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This lesson demonstrates how to create a blood splattered tentacle. To work along, you require a blood splattered brush - such brushes can be found Here! Once downloaded, install your brushes into Photoshop Brushes folder, as described Here!
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open a New document, and enter the following settings.
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Then from the left-side toolbar, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
And set the following attributes into its Options bar.
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From the top menu, choose Layer then choose New then choose Layer - name it Tentacle and click OK. Detailed Layers tutorial here!
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Working on the Tentacle layer, beginning at the top centre of the transparent image, draw a rectangular marquee shape - as illustrated below.
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Double-click the Foreground swatch and change it to Black. 
Tip
Alternatively, press your keyboard’s D key to set the default Black and White - Foreground and Background colour swatches.
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From the toolbar, activate the Paint Bucket Tool, and fill the rectangular marquee with solid black.
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Now, from the top menu, choose Layer then New then Layer (there is no need to name it). This layer is created above the Tentacle layer.
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Set the Foreground colour to White. 
Tip
Alternatively, press your keyboard’s X key to swap the Foreground and Background colours.
Ensuring you are working on the top layer - left-click over the marquee to fill it with solid white.
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From the top menu, choose Filter then choose Blur then choose Gaussian Blur. In the subsequent Gaussian Blur dialogue box, set a Radius of 4 Pixels, then click OK.
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Now, left-click to activate (and highlight) the Tentacle layer, and from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible.
 
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Then from the top menu, choose Select then choose Deselect.
 (or press Ctrl then D).
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To taper the tentacle - from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Transform then choose Distort. In the subsequent dialogue box, (and with the default settings), hover your cursor over the right-side lower deformation box - circled below, and gently tug it to the left. This distorts the right-side of the tentacle.
Click the Commit transformation tick to apply the deformation - or press your Enter key.
 
Repeat this manoeuvre - however, this time manoeuvre the left-side deformation box, and your rectangle shape should be nicely tapered.
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From the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort then choose Shear. In the subsequent Shear dialogue box, set the following attributes, then click OK.
The curve is created by manipulating the tiny black squares (above), manoeuvre them to your taste to create a nice curve, then click OK.
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To create a 3D effect, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Artistic then choose Plastic Wrap. In the subsequent dialogue box, enter the following attributes, then click OK.
For my examples at the top of the lesson, instead of the plastic wrap filter, I applied the following default Eyecandy 5 Impact Glass filter.
If you have Eyecandy, it is worth playing with different coloured glass settings.
  
Your tentacle is complete and you are ready for the next step.
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From the foot of the Layers palette, click the Add a layer style triangle, next to the f (or fx for CS3), and click Drop Shadow from the drop-down list. In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, choose the settings of your choice, then click OK.
  
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From the top menu, choose Layer then New then Layer and name the layer Blood. Then change the Blood layer’s Blending Mode from Normal to Colour Burn, as illustrated below.
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It is time to apply the blood; therefore, change the Foreground colour to a nice blood red.
 #d50808.
Then from the left-side toolbar, activate the Brush Tool.
Now, introduce a blood brush of your choice, and change the brush’s Mode to Colour Burn, as shown below.
Your aim is to apply different styles of blood brush tips, changing the brush’s Opacity and Master Diameter (size) as you wish - subsequently creating a blood soaked tentacle. If you apply a tip you don’t like, simply Step Backwards.
Tip
For a deeper blood colour, apply the same brush (in exactly the same
position), twice.
Depending on your taste, one brush application may be enough - however, experiment, and see what works best for you.
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When you are happy with your work, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible, or Merge Flatten. If you Merge Visible the layers, you are able to save your design with a transparent background - to do this, from the top menu choose File then Save for Web, and save your image as a Transparent Gif as explained Here. Alternatively, fill its background with a Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient as described in my lesson Here.
Tip
Duplicate your tentacle by right-clicking its layer, then choosing Duplicate Layer from the drop-down list. Now, from the top menu choose Edit then choose Transform then choose Flip Horizontally. Now, with the Move Tool, position the tentacles to create a bunch - or your own design.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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