SMOKE BRUSHES

 
Sample or Preset files are available at the main index Mastering Brushes for Photoshop.
1.) Go to the Samples folder for this CD and Open it. Inside locate the file named Lightning.psd, Double-Click it to Open in Photoshop. I'm sure you will find this a neat surprise! The images Created from the Lightning Brushes Tutorial can be used as a base image to Create Smoke. Here is how it is done.
 
 
2.) Go to Filter > Distort > Wave. Enter the settings as shown below then click OK to apply.
 
 
Now, go Edit > Fade Wave. Move the slider to a value close to 50%, then click OK to apply.
 
 
Next, press Ctrl+F to run the Wave Filter once again and follow with the same Fade Wave adjustment. Image should now look similar.
 
 
3.) Time to Rotate the image so we can get a better idea of how it looks. Go to Image > Rotate Canvas > 90° CW.
 
 
4.) Press B to Select the Brush tool , then Right-Click on the work area to Open the Brush-Picker. Locate the Soft Round 45 pixels brush, then Double-Click it to Select and Close the library.
(If the Library is different, click the blue arrow (Top Right corner) and a pop-out menu will appear. Select Reset Brushes. A dialog box will appear, just click OK and the correct library will load.)
 
 
Adjust the Opacity to the brush in the Options bar somewhere between 20-50%. At this point I do a little cleanup of unwanted spots and a little blending around some of the edges. (You can compare this image to the one Above for guidance.)
 
 
5.) Next, Go to Filter > Blur > Gauassian Blur. Input a small value as shown. (Idea is to just soften the edges a fraction.) Click on the blue bar (Top) of Filter and Drag to position it out of the way to allow for Full viewing of the work area as adjustments are being made.
 
 
6.) Press Ctrl+I to Invert the image. Select the Background Color swatch (White) and finish any necessary cleanup.
 
 
7.) Time to make the brush. Go to Edit > Define Brush preset. Name it as you wish, then click OK to Create.
 
 
8.) To test the brush... simply click the Create a New layer button located at the Bottom of the Layers palette to generate a blank New Layer. Now, use Alt+Backspace to Fill with Black. With the brush still Selected, Right-Click on the work area to Open the Brush Library again, then scroll down and locate the New brush... Double-Clicking it to Select it and Close the library. Position the brush over the work area and click once. Here is the applied brush. (I adjusted Opacity in the Options bar to 90% prior to applying it.)
 
 
Now, not all of the image generated needs to be used. Let's take a clip from the Top section and use it in another image. Save the Document first so we do not loose the Original image.
 
1.) Hold the Shift key and tap M until the Rectangular Marquee tool becomes Selected. Now go to the Options bar and set Style to Normal.
 
 
Click and Drag a Selection in the Top area as shown.
 
 
Now, go to Image > Crop. Press Ctrl+I to Invert the image. Now, go to Edit > Define Brush preset. With the New brush made, we are ready to Open an image now and begin using it.
 
2.) Go to the Samples folder for this CD and Open it. Locate the file named Pewter_mug.psd, then Double-Click it to Open in Photoshop. I have already placed a clear blank layer on top for you to begin on. (Notice I've also filled it with hot tomato soup for you!) I'm such a nice guy.
 
 
3.) Press X on the keyboard to turn the Foreground Color to White. Next, press B to Select the Brush tool . Right-Click on the image to Open the Brush library. Locate the New brush (it will be last in the palette) then Double-Click it to Select it and Close the library. Click once on the image to add some smoke (we'll call it steam in this case) then press V to Select the Move tool . Drag the "steam" to a good location in the image.
 
 
4.) Hold the Shift key and press E (several times if needed) until the Erasure tool becomes Selected. Right-Click on the work area to Open the Brush Library. Select the Soft Round 27 pixels brush, then press Enter on the keyboard to Close the library.
(If the Library is different, click the blue arrow (Top Right corner) and a pop-out menu will appear. Select Reset Brushes. A dialog box will appear, just click OK and the correct library will load.)
 
 
Go to the Options bar and adjust Opacity to 30%. (This will allow you to Erase lightly as you work on the image.)
 
 
5.) Start erasing unwanted areas of "steam" in the image until you are pleased with the results. For the image below, I also adjusted the Opacity to the layer (Top of Layers palette) at the finish to 83%. Have a sip, It's on me.
 
 
Copyright © 2006-2007 Glenn Schemenauer - Spacific Designs™ - All rights reserved.