Create a Light Effects Abstract Composition

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a variety of light effects using glows and lots of neon, that can be applied to photography or illustration with equal impact.

Let’s create a new file (File>New) of 1280x1024 px and 72 dpi. Then apply the Rectangle Tool (U) to represent the background of the picture to be.



Use the next shown parameters for the made layer by making a mouse click on this layer on the layers’ palette. Blending Options>Gradient Overlay



Gradient’s parameters:





Find a picture, having represented a girl on it (I used this picture from SXC. I would like to thank the author of this picture):



Cut her figure out and insert it on the main picture:



Click on the bottom part of the layers’ palette on Create new fill or adjustment layer>Curves





Press Alt button and make a mouse click between the Curves effect’s layers and the girl’s layer (on the layers’ palette)





Next click on the bottom part of the layers’ palette on Create new fill or adjustment layer>Black & White





Press Alt button and make a mouse click between the Black & White effect’s layer and the previous layer (on the layers’ palette)





Next create a new file (File>New) of 50x50 px and 300 dpi. Delete background and use the Pencil Tool (B)

Pencil Tool (B). To use the pencil tool, simply select it from the toolbar by depressing the pencil tool icon. When you do so, you can draw on the canvas. Try it out. And don\'t forget to modify your brush size, roundness, angle, etc ...'); return false">Pencil Tool (B) to represent a black square instead of it of 31x34 px.
Select then the option Edit>Define Brush Preset
Now we shall create a new layer and apply here the created brushe, set brushe options in Brushes palette (F5), that may be chosen on the lateral panel on the right side. The brush’s color is #E6E6AC. Let’s represent a shape looking like a train on her both hands. This layer needs to be placed lower than the layer containing the girl.









Next you may see the parameters for the layer containing the brushes: Blending Options>Outer Glow





Let’s represent a kind of wing of white color for the girl, applying in this case the Pen Tool (P)

Pen Tool (P). allows you to make lines that change colour and shapes on the project.'); return false">Pen Tool (P). Place this layer lower than the girl’s layer:



Make a copy of the last made layer and select Free Transform option to turn the copy around, placing it the same way from below. This layer will be situated also lower than the girl’s layer:



Next we’ll rasterize the wings’ layers into a single one. Press Ctrl button to mark out the necessary layers and then press CTRL+E. On the new layer we’ve got make a mouse click on the bottom part of the layers’ palette on Add a Mask selection. After this operation, try to use a standard brush (Brush Tool (B)

Brush Tool (B). The brush tool is used for making good backgrounds and also on new layers they have different types so that you get a different effect with every brush you use.'); return false">Brush Tool (B)) (Opacity of 30%) to clean out with black color the layer containing the wings.





Next we’ll represent a line, starting with drawing path, applying the Pen Tool (P), Path Mode.



You can find created path in Path palette.



Move in Layers palette to Create a new layer and choose for it a standard brush of grey color (Diameter 9, Hardness 100%), select Pen Tool (P), and make a right click on created path in Path palette to Stroke Path (Brush Mode, Simulate Pressure)



Using the same method, try making one more:



Finished!

Another Planet

image sea
image sky
image Planets1
image Planets2
image Planets3

Step 1.
We will begin with the size of our linen. At first – vertical location. Secondary, the pictures, which are prepared for our work, will help us to define the size.
Step 2.
We cut out a part of the picture with the sea landscape and place it on the canvas.

Step 3.
We’ll take sky from another picture. We’ll place it on the sheet, by means of Eraser Tool we will neatly touch up the line of connection between two pictures.

Step 4.
Something is missing on horizon. We’ll try to add mountains. We’ll insert them between layers with sky and sea (the layer with sea, certainly, is higher; so it will cover the lower line of mountains).

Step 5.
With Burn Tool we’ll darken mountains. Now look at the following tunings: Range-Shadow, Exposure-50%.

Step 6.
We’ll increase exposure to 70% and darken the upper area of water (kind of brush-soft, big size).

Step 7.
We’ll lower exposure to 60% and darken the lower part of sky. We have to work neatly, not to injure the clouds.

Step 8.
We’ll decrease the Size of brush, and Range of the Tool we change to Midtones. By one motion on the horizontal line (pressing “ctrl”) we’ll darken lower part of mountains.

Step 9.
Now we pass to sky. We place the picture of planet on the canvas. By means of Eraser Tool we’ll wipe up all superfluous areas, because clouds are nearer to us, and through them it must not be visible.

Step 10.
We change the Blending Mode of layer with the planet to Screen, Fill: 100%.

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Step 11.
The upper right corner seems empty. We’ll correct it by placing there another planet, but a little smaller.

Step 12.
We change the Blending Mode of layer with the second planet to Screen, Fill: 100%.

Step 13.
Now we’ll change the color of mountains by means of Brush Tool in color regime. The color of brush has to be dark blue, nearer to black.

Step 14.
In the options of layer we will lower Fill to 50%, to make mountains more transparent.

Step 15.
We’ll add the picture of another little planet. Than we dispose it above that big one, in order to seem that it is smaller, but nearer to us.

Step 16.
We change the Blending Mode of layer to Screen, Fill: 100%. With Burn Tool (Range - midtones, Exposure – 50%) we’ll darken the lower and upper part of firmament.

Step 17.
We’ll increase Exposure to 60% and we’ll make water darker.

Step 18.
We’ll return Fill: 100% in tunings of the layer with mountains that it was more comfortable to work with them.

Step 19.
We choose Eraser Tool and, pressing “ctrl”, we make one horizontal motion on the line of connection of mountains and water. Than we take Smudge Tool and we spread clouds neatly (by very short horizontal motions).

Step 20.
Well, mountains are selected somehow from the general picture. They are not enough detailed. We’ll correct this by means of Sharpen Tool.

Step 21.
In tunings of the layer with mountains we’ll lower Fill to 85%.

Step 22.
With Smudge Tool we’ll spread mountains a little (The motions must be horizontal!).

Step 23.
By means of the Brush Tool (using the same navy blue shade) with Opacity 20% we’ll paint out the foundations of planets (we make it on the clean layer).

Step 24.
We take Eraser Tool and wipe up neatly superfluous (those areas which we can’t see because of the clouds).

Step 25.
By means of the Dodge Tool (Range - highlights, Exposure - 100%) we will light up mountains. One smooth motion of brush will be enough for the desired effect.

Step 26.
Now we take Blur Tool and with one even horizontal motion transform mountains. To make it easier and quicker, you have to press “ctrl”.

Step 27.
By means of Eraser Tool you have to do lower part of mountains more transparent.

Step 28.
Between layers with sea and mountains we add a new layer, draw on it an even white horizontal line, in thick somewhere 5-6 pixels. Then we take Smudge Tool and spread it, converting into fog.

Step 29.
By means of Dodge Tool (Range- midtones, Exposure-50%) we will light up the overhead part of water.

Step 30.
It is time to work above the quality of our collage. It is more comfortable to do all these corrections on a whole picture. Therefore we save our collage as jpg file, and then open it in Photoshop. So, first we change adjustments of Brightness (-15) and Contrast (+5) – you do it in the Image- Adjustments- Brightness/ Contrasts menu.

Step 31.
Then we press “ctrl” + “B” and put tuning, as it is shown on pictures 1, 2, and 3. Into Image- Adjustments- Brightness/Contrasts and Shadow/Highlights menu we put tunings as it is shown on pictures 4.

Step 32.
Let’s take Dodge Tool (Range- Highlights, Exposure-18%) and will make some areas of sky brighter. We will add stars. For this purpose we take the ordinary brush of little size and draw them on all firmaments, except for areas, where we can’t see them because of planets and clouds.

That is all. Use your fantasy. I hope that this lesson was interesting.