Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop

Learn how to create a smoke shaped image using a range of photo manipulation techniques in Adobe Photoshop.

Final Image Preview

Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop


Resources


Step 1

Open all photos in Photoshop. Copy Smoke 1 photo to portrait canvas and position smoke photo like I did below.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 1


Step 2

Desaturate smoke image by selecting the smoke layer and going to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (Shift+Ctrl+U).
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 2


Step 3

Set layer opacity for this layer to 70%.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 3


Step 4

Rotate smoke by going to Edit > Transform > Rotate.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 4


Step 5

Copy Smoke 2 to our main canvas.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 5
Repeat same actions with this smoke layer like you did with first one: desaturate it and set layer opacity to 70%.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 6
Finally, rotate this layer a bit by using Edit > Transform > Rotate.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 7


Step 6

Apply Edit > Transform > Warp to replicate face shape.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 8
Regarding face, try to shape it as similar as possible.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 9


Step 7

Select Smudge Tool with the soft-edged brush (Strength: 50%) to improve contour.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 10
In the end, we should have something like this:
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 11


Step 8

In order to depict the photo exactly, we should use several images of smoke as a rule. In this tutorial, I used only three images of smoke.

As layers will overlay each other sometimes, it’s worth using the Eraser Tool to remove unnecessary parts from the layers (always select soft-edged brush). On this step, it’s also worth clearing the upper edge of the layer we’ve just worked with, as this edge overlays the lower layer.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 12


Step 9

Go to third smoke image and select part of the smoke using Polygonal Lasso Tool.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 13
Copy selected area to the main canvas and place it as shown on the screenshot below.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 14
Desaturate this layer by going to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (Shift+Ctrl+U) and set layer opacity for this layer to 70%. Then move it to the right edge of the canvas.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 15
Select Eraser Tool with the soft-edged brush and erase edges on this layer.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 16


Step 10

Update all layers opacity back to 100%.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 17
Create a new layer right above background layer with portrait. Fill it with black color (#000000).
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 18
Merge all layers except background layer (portrait) by selecting layers and pressing Ctrl+E. We now have only two layers: portrait layer and smoke layer. Set layer opacity of the smoke layer to 50-70% and adjust contour by using Smudge Tool.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 19


Step 11

Go back to the third smoke image. Make a new selection of smoke using Polygonal Lasso Tool.
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Copy selection to main canvas.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 21
Desaturate this layer by and going to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (Shift+Ctrl+U) and set layer opacity for this layer to 70%. Transform it by using Ctrl+T and position selection like I did.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 22
Edit layer edges using Eraser Tool.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 23
Set layer opacity back to 100%.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 24


Step 12

Merge all layers except background layer with portrait. Right now looking at the image it seems girl has one too long neck. We can fix this by adding more smoke. Repeat the same process we did before (select from smoke 3 a bit of smoke, copy it to our main canvas, desaturate and reduce layer opacity so you can clear edges of the layer.

In the end, you should have something like I have below.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 25
Once you are happy with the result, merge all layers except background layer with portrait. We have only two layers: portrait layer and smoke layer.


Step 13

With smoke layer selected, apply Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.
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Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 27


Step 14

Duplicate layer with portrait using Ctrl+J and place it above smoke layer. Select the violin using the Polygonal Lasso Tool.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 28
Invert selection using Select > Inverse and remove everything inside the selection by using the Delete button.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 29
Make a new selection in the shape of violin using Polygonal Lasso Tool and remove unnecessary background using Delete button again. Deselect selection using Ctrl+D.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 30
If you still have some problematic areas with the remains of the background, they can be erased by using Eraser Tool with a soft-edged brush and opacity set to 30-50%.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 31


Step 15

Duplicate layer with violin using Ctrl+J and apply Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 32
Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop 33
Change layer blending mode to Soft Light for this layer and this tutorial is now complete.


Final Image

Create a Smoke Shaped Image in Adobe Photoshop