How to Make a Vortex in Photoshop

Learn How to Make a Cool Vortex in Space Step by Step

Today I will be teaching you how to make a cool vortex that appears to be in outer space. The first step is to open up a new blank document in Photoshop. Keep in mind that this method will work in Photoshop 6.0 and above. Once you have your document opened up select the gradient tool from the toolbar. Now the next step is to set your foreground color to red and black. Once you have done this click and drag the gradient tool from left to write on the document. Now once you have done this go to Filter then Distort and click on Twirl. Once you are in the twirl tab we can start to create our vortex. I would suggest making the angle 399. Making the angle 399 will give the vortex and really cool spiral look to it. Once you have done this click OK. Once you have done this you should have the basic shape of your vortex. Now go to Filter then Stylize and then click on Wind. Once you are in the Wind tab we can start to make the vortex look a bit more realistic. While you are in the Wind tab select Stagger and then From the Right to get the desired effect. Click OK then you will notice the vortex now looks like it is sucking inward. This is a very cool effect that adds some life to the whole piece. In the next part of the lesson I will teach how you to make the vortex appear like is is in outer space.

You now have the basic shape and layout of your vortex at this point. But it will look a little boring. Make a new layer and then press D on your keyboard to set your foreground and background colors to default. Next select your gradient tool and click and drag from left to right on that layer. Once you have done this go to Filter Render and then click on Clouds.
After you add the clouds to the new layer press Control I on your keyboard to invert the the clouds. Keep in mind that you need to hold down the Control Key and then press I while you are holding down the Control Key. Now from this point press Control U on your keyboard to access the Hue and Saturation tab. Use the sliders on the Hue to select the color you want your clouds to be. You can use the sliders on the Saturation and Lightness to adjust the brightness of the clouds. Once you are happy with how your clouds look click OK. Now the last step is combining the clouds with the vortex. While you are on the layer where you created your clouds click on the drop down arrow and select screen as your blending mode. Once you do this you will notice your clouds have blended in with your vortex. But they still look to intense lower the Opacity to 82%. Now you should have a cool looking vortex with a space like cloudy look around it. If you want to make the whole piece look ever cooler you can add some stars with the shape tool or add a lens flare to add some extra life to the vortex. To add a lens flare go to Filter then Render and click Lens Flare. Make the brightness 87%. After this move the lens flare to the top left hand corner or where ever you wish to position it. I would also choose 50-300mm Zoom as the type of Lens Flare. Once you do this click OK and you should have a very cool looking vortex in space. I hope you enjoyed this lesson.

 

 

 

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How to Make a Nav Bar in Photoshop

Learn How to Make a Cool Nav Bar in Photoshop

Today I will be teaching you how to make a cool nav bar in Photoshop. Keep in mind that you must be working in RGB mode so you can see all your colors correctly. To switch to RGB mode simply go to Image the Mode and the click on RGB mode. This lesson will work in Photoshop 6.0 and above. After this step make a new document any size you want. Once you have your document made select the shape tool from the toolbar. Change your foreground color to any color you want. Once you have selected your color click and drag with the shape tool with the rectangle shape then let go of the mouse. Now you will have the basic shape of your nav bar created. Now we can add some realism to the nav bar. Go to Layer then Layer Style then Bevel and Emboss on your top menu bar. Once you have done this you will be in the Bevel and Emboss tab. Make your Inner Bevel then make the depth 219%. After that make the size 13px and the technique Chisel Hard. This will give your nav bar a much more realistic look to it.

The next step in our lesson will be to make buttons for you nav bar. You can use the shape tool to drag them on different layers and then put them on your nav bar. I like to use the Rounded Rectangle Tool. Make sure you make your bottoms a color that is visible on your nav bar. For example, you could use black buttons on a nav bar that is blue. Then you can make the letters white and they will be easy to read. Keep in mind that making your nav bar easy to read is very important when it comes to its design. You can add a bevel and emboss effect to the buttons just like you did with you nav bar. But I would suggest an inner bevel for a cool effect on the buttons. This will make your nav bar more eye catching which is a really good thing to have. A nav bar should be easy to read and look good. Once you have your nav bar and buttons the way you want them to look you can upload the images to your website and then write HTML code to implement them into your website.

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Create a Zombie in Photoshop

Today you are going to learn how to take an image of a person and make them look like they are a zombie. This is one of the best tricks and ways I have found to make someone look like a zombie. This is a very realistic effect that is easy to apply, and you will have a lot of fun with it. Just make sure that you have some basic Photoshop skills, and we will guide you through the steps.

Step One. The first thing that you will need to do is to open an image in Photoshop that you want to have the zombie effect. It is a good idea to choose a photo that is a close-up of a face so that you can apply this image very easily.

Step Two. The next thing you need to do is to make the image that you have opened black and white. You can do this really easily by go to Image, down to Adjustments, and choose Desaturate. This will make your image black and white so that we can work with it. If Photoshop will not let you edit your background image, you may have to duplicate it so that you have one that is editable.

Step Three. Now you need to grab the Polygonal Lasso Tool. You need to use this tool to select the entire portion of the image that you want the effect to apply to. Since my image is a close up, I just selected the entire part of the body where I want the effect to be applied. The selection does not have to be perfect.

Step Four. Next cut the selection out but going to Edit, and Cut. You will want to place this on a new layer so that you only have the part of the image that you selected on a layer. You also want to duplicate that layer so that you have two copies. So, now you should have a background of the area minus the cut out portion, plus two layers of the part that you cut out.

Step Five. Now, working on the second layer down (first copy of cut out part), we need to colorize the image. I always choose a light green color. You will want to apply the same color to the second copy of the cut out layer. You also want to duplicate that layer again giving you three copies of the same thing.

Step Six. Now, working on your middle copy of the three same layers, go to Layer, down to Layer Style, and choose Pattern Overlay. You want to get your Rock patterns from the selection (right arrow) and choose the Red Rock pattern. You also want to change the Blend Mode to Color Burn and click OK.

Step Seven. Now, working on that same layer, you need to change the layer blend mode to Screen and take the Opacity down to 65%. You cant see any change yet, but you will soon.

Step Eight. Now, working with your very top layer, go to Layer, down to Layer Style, and choose Pattern Overlay. Now choose the Texture Fills (right arrow) from the selections and choose Clouds as your texture. You want your Blend mode to be Color Burn, and click OK. Your image is starting to take effect now, but you are not done.

Step Nine. Now change the Blend Mode of your top layer to Screen and take the Opacity down to 25%.

Step Ten. Now you want the clothing to be less affected, so you can use the Polygonal Lasso tool and select the clothing and cut it to a new layer, and take the opacity down to 50%.

Step Eleven. The final thing to do is to flatten the image by going to Layer, and down to Flatten Image. Now go to Filter, down to Sharpen, and choose Unsharp Mask. You will want to set the Amount to 30%, Radius to 0.7 pixels and Threshold to 0. Now you should have an awesome image of a zombie using nothing but Photoshop. I hope this has helped you create a zombie in Photoshop.

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Creative Photoshopping

Ideas You May Not Have Thought of for Using Photoshop

Most of the ideas for using Photoshop, though good ideas, have become ‘normal’. Making yourself skinnier, deleting the background of your picture, all of these are great ways to utilize the tools in the program but if you’re looking for something that maybe you haven’t thought about doing, here are some ideas to help you on your photo-editing journey.

Add Clothing: With the economy in such a bad shape, everyone wants to look good without paying designer prices. With Photoshop you can wear any clothing you’d like for free. Free standing Clothes– If the clothing you want is in a picture by itself, take a picture of yourself either naked or scantily clad (depending on where the clothing would cover up. Ex: A tank top would look a little strange on top of a t-shirt…) If you’re female be sure to pay special attention to how the shirt bends around the breast area, if it’s something like a tank top and you should be able to see the top curve of the breasts, an ace bandage will work in place of a bra to eliminate the strap problem. Save the picture of the clothing you want and open it alongside the picture of yourself. (File- >Open->”Your Picture”->Windows->Arrange Vertically/Horizontally.) Open up a new layer named clothing on the picture of yourself, and decide on a place in the clothing that you can easily match up to a part of your body, usually where the neck meets the shoulder, the underarm crease, or the center point of your cleavage. Then, using the cloning tool, hold down Alt and click that place on the clothing. Now you can click the same place on you and drag the mouse across the area to fill in the clothing on your body. Slight inconsistencies can be fixed using affects or liquify. For pictures where the clothing is on someone: Pretty much the same deal but be sure to be in the exact same position as the person wearing the clothing for your picture. Any skin that gets cloned in can be safely erased using the background eraser tool if the clothing has a sharp contrast to the skin. If not, just the eraser is an easy fix, if a little slow and detailed.

Decorating Your Room: You can always add a completely different background to your picture, but then again why not make the space you have to look better? Look up some items you wish you could have such as lamps, pictures, bedspreads, shelving etc.. Again using the clone tool, open both of the pictures up [see above for directions.] and decide where you want your objects. Open a new layer on the picture that the objects are going in, for ease of placement and deletion of unwanted objects. Once you’ve decided where you want your object to go Alt+click it and then start filling it in on your picture. (Click the area you want it to go and follow the lines of the object.) Make sure that the picture of the object matches the size you want it to be in your room, you can adjust the size by selecting the window it’s in and going to Image+size and filling in your size specification. Make sure that it’s locked so your width will always match your height. Once you’ve cloned your object in the room play
around with the lighting affect to make sure it looks right. If it’s a lamp or other light source make the bulb the center of the light source and use shadows to adjust your room. Voila!

Upgrade Your Stuff: You’ve got an outdated t.v., iPod, or phone. Why not have the newest? Find a picture of the object you want and use the tricks above to clone in the new stuff.

Adding makeup: Time is precious, and sometimes you’re just not ready for that camera to be shoved in your face. Or maybe you don’t have the makeup that you’d like. By enlarging the picture dramatically and using the paintbrush tool on your desired color of mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, or cover up you can be totally made over in any picture. Make sure to open a new layer when you do this because you will want to lower the opacity to about 15-20% to make it look realistic.

More Ideas Using the Techniques Above:

1. Add fake nails!
2. Fill in that bald spot.
3. Change what you were eating to your favorite meal.
4. Add jewelry.
5. Change generic labels to name brands.
6. Make your shirt say something witty.
7. If you’re a drummer: Make your kit look more impressive by adding more drums, high hats, and cymbals.

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Alternatives to Photoshop

Ever wanted to create your own graphics online without all the hassle of having to pay for those expensive programs such as Photoshop (PS)? Sure, PS is arguably the best program in its niche and provides outstanding results for those looking to create art online. However, the program costs close to an unprecedented $700 and, in my opinion, is not at all worth the price – especially when there are great alternatives available for much less, and even for free! In this article, I’ll list three programs that deliver outstanding results and performance for their prices, and show you why they, as opposed to Photoshop, should be on your desktop. Please take note that, before you read this article, these are my own personal opinions and before you decide to download any program, you should have a good idea if it’s indeed what you’re looking for. Without further ado, we’ll begin with my number three pick:

Number Three: Krita

Krita has entered the spotlight recently due to its ease of use. It’s nowhere near as powerful as Photoshop, but it does have the resources to make a professional image out of nothing. As a matter of fact, it does have some tools not found in Photoshop and is always worth the look. More than the other two options, this program relies heavily on the nature of the user – it’s a “like or hate” issue with Krita, so you might need to take a test-run before you make your final decision. No one can actually tell you if it’s good or bad…check it out!

Download Krita here: http://ift.tt/2gQjl8W

Number Two: Paint.NET

Paint.NET was originally designed to overtake the default Microsoft Paint application in windows. However, for unknown reasons, it hasn’t been adapted by the Windows corporation – and it’s a real shame. It’s interface is extremely user-friendly and easy to operate. It has powerful tools and a smooth layer system that rivals the best of image manipulation programs. It’s still early in its stages, but there are countless add-ons available for Paint.NET, and soon enough, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that it can be on par with Photoshop.

Download Paint.NET here: paint.net/

Number One: GIMP

GIMP is by far the closest to Photoshop in both potential and overall performance. It has many of the same features that Photoshop provides, save for just a couple filters. However, it does have an extremely intuitive interface complete with floating windows and customizable interfaces. Some complaint about the difficulty of operation, but at the same time many compliment it on its ease. I recommend GIMP for its strength and personalization – a great open source software indeed.

Download GIMP here: http://ift.tt/KwFsoc

Hopefully, after testing each alternative, you’ll find a useful program that can deliver the wanted results without burning a hole in your wallet. If you’re looking to spend those seven hundred dollars on something much more beneficial for you and your family, then GIMP, Paint.NET, or Krita just might hold your answer. If you’ve got any questions about either of the programs listed here in this article, don’t hesitate to contact me.

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How to Make an Eye Ball in Photoshop

Today I will be teaching you how to make an eyeball in Photoshop. This is a great lesson for anyone who likes eyeballs. This lesson can be done in Photoshop 6.0 and above. To begin create a new file. To create a new file click on the menu bar at the top of the program. Click on the tab that says file and then clicks new. Let’s make the size of this new file 400 by 500 pixels. First and create a new layer to work with. Next, click on the shape tool and select the ellipse tool. Set your foreground color to white. Click and drag to make an oval like shape. This will be the basic shape of the eyeball. Next click layer, layer style, and click stroke. Set the size of stroke to 3 px and the position to outside. Next set the blending mode to normal and the opacity to 100%. Set fill type color and the color to black. The shape of your eyeball will have a nice outline. The next step is to start creating the inside of the eye. Click to create a new layer to work with. Next, click the shape tool and select the ellipse tool Set your foreground color to whatever color you choose. I will set my foreground color to brown. Next, click and drag to create the inner part of the eyeball. Now the eyeball should be looking pretty nice. You can look at the example image I included with this lesson to see what the eyeball should look like.

Now that the basic eyeball is created we can make it come to life. Click to create a new layer to work with. Next, click on the paintbrush tool and set your foreground color to red. Set the paintbrush size to 9 and your foreground color to red. Next, draw the tiny veins on the white part of the eyeball. This will make the eyeball look more realistic. Now we can add some eyelashes to the eyeball. Click to create a new layer to work with. Next, click on the paintbrush tool and set the brush size to 9. Set your foreground color to black. Next, drag the eyelashes on the eyeball. You can draw small or long eyelashes on the eyeball. Your eyeball is not finished. I hope you enjoyed this lesson and have a great day

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How to Use Photoshop to Transform and Image

The word metamorphosis is in itself very magical and mysterious and the process that it refers to is equally mystifying and enchanting. A profound transformation of the form by a natural or magical process. An alteration in condition looks or spirit.

One of the most common examples of metamorphosis is also one of the most spectacular. The transformational change of the caterpillar into a butterfly. Other instances of metamorphosis abound in the natural world but the concept of transformation change is also integral to the creative journey. At a basic level, the photographic process is all about transformational change from one state to another. When we see a scene in the real world. We then use our cameras and light sensitive chemical emulsion or light sensitive digital sensors to transform that scene.

The transformations to apply to most photos are not extreme makeovers that turn an image into something totally different, but adjustments to the basic components that make up photographic images. Before we get into the particulars of some of the techniques, let’s take a look at these essential components to better understand the most effective ways to transform and image.

Before you even start pondering whether to use curves or levels, you should take a good look at the image and see what it tells you. To help you concentrate on only the image, press the F key once and place the image into full-screen mode with the menu bar. Then press the tab key to hide all of the photoshop palettes and tools. Now you’re viewing only the image with no other distractions.

At the most fundamental level, the adjustments that we make to images can be distilled down to four basic areas. Lightening, darkening, adjusting contrast and if the image is color, changes to the color balance.

Before you start thinking about procedural details of how to accomplish something in photoshop, you should look at the image and think in those broad terms of lighter, dark and more contrast or less. The human eyes are attracted to lighter areas and to contrast.

How might such adjustments help guide the viewer’s eye through the image? With adjustments to tone and contrast, can you more effectively emphasize certain areas of the images or alter the mode of the scene?

Once you’ve determined what the image needs, then you can think about which tools and techniques in the digital darkroom might help you achieve those ends.

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