Photoshop render filter to create cloud effects

At the beginning of Photoshop, the programmer added the feature that was not very promising at the outset. In the strict sense of the filter is an external plug-in, although its effect is changeable, but in fact, is the use of Photoshop itself intrinsic image processing functions. Whether it exists or not is not necessary for Photoshop to run. Nor does it do anything beyond Photoshop's capabilities, such as a pure vector gradient like illustrator.

The use of filters, although simple, can often get some good results. Most of these effects are casual and illusory, and the adjustment is very strong, a slight modification of the parameters can form a different effect, especially when the combination of multiple filters used. But remember that for a complete piece of work, the filter is just one part of the picture. In the basic section we do not have much introduction to the actual use of the filter, one because of space limitations, and secondly, we do not want everyone in the beginner stage too much use of filters, so as to form a dependency on the filter.

Most filters are added on the basis of the original image, added without affecting the image's overall profile (except for extreme settings), such as the use of high-frequency Gaussian blur, as well as mosaic, reduce noise, waves and so on. They all have a common feature of having to rely on existing images. And a class of filters is special, is the rendering class filter, located in the Filter menu of a special rendering category, they are characterized by its own can produce images, typically a cloud filter, it uses the foreground and background color to generate random cloud effect. Because it is random, each generated image is not the same.

　　Cloud filters have a brother is a layered cloud filter, the difference is that the former only based on the foreground and background color to produce images . The latter, in addition to color, also refers to the original image. So the cloud filter is used continuously 10 times after the effect and the first use of the same look, and the number of consecutive layers of cloud use, the image of the cloud edge will become more sharp. The principle of fiber filters is similar, but the resulting image style is different from the previous two. These three are used to make the most commonly used filters for special use. Most of our later examples of special effects start with them.

The lighting effect filters that belong to the rendering category are less used because the effect is general (similar to a gradient), and the lens Halo filter needs to have the original image to have an obvious effect and less to use.

　　The process of a typical cloud-like effect is this:

1. Create a new image, set the foreground and background colors to the default front black and white, and create a grayscale image with a cloud filter.

2, and then use the curve or color order and other color adjustment commands to enhance the contrast.

3, the use of other filters for further processing.

4, with the color Adjustment command or gradient mapping for grayscale image coloring.

5. Some other post-processing.

6, the image of the region cut.

Of these, steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are not necessary, and the order is not fixed and free to play. The last step 6 may seem far-fetched, but it's important for Web page production because we can't have a special effects image take up too large a page area. In addition, a finished effect overall looks like if flat, do not throw away, if the intention to cut the same can get a good final image. This is like photography, the photographer may not have to shoot mountains, sewers and even rubbish heap can also be a mood.

It is important to remember that the first is to make gray, later to color, so that the effect has more control. There is also the need to follow the principle of retaining the maximum editable, using adjustment layers and smart objects (must be Photoshop CS3 version) to do other things. This allows you to change the parameters at any time to make different style effects.

Then grasp the principle and use of the gradient map, which is located at the end of the 14th chapter of the basic tutorial, which seems to be unrelated to the filter is actually for everyone to continue to learn the content of the first pave the way.

　　below we follow the above procedure to make a simple cloud effect .

1, create a new 300x300 white background image, with the default front black after white use "filter > Render > Layered Clouds", and then 〖ctrl+f〗 repeat 5 to 10 times, get roughly the following figure of the grayscale image.

Figure 1

2, the use of gradient mapping adjustment layer, the gradient is set to black and yellow, for grayscale image coloring, the effect is generally shown in the following figure.

Figure 2

3, through "Layer > Smart object > Convert to Smart Object" or directly in the Layer palette on the layer on the right button, select "Convert to Smart object." Using filter > Blur > Radial blur, the effect is roughly as shown in the left image below. At this point the Layer palette is roughly as shown below, click on the red Arrow filter name to adjust the filter parameters, click on the blue arrow logo can change the filter blending options.

Figure 3

Figure 4

As shown in the following drawing, the blending option of radial blur is changed to "lighten", and the image effect is shown in the picture below. We call it a number 1th effect.

Figure 5

Figure 6

If you change to "multiply" then the effect is shown in the following drawing, and the difference is shown in the following drawing. They are called the 2nd and 3rd effects.

Figure 7

Figure 8

3 mask apply back to top

4, the image is cropped, as shown in the left and right pictures, respectively, in the 1th and 2nd effect of a 80x80 square area, can be used to do the Web page icon.

Figure 9

As for the number 3rd effect, we change it to a positive circle through the mask, and the image effect is shown in the left picture below. The layer palette is shown below on the right. If you can not understand the layer palette, the basic part is not well mastered. This image is suitable to create a mysterious atmosphere in a large area of black background, you can try it yourself.

So far, the task of the filter is complete, as you can see, to make a good effect, a simple filter is not enough, but also need to cooperate with some other means. In the entire production process, a slight change or replacement of some steps can result in a completely different final product. Some textbooks boast 300 cases, 500 cases, in fact, are the same way (accurately said to be the same path), as long as we have mastered the principle, a lot of change thinking, they can create a lot of examples. In the above process, in the 3rd step to switch to other filters, another is a new effect, make forty or fifty effects that is very easy.

In the following tutorial we will each effect as a small chapter, some of which are created by the author, some are translated from abroad. However, no matter how the way and the effect, we should extrapolate to the example just now. That's the real purpose of our tutorial.

Figure 10

Figure 11

After the exciting "filter Time" is over, try to calm down and use the finished product to make a creative combination, as shown in the following figure. Stroke style, two lines, and some small text, you can create a similar science fiction newsletter effect. Let's do a lot of work and see what you can do.

Figure 12

Category:

• PS Filter Tutorial