Shattered Effect with Square Brush

Photoshop has a lot of brush sets built into it, whatever be the version you are using. One of them is the Square Brush. You may not have found a use for it, if you have accessed it, but I will show you how to create a shatter effect with it.

Step 1 : I have opened this free stock image in Photoshop. You can download it here . It belongs to http://goblin-stock.deviantart.com/

You can download it for free, but you have to register. Registration is free.

Step 2 : Press ALT and double click the Background layer. It will turn to Layer 0.

Step 3 : Press CTRL and click the New layer icon. A new Layer 1 forms below Layer 0.

Step 4 : The Foreground Color should be set to the default Black and Background to White. If it  not press 'x' and then 'd' on the keyboard.

Step 5 : Press CTRL+BACKSPACE. Layer 1 will be filled with White. You will not notice any change in the image as it is below Layer 0.

Step 6 : Click on Layer 0. Press ALT and click the Add layer Mask button. A Black layer mask forms next to the layer thumbnail.

This is how Photoshop looks like.

Step 7 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 8 : Click this icon in the top panel on the right.

Step 9 : My Brush sets are quite large because I have installed a huge number of free brushes. You will find a short list. Square Brushes should be at the bottom.

Step 10 : Click the Square Brushes to select them.

Step 11 : This dialogue box opens as soon as you click the brush. Click on OK.

Step 12 : These are the Square Brushes. I have selected the largest one. Brush No 24.

Step 13 : Click on Brush Tip Shape.

Step 14 : Click on Shape Dynamics. Increase the Minimum diameter to 100%.

Step 15 : Click on Scattering. Check 'Both Axes' at the top and drag the Scatter slider all the way to the right, though it is not shown here.

Step 16 : Again click on the Brush Tip shape. Drag the Spacing slider to 50%.

Step 17 : Click the small double headed arrow to make the Brush go away.

Step 18 : Click on the Add Layer Style button and click on Drop Shadow.

Step 19 : The Drop Shadow dialogue box opens. If you are using a low resolution image, just click OK. But if you are using this high resolution image increase the 'Distance' to 10 and Size to 8. Click OK.

Step 20 : You can see the Square Brush Tip. To decrease the size press [ (left bracket next to the letter P on your keyboard). To increase it press ] (right bracket).

Step 21 : Switch the Foreground Color to White by pressing 'x' on your keyboard.

Step 22 : I have begun painting with the Brush.

Step 23 : I have painted quite a bit with the Brush.

Step 24 : Bring up the Brush dialogue by clicking on the icon on the right of the top panel. Increase the Spacing to 75%. Make the size of the Brush smaller by pressing the [ (left bracket key).

Step 25 : This is how the image looks after increasing the Spacing of the Brush and making it smaller.

Step 26 : Press 'x' on the keyboard t change the Foreground Color to Black. Make the Brush bigger by pressing the ] (right bracket).

Step 27 : Now paint towards the sides of the image. As you paint you will get the 'fragmented' look.

Step 28 : When you are satisfied with the effect press CTRL+J. Layer 0 duplicates into Layer 0 copy.

Step 29 : Go to Filter>Blur>Radial Blur.

Step 30 : The Radial Blur dialogue box appears. Set the amount to 75, Blur method to Zoom and quality at Best. Move the centre of the Blur with your cursor so that it is on the image.

This dialogue will appear if you are using a high resolution image.

This is how the image looks after the Radial Blur is applied.

Step 31 : Make sure your Foreground Color is set to Black.

Step 32 : To make sure that the layer Mask on Layer 0 copy is selected, click on it. You will find a tiny white border appears around it. This indicates it is selected.

Step 33 : Begin painting with the Brush. use it on the face and other parts of the body.

And this is the finished image. I don't think that was difficult. Try it out.

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Christian Schmidt Look in any version of Photoshop

This is a tutorial on the Christian Schmidt look. You can see his work here. His lighting is wonderful, but you can do it too in any version of Photoshop.

I will be using this free stock image. You can download it from here . I have taken it from http://racehorse87-stock.deviantart.com/  You will have to register. Registration is free.

Step 1 : I have opened the photo in Photoshop.

Step 2 : Click the Magic wand Tool.

Step 3 : I have clicked once with the Magic Wand Tool on the window. All the lighted areas are not selected.

Step 4 : Go to Select>Similar.

Step 5 : The areas of bright light are selected by marching ants.

Step 6 : Press CTRL+J. A new Layer 1 forms. The marching ants have disappeared.

Step 7 : Go to Filter>Blur>Radial Blur.

Step 8 : The Radial Blur dialogue box opens. Drag the amount slider to 100. Set the Blur Method to Zoom and Quality at Good or Best. Click OK.

This is the effect I have got after applying the Radial  Blur filter.

Step 9 : I have pressed CTRL+F thrice. This has reapplied the last filter which was Radial Blur thrice. There is no hard and fast rule about how many times you can apply the filter. It will depend on your image.

Step 10 : Press CTRL and click the New layer icon. A new Layer 2 forms below Layer 1.

Step 11 : Click the Lasso Tool.

Step 12 : Keeping SHIFT pressed draw out multiple selections of the lighted areas.

Step 13 : The Foreground should be Black and background to White, which is the default setting.

Step 14 : Press CTRL+BACKSPACE. It will fill the selection with the Background Color, which is White in this case. Press CTRL+D to deselect.

Step 15 : Press CTL+F twice. It will reapply the Radial Blur twice automatically. This is how the image looks.

Step 16 : Click on the Add Layer Mask icon and a Layer Mask forms next to the layer thumbnail on Layer 2.

Step 17 : Click on the Foreground Color. Click on a light shade of Grey in the Color Picker that opens. Click OK in the Color Picker.

The Foreground Color changes to the color picked.

Step 18 : Click on the Brush Tool and choose a large brush.

Step 19 : Click where the arrow points to open the Brush dialogue brush. Set the diameter to 200 and Hardness to 0.

Step 20 : Paint with the Brush to make the windows visible.

Step 21 : Drop the Opacity of the layer to 50%.

Step 22 : Click on Layer 1. Click on the Add Layer Mask icon and a layer mask forms next to the layer thumbnail on Layer1.

Step 23 : Press 'x' and then 'd' and 'x' on the keyboard to change the Foreground color to Black.

Step 24 : Use the Brush Tool to paint away some of the rays on the curtains and straight lines.

Step 25 : Switch between the Layers masks on both Layer 1 and Layer 2 to paint out portions that do not look right.

This is the finished Christian Schmidt look.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here

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