5 Useful Photoshop Effects

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5 Useful Photoshop Effects in 3 Easy Steps


In this fun tutorial Andrea will explain how to create 5 essential
effects in 3 easy steps, using basic Photoshop tools. Useful for a range
of situations, these effects work best when you don't have time to
reach high quality standards. If you work in an agency you know how it
goes -- these techniques are lifesavers! Andrea submits the following
...


1. The Bold And The Beautiful Effect


Let's try to replicate the soft and blurry image effect used (and
abused) in soap operas, daytime dramas and erotic magazines. I'll call
it The Bold And The Beautiful Effect.

Step 1 : Duplicate the picture's layer.

Step 2 : Apply Gaussian Blur.


Step 3 : Set Screen blending mode, possibly reducing Opacity to your liking.

Done! You can puke now. It's a release.



2. Fake Miniature Photography


This pops up here and there. You take a picture of a landscape or a nice city shot.
miniature-start

Step 1 : Enter Quick Mask and make a gradient selection. (detail)

Step 2 : Invert the selection and apply Lens Blur. (detail)



Step 3 : Adjust colors and sharpen the image.

Now it looks like it's a model. Cute!

3. Instant Starry Sky


This technique is very useful when you need to add fine details to complex illustrations.
It doesn't replace a real starry sky but, if used with attention, can produce convincing results.


Step 1 : Create a gradient for the sky.


Step 2 : Select the Brush Tool (B) then hit F5 to bring up the Brushes palette.
Adjust Diameter and set a large Spacing. Use the preview at the bottom
for reference. Now instead of painting solid strokes you will dot the
sky with stars. (See Palette)


Set Shape Dynamics. Increase Size Jitter to vary the
diameter of the stars. For Control choose Off if you don't have a
tablet. Then start saving to buy one. (See Shape Dynamics)
Set Scattering. You want your stars to pop up at random spots so use the preview as guide. (Scattering)


Set Opacity Jitter. This is crucial in making some
stars appear closer and others appear farther. If you have a tablet you
can control opacity and size by varying the pressure, thus having more
control. If you don't have a tablet it's ok. (Jitter)


Some stars are small and bright, others are big and close to us but duller. Randomness looks good here.

Step 3 : Now you can have fun painting the galaxy away!

4. Wood Texture


This is not intended to replace high quality textures but it's a good
method to fake wood when creating complex objects and textures will not
be closely scrutinized.

Step 1 : Choose brown hues for foreground and background colors.


Step 2 Apply the Fibers filter (Filter > Render > Fibers). Choose the values you like.



Step 3 : Duplicate the layer, set it to Soft Light mode then apply
Filter > Artistic > Poster Edges. Use the preview for reference
and don't overdo it. (enlarge)

Add knots with the Liquify filter. Use the various tools on the left side of the palette. (Liquify filter Palette)


Simple and not overly realistic but very fast and useful for small surfaces.


5. Brushed Metal Texture


This has the same usage warnings as the previous texture. Good for small
surfaces not in focus, bad for extensive objects with no detail. Use
real textures for those.

Step 1 : Choose gray hues for foregound and background colors. Go to Filter > Render > Fibers.




Step 2


Apply Motion Blur (Filter > Blur > Motion Blur).




Step 3 : Duplicate the layer, set it to Multiply.

This is way too simplistic. Let's add some dirt and variation.
Go to Filter > Sketch > Chrome.



Now those stains and drippings give it more realism. I use these techniques all the time when making icons.

Conclusion

That's it. See how easy it is to create textures and patterns with basic tools in Photoshop?
And we've only scratched the surface! Have fun!

[END QUOTE]

Again, a big thanks and a round of applause for Andrea Austoni's Cute Little Factory for posting this tutorial to the Photoshop 911 Tutorials page! See lots of bright, sincere design and visuals at the www.cutelittlefactory.com -- while you're there, don't miss Andrea's Portfolio and Freebies
page featuring lots of original icons, vectors and wallpapers -- free
for your personal use. If you contact Andrea, tell him Fred sent you!