brush and black color (#000000).

Step 12

Create a new layer on top, select Brush Tool (Opacity: 50%) and now we need to add small clouds. Select white color as foreground, change brush size to something around 50px and apply like i did on screenshot below.

Step 13

Apply Filter > Blur > Motion Blur to this layer.

Step 14

Change current layer opacity to 15%.

Step 15

To finish our tutorial I would like to stylize clouds a little bit more. Create new layer and change layer mode to Soft Light. Select Brush Tool with Clouds 2 brush (keep changing opacity and brush size in the process) and highlight all bright areas of the lion (mane, part of the eyes) with white color and opposite side (especially shadows on the face of the lion’s mane) with black color.

Final Image

And this tutorial is now complete. Hope you liked it!

Final Image Preview

Resources

• Water Path to the Light

Step 1

Open photo in Photoshop. This photo is good to use on this tutorial because has dark tones. Go to Image > Image Size and update to Width 1500px and Height 1125px.

Step 2

We need to add brightness to the photo. Duplicate layer with Ctrl+J and on copied layer update layer blending mode to Screen and Opacity to 70%.

Step 3

Go back to original layer and duplicate it on more (Ctrl+J). Place this new layer above all other layers and desaturate it using Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Step 4

Change Brightness and Contrast for this layer using Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast:

Change layer blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Step 5

Now we need to brighten photo. Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels.

Step 6

Duplicate again layer with original photo using Ctrl+J and move it above all layers. Apply Filter > Other > High Pass to this layer.

Update layer blending mode to Overlay.

Step 7

We are going to add shining to the photo in the same place where the source of light is located. On this photo the source of light is obvious, it’s located in the middle of the landscape. Create a new layer, select Brush Tool (opacity: 50%, soft-edged brush with 50px, color #f0ff00) and create the shining.

Step 8

Now we are going to create the rays. Create a new layer, select Brush Tool (opacity: 100%, soft brush, 4px in diameter, color: #ffffff) and holding Shift button make a line as shown on image below:

The edges of the line shouldn’t be sharp. Select Eraser Tool and a soft brush with 100% opacity, diameter 100px and erase the edges of the line.

Duplicate layer with line using Ctrl+J and apply Edit > Transformer > Rotate 90 CW.

Merge both layers with lines by selecting them first and pressing Ctrl+E. Duplicate layer once again and rotate it using Edit > Transformer > Rotate as shown on image below.

Merge both layers with lines by selecting them first and pressing Ctrl+E.

Duplicate layer once again and rotate it using Edit > Transformer > Rotate as shown on image below.

Merge both layers with lines by selecting them first and pressing Ctrl+E. Duplicate layer once again and rotate it using Edit > Transformer > Rotate as shown on image below.

Merge both layers with lines by selecting them first and pressing Ctrl+E. Duplicate layer once again and rotate it using Edit > Transformer > Rotate as shown on image below.

To make rays look more natural let’s add shining in the center of landscape. Create a new layer, select Brush Tool (soft brush, diameter 400px, color: #ffffff) and create shining like you see on image below.

Merge white shining layer with rays layer into one and update layer blending mode to Overlay on this layer.

Create a new layer and with Brush Tool selected (soft brush with 400px in diameter and color #ffffff), create shining and we have finished this step.

Step 9

Create a new layer, select Gradient Tool and Spectrum gradient from Presets and fill new layer.

Update layer blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 10

Now we need to add magical rays. Select Brush Tool, hard-edged brush with 4px in diameter, white color (#ffffff) and opacity 100%. Create a new layer, select Pen Tool and make sure that you are working with Paths instead of Shape Layers. Draw curve with paths like i have on image below.

Right click mouse above path create and select Stroke Path in the menu. Choose Brush as a source on dialog box that appears.

Click again and select Delete Path.

Select Brush Tool and select brush Hard Mechanical 1 pixel which is located on Basic Brushes set that comes with Photoshop. Go to Window > Brush Presets and use following parameters:

Select Pen Tool and create curves same way as before.

Right click mouse and select Stroke Path.

Repeat this action several times.

Create second ray also on same layer with same process.

Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 30%, soft brush with 100px) and make rays transparent in some areas and with this we will add the feeling of lightness.

Step 11

Create a new layer. Select Brush Tool (Opacity: 100% and a soft round brush) and choosing different sizes and colors, paing the fragments of the rays.

Change layer blending mode to Color.

Set layer opacity to 40% for this layer.

Select layer with the rays and with Brush Tool (soft brush, white color) backlight the rays on a new layer.

Step 12

Create new layer on top. With Brush Tool create spots of light with white color.

Set layer blending mode to Soft Light and tutorial is finished.

Final Image

We got an unusual colored mythical landscape. Hope you liked it.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

Create a new document with 1000px width and 600px height. Fill it with black color (#000000) and update layer name to Background (click twice on layer name).

Step 2

For this tutorial we need to create an action. Make Actions Panel active with Window > Actions (or Alt+F9) and press Create new Action button on lower window options.

After that create a new layer and apply Filter > Render > Clouds. Change layer mode to Screen for this layer.

Step 3

Apply Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic with following settings:

Step 4

Apply Filter > Sketch> Reticulation with following settings:

Now we need to stop recording our new action. Press Stop on Action panel. Make sure tht your new Action only has the following items: Make layer, Clouds, Set current layer, Mosaic and Reticulation. If you have more items remove them and if you have any missing delete Action and recreate it.

Step 5

With our Action created, we are going to create mosaic bricks. We need to apply our Action about 6-7 times more until all black spots will disappear on canvas.

The result should be similar to this:

Merge all layers together except background layer by selecting them and using Ctrl+E. After merge, change layer mode to Screen again. We now have only two layers: background layer and mosaic layer.

Step 6

We now are going to add glow. Apply Filter > Sketch > Photocopy on mosaic layer (Detail: 24 and Darkness:1).

Step 7

Invert layer colors by pressing Ctrl+I.

Step 8

Set Auto Contrast by going to Image > Auto Constrat (on older Photoshop versions it´s inside Image > Adjustments).

Step 9

Create new layer and change layer mode to Overlay. Select Brush Tool (soft round brush with about 80 pixels) and apply brush on edges of dark squares with white color.

Step 10

Merge all layers except background layer by selecting them and using Ctrl+E. Duplicate mosaic layer again with Ctrl+J.

On duplicated layer apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Change layer mode to Overlay.

Step 11

Duplicate current layer with Ctrl+J to increase effect.

Merge all mosaic layers except background layer.

Step 12

On this step we are going to bring some color to mosaic layer. Apply Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation with following settings:

Step 13

Time to add some perspective to the mosaic. Use Edit > Transform > Perspective to transform mosaic to something similar to what i did on image below.

To remove too much blurred areas if you have any, use Crop Tool to fix them.

Final Image

We may add some additional colors to our mosaic. Add a new layer and change layer mode to Overlay. Set up foreground color as purple (#8a00ff) and with Brush Tool selected (soft round brush with 300px) apply on right side of mosaic. Finally set up foreground color to blue (#002cff) and apply Brush Tool on left side to increase brightness and add some glow. And now this tutorial is complete.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

Create a new document with size of 1000 x 1000 pixels for this tutorial. Select the Paint Bucket Tool and fill canvas with black color.

Step 2

Go to Layer > New Layer and create a new layer. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to create selection similar to mine on the picture below and fill it with white color.

Step 3

Remove selection with Ctrl+D and apply Filter > Stylize > Wind.

Step 4

Now press Ctrl+F two more times to increase filter effect.

Step 5

Apply again Filter > Stylize > Wind, but change direction to From the Left. Press Ctrl+F two more times to increase filter effect.

Step 6

Rotate this line to horizontal position by using Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 CW.

Step 7

Apply Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates with these values:

Step 8

To create a full circle we need to copy current layer with Ctrl+J. After duplicating, rotate copied layer by going to Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 CW.

Step 9

Now, select the Eraser Tool and a soft round brush about 300 px to remove all the content on the current layer except the hole part.

Step 10

Merge copied layer with original layer together selecting both and pressing Ctrl+E. Then apply Filter > Distort > Spherize.

Step 11

After that apply Filter > Blur > Radial Blur:

Step 12

Now we are going to create background for explosion effect. Create a new layer and apply Filter > Render > Clouds:

Step 13

Then apply Filter > Distort > Pinch with next parameters:

Step 14

Apply this filter two more times (press Ctrl+F two times more).

Step 15

Change color of this layer with Images > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.

Step 16

Increase contrast for current layer by using Images > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

Step 17

Change layer mode to Color Dodge.

Step 18

Go to layer with circle and reduce layer opacity to 50%.

Final Image

Finally create new layer above the circle layer and fill it with white color. Then set opacity up to 10% for current layer.

We have completed this tutorial with this final step. Now you know how to create abstract explosions that you can use on your designs.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

Open PSD file that was created on Part 1 of this tutorial. Select layers Nebula and Galaxy and merge both layers by going to Layers > Merge Layers (Ctrl+E). We will have now three layers: black, white, and the one with the galaxy. It’s worth noticing that space is very beautiful, all colors can be found in it, so let’s add them into our galaxy. Create a new layer and change the layer Blending Mode to Color. After that select a soft-edged Brush Tool, opacity 10%, 300 pixels in diameter, color #5a78cc and paint it arbitrarily.

Step 2

Keep Brush Tool selected and change color to #ff0000 to add red color.

Step 3

Keep Brush Tool selected and change color to #fff000 to add yellow color.

Step 4

Create a new layer. On this new layer we create the centre of the galaxy. Select a soft-edged brush, 500 pixels in diameter, color #ffffb7, opacity 100%.

Step 5

Change the brush diameter to 300, white color (#ffffff) and apply.

Step 6

Shape the shining to the galaxy outline with the help of Edit > Transform > Scale:

Step 7

Rotate using Edit > Transform > Rotate:

Step 8

Any galaxy needs stars and our galaxy is not an exception. To bring bright stars to the canvas, create a new layer, select a soft-edged Brush Tool, opacity 100%, white color (#ffffff) and open Brush Panel to adjust settings (Windows > Brush or press F5).

Select Shape Dynamics option and change settings.

Select Scattering option and change settings.

And on Transfer option update opacity to 100% and change Control to Pen Pressure.
Important: On older Photoshop versions there isn´t any Transfer option but Other Dynamics option is available and this is where you update settings.

With the help of this brush, change its diameter according to the situation and your taste and we can create stars along the outline of the galaxy and slightly beyond its bounds.

Step 9

It´s worth remembering, that the closer the stars the bigger they appear to be on the picture. So you need to keep changing brush size.

Step 10

There is also its own nebula around the stars. Duplicate the layer (Crtl+J) and blur the layer that is below using Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur:

Step 11

Stars have color too. Select the Gradient Tool and set up following presets:

Go back to original stars layer and select stars. Create new layer and apply gradient.

Move this layer below both layers that contain stars.

Step 12

Apply Soft Light Blending Mode for the layer with the gradient.

Step 13

To be more realistic our galaxy lacks dust. To create dust we select standard Dry Brush, opacity 100%, black color (#000000), change the diameter according to the situation. We apply strokes along the galaxy shape on a new layer.

Step 14

Now we adjust the dust outline using the Eraser Tool, select a soft-edged brush, opacity 50%, diameter according to the situation.

Step 15

Then we remove hard edges of brush strokes and get realistic dust.

Step 16

Now let´s apply color to the dust layer. We treat the dust in the same way as the stars, select the layer with the dust and apply the same gradient.

Step 17

Apply the Multiply Blending Mode for the layer with colored dust.

Step 18

It remains only to add volume to our image, we select a soft-edged brush, 900 pixels in diameter, opacity 30%, black color (#000000) and darken the image above and slightly on the edges on a new layer.

Step 19

We can say the galaxy is ready but we can add some more details. Let it be very big stars or constellations. Create a new layer, select the Brush Tool and brush with 70 pixels in diameter, opacity 100%, color #6191dc.

Step 20

Let´s change brush color to white (#ffffff).

Step 21

Deform slightly using Edit > Transform > Scale and Edit > Transform > Rotate.

Final Image

It´s possible not to deform and so it depends on your taste. Add a few stars on the same principle.

Part 1

Part 1 of this tutorial has been published.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

Let´s start our tutorial by creating a new document with 1920×1200 pixels (72 dpi) and fill canvas with color #000000.

Step 2

Create a new layer above the black one and fill it with pure white color (#ffffff).

Step 3

We have now two layers: the black one and the white above it. For the layer with white color we change the Layer Blending Mode to Dissolve, layer opacity 1% (no more than this amount) and get something resembling space.

Step 4

Create a new layer on top and give a name to the layer, for example “Nebula”. (Note: Right now we will be creating the galaxy but in the future this layer will hold the nebula). Select the Brush Tool, with a soft-edged brush, opacity 100%, 125 pixels in diameter, white color (#ffffff) and simply apply several brush strokes on the new layer as shown in the screenshot:

Step 5

Apply the Filter > Distort > Twirl:

Step 6

Deform the result a bit with the help of Edit > Transform > Perspective:

Step 7

Further on we apply Edit > Transform > Scale:

Step 8

And then we apply Edit > Transform > Rotate:

Step 9

This shape suits to be the galaxy, but we will improve it. Apply Filter > Blur > Motion Blur:

Step 10

And apply the Twirl filter once again Filter > Distort > Twirl:

Step 11

We deform the galaxy again using Edit > Transform > Perspective:

Step 12

Scale the galaxy to the desired size using Edit > Transform > Scale:

Step 13

Rotate it a bit with the help of Edit > Transform > Rotate:

Step 14

We now have our galaxy. Copy the layer by pressing Ctrl+J and name it “Galaxy”.

Step 15

Any galaxy contains nebula, so let´s create one. Temporarily hide Galaxy layer (eyeball) and select layer Nebula. This layer should be blurred with the help of Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Step 16

Choose the Smudge Tool (Strength: 31%) and brush Spatter 59 (it’s a standard Photoshop brush), set diameter to 150 and begin stretching the nebula out a bit in the galaxy direction, at the same time we can change the brush diameter sometimes, for the galaxy not to be uniform.

Step 17

We switch on visibility of the layer Galaxy.

Step 18

Keep on changing the layer with the nebula, apply Filter > Distort > Wave:

Step 19

Now we copy the layer with the nebula by pressing Ctrl+J. After that, merge the two layers which have the nebula into one using Ctrl+E.

Step 20

With the help of Eraser Tool, we make the nebula more opaque to adjust its shape and transparency. The edge of the nebula is more transparent, but on the borders of the galaxy quite the contrary, though it depends on somebody´s taste, it´s advisable to use the brush with 500 pixels in diameter and opacity 45. Also we should slightly adjust opacity on the layer with the galaxy, especially on the edges.

Part 2

Part 2 of this tutorial has been published.