Photoshop circle Twist Effects

Let’s create a new file (File>New) of 1920×1200px/72 dpi. Using the Paint Bucket Tool (G),give the new background layer black color.

On a new layer (Create new layer) we’ll apply a standard brush to represent a spot on the central part of the picture. The brush’s color is #007EC7

Select the next option for the layer containing the spot:Filter>Distort>ZigZag

The layer’s parameters:Fill 54%

Next we’ll choose the Rectangle Tool (U) to represent three white lines which must be turned over with Free Transform option.

Those three layers with the white lines must be combined in a group (press Ctrl button to mark out the lines’ layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while moving the marked layers on (Create a new group selection).

Mark out the group now and then press CTRL+E. On the rasterized layer we’ll apply the next option: Filter>Distort>Wave

On the same layer we need to apply also Filter>Blur>Gaussian blur

Set the next parameters for the layer by clicking on the same layer on the layers’ panel: Blending mode-Overlay : Fill 44%
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Outer Glow

Make a copy of the recently made layer and chooseFree Transform option to turn over the copy the same way demonstrated on the picture.

Now we need to represent a new layer (Create new layer), applying here a standard brush to paint the new layer in two colors (on the top part we’ll choose the green color,on the bottom – the blue one) (Opacity 10%).

Tags: Photoshop, Photoshop tips

Matte Painting

First of all, find a good res picture. I chose to use a picture of a house I found on the web. You can find very nice pics for free, just look around !

The first step is to isolate the house by putting it on a separate layer and by erasing the rest.

In this example I used the polygonal lasso tool for the house, and a soft eraser for the bushes.

Now you need a new background. You can either find a good pic, either paint one yourself.

I chose the former because it is less time consuming, and the result is far better than what I would have gotten had I painted a background myself. I found this image on the web, unfortunately I do not remember the site I got it from.

Put the sky behind the house (by putting the sky layer under the house layer), and apply a little perspective effect to give more depth to the sky, make it less flat.

Here the house picture was taken from a low angle, which makes our work easier.

Now look at the edges of the house. They still are the color of the original sky. We’ll fix that.

Using the magic wand tool, select the empty zone of the house layer. Then, Select > Modify > Expand, to make your selection wider. Pick a value that includes the zone we need to color correct.
In the menu : Image > Adjust > Hue / Saturation and color correct the edges by matching them with the color of the roof.

Still using Hue / Saturation and also Color Balance, adjust the colors of the house and sky layers so that they perfectly blend together.

Now we want to get rid of that palm tree that hides a part of the house. That tree has nothing to do there since we want to create a morbid mood.

This is probably the most delicate step because we have to hand paint the missing part of the house. For that I mostly used the clone stamp tool, tool that allows you to paint something using another part of the picture for reference.
For instance, the tiles located between the lower and middle windows were painted using similar tiles of the house, using the clone stamp tool.

Why not add a lightning bolt to make the scene a little more disturbing ?
Using the simple non feathered brush, this is simple. Draw your lightning, duplicate the layer, and blur the copies to make the lightning glow.
Then, use the Dodge tool to brighten the clouds from where the lightning is originating.

Paint dead trees behind the house, or use existing ones from pictures. Of course, make the colors and luminosity match.

The fun part, now ! Let’s break down the house. Well, not all of it.
To make it look older, I added a hole in the rood, painted with brushes.

Don’t be afraid to add broken parts ! The house is supposed to still be standing, so don’t go too far.
You can see that I broke a wooden beam, a pipe, a board, another part of the roof, and a window. When you break something, use the clone stamp tool to fill in the empty space you created.

Make it look dirty. First of all, the windows. I used a non regular brush and painted the windows with a matte color. Then, change the transfer mode of the dirt layer to make sure that dirt and windows blend nicely together. For this example I chose the Luminosity mode.

Repeat that step, only do it on the entire house. Paint with a dirtier color and set your layer to Multiply.
Make sure you make joints and edges look filthy too, because that’s where dirt appears most.
This is one of the longest steps, but take your time and don’t mindlessly add dirt everywhere !

Here, the porch, zoomed in.

The last step is to create a Levels adjustment layer to get the final contrast of the matte painting.

Here it is ! You can compare the original image and the matte painting !

Adding Texture to the Skin

Basically, in this tutorial I’m going to be showing you how to add texture to the skin like the one in the below image.

Firstly, start by finding a stock photo that you can add the texture to. For example, you can use this one or you can of course, go to Google Images and look up some picture you are interesting in. Also you need to find some appropriate stone texture. You can do it in the same way or feel free to use mine. Ok, now open up both of your photos in Photoshop, you can either keep it at it’s current size of resize it down a little bit if you want. After that bring the texture picture to the canvas with the man’s face:

Flip this texture vertical with Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical and set opacity up to 50% for this layer:

Ok, then mess with the layer mode & opacity/fill. I tried Multiply with opacity of 80%. After that apply Edit > Transform > Warp to transform the texture as on picture below:

This texture will cover the face and we need one more for the neck covering. Copy the stone texture one more time to our canvas and then change layer mode to the Multiply for the new layer, also set opacity to 80% up. After that resize it a little bit and transform is as below using Edit > Transform > Warp like on picture below:

Now it’s time to compose two different texture layers in one and cut away the textures out the skin area. Hide the upper layer (click on the eye, which indicates layer visibility) and go to lower layer with the texture. Select the Eraser Tool and a soft round brush about 20 px and process the edges to get the picture like mine:

Go back to the hidden layer and make it visible again. Now process its edges in the same way.

Merge two of these layers and change layer mode to Multiply again. Then you might want to make more sharpen this layer. Get out the Sharpen Tool and a soft round brush about 400 px and make a little sharpen work:

Now I would like to clear eyes area from the texture. To do this use the Eraser Tool and a soft round brush about 10 px:

Time to make the texture three-dimensional. For this effect use Dodge Tool (Range: Highlights, Exposure: 35%) and Burn Tool (Range: Shadows, Exposure: 40%) to make some parts of the face more brightness and bring some shadows to the dark parts. Try to do it more realistic.

Now I would like to bring man’s clothes some sharpness. Use the Sharpen Tool (Size: 90px, Mode: Normal, Strength: 50%) to get the picture similar to this:

Looks good! Isn’t it? But we are not finished yet! Now time to add some color to the skin. Use Select > Load Selection to create selection as on picture below, after that create a new layer and fill the selected area with color of #331e01:

Remove the selection with Ctrl+D and change the layer mode for this layer to Color:

After creating a new color for the man’s skin I think we should add some cold hue to his face. For this effect select the Rectangular Marquee Tool (Feather: 100 px) and make selection as on picture below:

Then use Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation with similar settings to these:

Remove selection with Ctrl+D. Now we have an effect like this one:

Looks great! To finish off the tutorial select the Eraser Tool and a soft round brush with size of 100 px and make clear the lower part of the face and neck, but a little bit!

That is it for now! Read this tutorial, make it and enjoy your own cool pictures! Also thanks for visiting Web designing blog.