|
This lesson demonstrates how to create steam/vapour effects. To work along, download the start image Here. Unzip the file and open the image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
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. 
1/
Open your start image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
2/
Then create a new layer above the Background layer by clicking the following Create a new layer icon. Rename the layer Vapour. Comprehensive Layers Lesson.
3/
From the toolbar, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
And set the following attributes into its Options bar.
Note
Feather settings depend on the resolution (size) of your photograph. For
larger - or smaller photographs, reduce - or increase, the Feather settings.
Now, (working on the Vapour Layer), drag out a rectangular marquee over the following area, and reposition it by left-clicking and dragging it; utilising the Free Transform command to resize it, if necessary.
4/
Set the Foreground colour to Mid Grey and the Background colour to White. Lesson.
5/
Then from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Render then choose Clouds.
6/
To add movement, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Blur then choose Motion Blur. Set the following attributes into the Motion Blur’s dialogue box, then click OK. Note: Set the Angle to correspond with your steam’s direction.
7/
To create displacement, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort then choose Wave. In the subsequent Wave dialogue, set the following (Triangle) attributes, then click OK. Note: For unique results, experiment with the Wave settings.
Tip
Keep an eye on the preview window, to see how the settings effect your steam.
Press Ctrl then D to remove the selection marquee.
8/
To create an ethereal effect, (working on the Vapour layer), change the Layer Blend Mode from Normal to Hard Light. Then reduce the Layer Opacity to around 88%.
Tip
Experiment with different Opacity percentages and discover the best setting for your image.
9/
With the Move Tool,  grab the steam, and drag it to its final position.
10/
Then activate the Eraser Tool, and set the following (soft brush), attributes into its Options bar.
And carefully remove erroneous areas of steam - or shape it into a stylised curve.
11/
To intensify the steam, right-click the Vapour layer, and from the drop-down list, click Duplicate Layer, then click OK.
 
You can now edit one - or both steam layers, experimenting with different Opacity percentages. In addition, by further tweaking the Wave and Motion Blur settings - you can create a vapourised effect that suits your needs.
12/
When you are happy with your work, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Image, then save your work.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
|
|
