Hello my friends, I 've been ask many time how to paint skies or smoke effect such as those I use in my pics, So I've decide to make a short tutorial on "How to paint dramatic sky" It's not very difficult, but you need to know how to use Photoshop.

Here we go!

To paint dramatic skies all you need is Photoshop, time and a lot of patience !

First let see wich tools wer gonna use : (image 1)

1)Smooth Brush (or Airbrush ) with differents brush size "from 9 to 65 pixel wide" This tool will allow us to paint some details

2)Density and Density + (pressure set to 10) this tool is used to make an image darker or lighter and allow to keep details.

3)Finger (pressure set to 20) to make some smooth curls

PS (The way I paint those skies is quiet weird.. because I paint in "negative".. but this method allow a better control on the final render)

Message edited on: 01/10/2006 06:46

used tools

Step 1 : Create a new photoshop project ( 800 X 400 ) for exemple. In the tool window select black and white colour ( the 2 only colours we need ) fill the layer with black or white colour then go in the effect menu, select render and choose the cloud FX. You should have then something close to the second image.

Step 2 : No create a new transparent layer, select the smooth brush tool, select the brush size you want and start to paint some clouds borders as shown on the 3rd image. ( shown on black just for you to see it well, but this should be paint on a transparent layer. To give it a soft look you could add a smooth blur on this layer.

Step 3 : Now select the cloud FX layer and start to make some parts darker and lighter using the density tool. Till you get something close to the 4th image.

Now merge the layers, select the finger tool and draw some smooth curls on the lighters side of the clouds ( this is use to create some vortex FX ) you can use this tool too to make some details softer.

Once this is done, we will give this image a few colours, What I usually do is to go in the image menu and use the variante (5th image) effect by adding a few yellow and red colour

Message edited on: 01/10/2006 06:39

the "variante FX"

When this is done you just need to make a 180 degree rotation of the image and set it to negative ( in the image menu ).. and TADAAAAAA!

After some training you will be able to create amazing skies such as the last image.

wow

Experience is no substitute for blind faith.

http://avalon2000.livejournal.com/ - My Art Blog

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Cool tutorial will try soem of these things out soon. I think.

The wit of a misplaced ex-patriot.
I cheated on my metaphysics exam by looking into the soul of the person next to me.

Very nice work there, thanks mate;)

I never intended to make art.

WOW, awesome results, Excellent, thanks pidjy.......just need the TUT on your other bits now! he he he :)

Smile, your dead a long time :)

This is definitely one of the best cloud tuts ive seen. Superb! :)

Rudolf Herczog
Digital Artist
www.rochr.com

Bookmarked!

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Excellent tut Pidjy, thanks!

Excellent technique Pidjy! Merci!

Great Tut & bookmark!

Great tut! Thanx!

VERY nice, thanks! AS

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