Introduction
Create a spectacular rippling underwater explosion effect and blending a sexy girl into the water with just a few simple steps!
Video Tutorial
Result
Resources Required
Aquarium
Guide Me OR Guide Me (Cutout by Cixxy)
Step 1: Creating the Bubbles
a) New PSD: 1024×768 @ 72dpi.
b) Press D to make sure colours are default.
c) Filter -> Render -> Fibers @ default options.
d) ⌘I to Invert
e) ⌘L to Level the image.
f) ⌘J to Duplicate layer, Screen Blending Mode, Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur.
g) Move the layer slightly so that it’s not directly on top, and looks like it’s in the background.
h) ↑⌘E to Merge all visible layers, name the merged layer “Bubbles”.
i) ⌘J to Duplicate layer, name the new layer “Ripples”.
j) On the Bubbles layer, Filter -> Distort -> Ocean Ripples
k) ⌘B to Color Balance.
l) On the Ripples layer, Filter -> Distort -> Ripple. Then repeat step k) for it. After this, you’re done, Save the PSD as Bubbles.psd and keep it open.
Step 2: Composition
a) New PSD: 600×1136 @ 72dpi.
b) Copy & Paste in the Aquarium image, transform it to a nice scale and position.
c) ↑⌘U to Desaturate.
d) ⌘L to Level.
e) Drag in the Guide Me girl to your image, transform it to a nice scale and position.
f) ⌘L to Level.
g) ⌘U to Hue/Saturation and turn the Saturation down 50.
h) ⌘T to Transform, hold down ⌘ to Skew and drag the bottom right corner slightly up and to the left as shown.
i) If there’s anything that the girl is overlapping such as fishes, or corals, you can create a layer mask on the girl and brush out anything overlapping to create depth and blend it better.
Step 3: Bubbles and Waves
a) Drag in the “Bubbles” layer from Bubbles.psd and turn the Blending Mode to Screen.
b) ⌘T to Transform and try to do something like this by skewing.
c) Add a Layer mask to the layer and select the mask. Filter -> Render -> Clouds.
d) Select back the layer not the mask. Filter -> Distort -> Wave
e) ⌘J to Duplicate. Move and scale it smaller to a position on her hands like so.
f) Feel free to repeat c) until you feel it’s nice.
g) Repeat step a) to c) but this time, drag in the Ripples layer instead from Bubbles.psd
h) If any get on her face or parts that aren’t nice, erase or layer mask it.
i) Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Gradient Map @ Multiply, 70% Opacity.
Step 4: Lighting
a) New Layer, select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and drag a box as shown.
b) Select the Gradient Tool and select Reflected Gradient mode (4th option), on the top toolbar. Also use a White to Transparent gradient.
c) Drag from the middle of the selection to the edge.
d) Use the same transform technique we used to make this gradient into a cone.
f) Change the Layer Blending Mode to Overlay. If the lighting is still too much, delete some parts.
h) New Layer, Blending Mode on Color, Opacity on 75%.
i) Select the Gradient Tool, Linear mode and use a Foreground to Transparent gradient. Pick a colour like #00ff8a for your Foreground colour and Drag from the top of your canvas to about 3/4 to the bottom.
j) Press V for the Move tool, hold ALT and drag upwards on the canvas so that there’s a new gradient on the very top of the artwork.
k) ⌘U and play with the Hue slider until you get a yellowish or bluish colour on the top, according to taste.
Step 5: Finishing Touches
a) ⌘A to Select all, ↑⌘C to Copy Merged, ⌘V to paste on top of all the layers.
b) Filter -> Blur -> Lens Blur
c) Layer Mask the blurred layer, select the layer mask, ⌘I to Invert. Use a soft brush on about 70% Opacity @ White and brush out any areas that will look nice a bit blurred out. Do this for parts like her hands, objects in the background and objects that are very close to the camera.
d) ⌘A to Select all, ↑⌘C to Copy Merged, ⌘V to paste on top of all the layers.
e) Use this layer to do any remaining touches you feel is needed. You can burn areas around her feet to create some shadow, dodge up her face, sharpen specific parts, and blur out anything.
f) As with most of my artwork, I like to sharpen it when complete. ⌘A to Select all, ↑⌘C to Copy Merged, ⌘V to paste on top of all the layers. Filter -> Other -> High Pass @ 3px, change Blending Mode to Soft Light and play with opacity.
Congratulations!
So what do you think? Not bad for a couple of steps?
Thanks for reading and I hope you have learnt something from this tutorial. Please Comment & Rate & Subscribe and I might make a video tutorial for this if I get enough feedback.
Stay tuned for more!
PSD Files
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(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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Author: LeonFresh
Founder of Anothera.net, has been using design programs for 8+ years. What had started as a hobby, design and art had became a real passion and a way of life. Achieved the Graphic Design Advanced Diploma qualification.
Brilliant! Love it. Although I certainly prefer your video tutorials mate, this one is quality stuff. Many thanks!
Hey kfdesigns, thanks for adding it to twitter and commenting!
I think from now on, it’ll be written tutorial first and if it turns out popular, then video time
Hi Cixxy, it’s a great idea, I suppose I’m used to listening to spoken directions and now I’ve got to read them. I’m just lazy you know
Like I said on a few occasions before, I love what you guys doing. Keep up the good work.
Conrad@kfdesigns
Cheers for your say on it. Unfortunately if I had more hits on the videos I would make them at the blink of an eye. If only I was more popular on youtube, heh.
Have you got a youtube channel at all? If so, can you please post a link and I’ll try and promote it somehow. Dunno, can put it on my website or my facebook profile. Let me know what do you think.
Sure, it’s http://www.youtube.com/anotheraV2 I would greatly appreciate it if you do
I donno, I tried a lot of stuff but yeah. As far as hits go on my videos it’s pretty shocking
My most popular vid is the moonlight tut with a whopping……..
2800 views
Hey guys. I thought this tut is worthy of doing a video. Just letting you all know Video tutorial is completo
Will up once it’s on Vimeo.
Hi Cixxy, great video as always! I’ve posted the links in a various places and also asked my blogging mates to to so. Hopefully you’ll have more views soon. You really deserve it.
Many thanks.
I’m really grateful for the support, cheers mate.
Dno’t mention it, we’re all really appreciate your help. Since I’ve started reading your posts my graphics enhanced and improved big time. Many thanks.
this is nice effect
Glad you like :]
awesome!!sO prO,,
like it very much
Hey clark, glad you like
I was just starting, I thank you very useful help
Thank you once more for another great tutorial
I learned a lot in the last few days. A bit more practice and i might even show some of my work
My Girl is amazed by all the creations i made for her so far, and so are my mates when they see how sweet i edit their car photos
I never thought i use Photoshop so much. Now this is like therapy for me
Thank you so much !! and keep them coming the awesome done tutorials
Hey mr bras, thanks so much for your great feedback
Looking forward to seeing your work in the forums and glad she liked your work! Sorry about your other comment, we had some problems with the site.
where is the video on this ???????????
also all your videos u race through the whole thingy…
pls take it easy yh! 