Windows Vista Aurora Effect Photoshop Tutorial
If you’re a Windows Vista user, you’re probably familiar the eye catching graphics shown off on the box, and in some of their wallpapers/screensavers. In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create that effect yourself.
This Vista Lighting Effect, sometimes referred to as the Aurora Effect, can really transform an ordinary wallpaper to something extraordinary. What makes it even better is that it’s very easy to achieve. Just follow these simple steps!
Step 1
Before we can actually get started on the lighting effects, we need to create a background for the effect. We can’t simply use any background we choose, but rather create an appropriate canvas to begin with. Find a photograph to use as the basic palette for your background. It can be any image really… just make sure it has a lot of lights and darks in it. Alternatively, you can Download the Attached Photo Sample and work with the same photograph I’ll be using. 
Step 2
From here, we need to apply a very strong Gaussian Blur to our Photograph. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and bring the slider to something high. You really want to get rid of all the detail in the photo, and have all the colors mesh together. I applied a Gaussian Blur of 75.
Step 3
Now we are going to drastically change our background by adding a Color Balance Adjustment Layer. To create this layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance. A “New Layer” box may pop up, just click Ok through that. Next you’ll see 3 different sliders, as well as 3 separate ranges to choose from (Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights). At this point, it’s really just about experimenting with the sliders in each range until you find a suitable result. If you’re using the photograph I supplied, these were the values I used: Shadows: -37, -40, 7 Midtones: 15, 62, 0 Highlights: -34, 0, 69
Step 4
That’s it for the background. We’re done with it. You may choose to edit your Color Balance layer later on (just double click the icon next to it), but otherwise, we can move onto the effect. To begin, select the Elliptical Marquee Tool from your toolbar. Make a large selection, spanning all the way across your canvas. You may need to move your selection while making it in order to make such a large selection. If you need to do this, hold the spacbar while dragging your mouse (Don’t let go of the left mouse button). You should end up with a slightly curved selection that covers at least half the canvas.
Step 5
Create a new Layer (Above the Adjustment Layer, mind you), and grab your Brush tool from the toolbar. Choose the default brush, and then modify the size to something large, such as 200-300, and set the hardness to 0. Choose White as your foreground color. This part may take some trial and error, but essentially, you are going to brush just the very inside of the selection you just made. Try to brush evenly across the whole selection.
Step 6
Easy enough, huh? Set the blending mode of this layer to Overlay. Deselect everything (Ctrl + D or Select > Deselect). Now, transform this layer so that is is positioned near-vertically along the right side of the canvas. To transform, go to Edit > Free Transform, or Ctrl + T.
Step 7
Repeat steps 5 and 6 once or twice, and use smaller brush sizes (and possibly a larger brush size). Be sure to put each new band of light onto a new layer!
Step 8
Now that we have 2 or 3 different bands of light, we won’t need to make anymore of them. Instead, you can Duplicate the layers you’ve made, and Freely transform them to become new shapes. Remember, Ctrl + T to transform. You can get some interesting effects by holding the Alt, Ctrl, and Shift Keys while dragging the transformation nodes.
Step 9
That’s really all there is too it! For add effect, you can add some extra color into it using Color Balance Layers. In order to do this, Select several of your light layers (Ctrl + Shift + Click a Layer in the Layers Panel), and then add a new Color Balance Adjustment layer (Like we did in step 3). The Color Balance Adjustment layer will automatically create a layer mask so that it only gets applied over the selection you made. Just be sure that these new adjustment layers are on top of the lighting layers.
And here is the PSD if you wish to take a looksie.
If you enjoyed this effect, you’ll love our other Photoshop Tutorials on Tutorial9!
509 Comments
cant do step 9..please email me the steps at yashmehta007@yahoo.co.in
Flag as inappropriatehelp will be greatly appreciated..
i dont know how to change colour of light layers..when i select the layer and go to layer>new adjustment layer>colour and balance..it makes a new colour balance and changes colour of the whole pic..
Flag as inappropriateplease explain step wise after selecting the layer..please
Simply awesome and so well explained thank you so much
Flag as inappropriateReally nice tutorial thanks. Just want to add (where I did mistake) is in step 5 just keep upper 1/8 part of brush circle over the marquee selection to get nice effect
Flag as inappropriateLove it! Thanks! :) Inspiring…
Flag as inappropriateisn’t there an easier method than stroking the inside of the selection? before i started reading i figured you would do something with paths and gradients or something. great tutorial though!
Flag as inappropriateIt was very usefull.. thanks a lot :-)
Flag as inappropriateCOuld you PLEAsE make a tutorial for the GIMP?
Flag as inappropriateTHANX in advance :)
Very nice and easy tut! ;)
Flag as inappropriateyay helped me loads
Flag as inappropriategod
Flag as inappropriateI guess you meant “GOOD”
Flag as inappropriateVery very nice
Flag as inappropriateThanks so much for the great tutorial, it was really easy to follow and has great results. I know I will be using this new found skills a lot in the future.
Flag as inappropriateHELP ME!!!
Flag as inappropriateI can not do Step 9.
Could someone explain this step for me?
Email adress: pavos90@pavos90.pl
you are likely to get a lot of spam
Flag as inappropriatemight want to remove your address
Thanks dude :D this really helped with the program i am developing. gives it a professional look.
Flag as inappropriateIts just wonderful… simple but looking so attractive to make… and use
Flag as inappropriateits perfect but simple, ilike it so much.. thanks for share..
Flag as inappropriateI never thought is that simple! :P
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial! Thank you…..
Flag as inappropriatethank so much
Flag as inappropriateReally really handy little tutorial, only thing i cant figure out is how to change the lines colours as in the final picture, its probably a schoolboy error or something rediculousely simple that ive taken for granted and forgot about, so if possible can anyone shed any ”light” on the subject, pun intended, cheers :)
Flag as inappropriateСпасибо огромное, отличный урок :)
Flag as inappropriateYeah…what he said!
Flag as inappropriateDavid this is much beautiful than the Microsoft version :)
Flag as inappropriateWow ! Great tutorial, I ll do it for my next Project
Flag as inappropriateneed more effects
Flag as inappropriatex-lent
Flag as inappropriateNice thank for tutorial
Flag as inappropriatevist for basic training of photoshop
Flag as inappropriatehttp://training4free.co.cc/Basic%20training/Basic%20training.html
x-lent help
Flag as inappropriategood tuts. Thanks a lot. been looking for this effects for so long. thnks
Flag as inappropriatethanks helped me
Flag as inappropriateIt really helpful. With this effect I can design my new website.
Flag as inappropriatethanks very much.
Wow. Exellent Tutorial . Thank you
Flag as inappropriateVery use full tutorial
Flag as inappropriateNice work dear. Keep it up……
Flag as inappropriateawesome! i learned a lot thanks big time ^^
Flag as inappropriateNevermind. I saw it.
Flag as inappropriateI could do it, I just don’t know what you’re supposed to do this on. Like I have this thing called Paint on my computer, but it can’t blur it. I can only type on it and draw and stuff. What do you do this on?
Flag as inappropriateTry the GIMP – I did it, and GIMP is totallly free!
Flag as inappropriateMany Thanks!!
Flag as inappropriatei wannnaa know about that second black background !!! pleaaseeeeeeeeee !!!!!!! :(
Flag as inappropriatepleaseeeee … i wannna know about the second black background !!!! :(
Flag as inappropriateIt’s called Hue and Saturation. Possibly Color Balance.
Flag as inappropriateyou rock! thank you sooooooo mucho mi amigo!
Flag as inappropriateThanks
Flag as inappropriateVery Good
Simple steps and amazing results – thanks dude!
Flag as inappropriateGood Job!
Flag as inappropriatenice design yaar
Flag as inappropriatehelpful
Flag as inappropriateanyone have any idea how you could get the nice black background layer he has for his second example?
Flag as inappropriateGood one! Simple & realistic Great Tuts from a great artist
Flag as inappropriateThanks.
I’ve been looking for this since…………………
Flag as inappropriateThanks and more grease to your elbow
Brilliant work..i want to make my own windows 7 background like this. I have been looking for this kind of tutorial and it would be nice if this one is in video form on Youtube. It will be easier to follow
Flag as inappropriateinteresting tutorial. but I could not get the exact effect of lighting..
Flag as inappropriateThanks…that´s very helpful! :D
Flag as inappropriateIn step 9, when you used adjusment layers: color balance, the adjusment applies to entire canvas, im using cs 3.
Flag as inappropriateHow can i set the adjustment only to the layers i chose?
Just load the layer selection then you can applied the color balance
Flag as inappropriatei want some more effects tutorial which is made by Photoshop, plz help, make a ideas,
THANKS
Flag as inappropriateWow really very helpful
Flag as inappropriatei want some more effects tutorial which is made by Photoshop
Very interesting. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateAwesome, thank you man!!
Flag as inappropriateThanks dude ! Very helpful!
Flag as inappropriateThanks for this tutorial.
Flag as inappropriateEasy and pro. Good job
Very nice tutorial,
Flag as inappropriateThanks
Very helpful. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateGood n thanks!
Flag as inappropriategood thank you!
Flag as inappropriateGood its solve porblem
Flag as inappropriatewow, the tutorial is nice.
Flag as inappropriatei like it
Nice tutorial!
One observation – Step 5 can achieved far more easily… Once you have the new layer created, simply fill the elipse with white using the fill tool then feather the selection (Select -> Modify -> Feather) to something around 20. Ok the popup and press the delete button.
No manual drawing!
Flag as inappropriateNICE!!! So much easier and more accurate!!
Flag as inappropriatethankkkkkk
Flag as inappropriate…………………………
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial
Flag as inappropriateGreat job.Thanks for share.
Flag as inappropriateThanks! , much appreciated!
Flag as inappropriateEASILY the best tutorial for this lighting effect out there! AWSOME :]
Flag as inappropriateCtrl + Shift + Click on the Box in the Layer then add the Color Balance effect
Flag as inappropriatenice work but itz quite easier to obtain the same effect without using our hand to brush in the selection n also obtain even effects at the edge of the selection.draw a vector mask n go to blending effects>gradient.then make ur changes…n u get evenly spread glowing effect in very less time..
Flag as inappropriateVery great, thank you for share
Flag as inappropriateThank you very much, this is really awesome tutorial.
Flag as inappropriatebeuty
Flag as inappropriate……………………………………………
Flag as inappropriatewow…nice
Flag as inappropriate……
Flag as inappropriateI love it! And it wasn’t that difficult! Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateAmazing and simple, love your tutorials!
Flag as inappropriatesuperb tutorial. very nice!
Flag as inappropriatewooooooooooooooooooooow itz gud thank u
Flag as inappropriateNimesha are you designer so please tell me
thanks
Flag as inappropriateI am designing a website for Indianapolis Businesses. This background techniques will be great for some of my clients.
Flag as inappropriatethaks for the tutorial it was really easy and inspiring :P
Flag as inappropriatesupeb
Flag as inappropriatesee below link Hope its useful for you
http://www.tutorials99.com
Nice Tutorial..
Flag as inappropriatesee more Professional and higher page rank tutorials see below link
http://www.tutorials99.com
awesome effects~
Flag as inappropriateThank you ,work step .
Flag as inappropriateThx so much… Nice tutor… It’s easy to do with nice step… thx so much….
Flag as inappropriateWow, seriously awesome. Thanks for the post. Finally an easy way that doesnt use the pencil thing YAY!
Flag as inappropriateWow amazing thanks for sharing!! :)
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! Thanks for sharing.
Flag as inappropriateThis just may be the greatest tutorial i’ve ever seen. I’ve always been worthless with the pen tool, but now there’s hope, thank you so much.
Flag as inappropriateCool i love this web
Flag as inappropriateVery nice! One question, how do you get rid of the moire pattern?
Flag as inappropriatellolololololollo
Flag as inappropriateits very nice. Great post!! post to webmaster “legitimate work at home jobs”
Flag as inappropriatenice men!!!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial, Thank you for your share!
Flag as inappropriateNice Tutorial
Flag as inappropriateReally It Was Very helpful, thank you
Flag as inappropriateTHANK YOU VERY MUCH ITS A COOOOOL TUTORIAL
Flag as inappropriateVery nice tutorial, many thanks
Flag as inappropriateGreat Job ..
Flag as inappropriatesimple & Creative
eek
Flag as inappropriateReally easy tutorial to follow. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriatehee
i got a question.
how did you get the effect with the collored lines?
i couldn’t get the effect you had.
please contact me.
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! Thanks so much, was easy and the result looks fantastic :)
Flag as inappropriatecool. So cool. Thank you.
Flag as inappropriatekako se zowe program za slika i kako da ga skinem besplatno……..
Flag as inappropriatewow thanks so much.165
Flag as inappropriatewow thanks so much.152
Flag as inappropriatewow thanks so much.147
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial . Thanks
Flag as inappropriateGreat article. thank you.
Flag as inappropriategreat…thx
Flag as inappropriateIt’s great ! Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateNice. Been looking for this
Flag as inappropriateWoNdErFuL IdEa In DeEd :P
Flag as inappropriategood :D
Flag as inappropriateI know how to create my own vista background. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateolly murs of xfactor
Flag as inappropriateWE Want More & More
Flag as inappropriateThanks for your Help
plz More tutorail
thanks a lot for sharing such nice and wonderful tutorial
Flag as inappropriateI really hope to know how to make such effect
thanks again and again
Excellent, I’ve just got an idea by seeing the final image. Thanks for it David.
Flag as inappropriateVery nice but I have some problem. We not sure 100%. But your site is very good for Adobe photoshop tips. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateArt is beautiful
Excellent tutorial.. thank you.
Flag as inappropriatethis is one perfect and clean tutorials, thanks for sharing
Flag as inappropriateAwesome tutorial to learn. Very easy and well defined . thanks for sharing this nice post.
Flag as inappropriateExcellent tutorial.. thank you.
Flag as inappropriateWhen I try to adjust the individual brush layers at the end (for added lighting effect) with a new adjustment layer, it still affects all of the layers under it instead of ‘automatically creating a mask’ – is this a CS3 to CS4 issue?
Flag as inappropriateThis is a different technology and best
Flag as inappropriateof corse !
Flag as inappropriateThank you…it’s very helpful
Flag as inappropriatenice one….^^
Flag as inappropriateThanks a lot dude, i was looking for this 4 long. Looking forward for more lighting tutorials.
Flag as inappropriatelOl, too much cool your post…
Now I can do my own Vista Wallpapers and
I’m doing my own Seven wallpapers.
Thanks a lot.
Flag as inappropriatePlease email me how to change individual lines! This tutorial doesn’t explain at all …
Flag as inappropriatetyler-leeson@hotmail.com
For some reason when i try to add the Color Balance adjustment Layer it applys the color changes to the whole picture. How do i change just the color of the individual lines?
Flag as inappropriateAwesome !. This time I know haow to create my own vista background. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateWow thanks :D Now it’s So~ easy for me to make vista-like backgrounds!!
Flag as inappropriatealways wanted to do effects like this and never knew how. Cheers from the lovely mexican caribbean, Cancun Mexico.
Flag as inappropriateWoww!!!
before I think it difficult.
now.. I can make it very easy.
^^ Thank you very much ….
Flag as inappropriateWow. Very cool and easy to do tutorial. I really enjoy it and helps me a lot. Thank you very much for sharing!
Flag as inappropriateGreat Work. Keep it up
Flag as inappropriatehey.. when i am on step 5, My Brush Isen’t 100% inside the Canvas.? what can i do?
Flag as inappropriateCould you please post how you made it black and white except for the red beams? That would be really appreciated since it looks extremely awesome
Flag as inappropriateArt is beautiful much different
Flag as inappropriateso sweet
Flag as inappropriatelove it to bits
well done David and thanks for the PSD
This is really awsome tutorial. Thank you
Flag as inappropriatei always try to make this type of effect but failed to complete..this tut helps me a lot…thanks for a luvly tutorial……
Flag as inappropriatei am stuck on step 7
Flag as inappropriateAWESOME… Dudee… awesomee……!
Flag as inappropriateI’ve got GIMP (I haven’t got the money for Photoshop) and after a long search I found out, how to do it there… I’ll post my version here when I’m finished!
Flag as inappropriateLittle Tip for GIMP Users:
Use the Xach-Effect!!!
Hi, nice tut, instead of marque you can use the “circle shape tool” setting background to transparent and applying a white inner shadow.
Faster and without using the brush :)
Flag as inappropriatenice one thanks alot
Flag as inappropriateThank you so much for sharing, I learned a lot fron this tutorial. Wish you the best and keep it up please.
Flag as inappropriateSorry forgot to add that I changed the selection to a 5 pixel border and filled that first.
Flag as inappropriateThanks for the brilliant tutorial.
My hand is not steady with the brush at all – too much coffee i think :) – so i took the selection and added a stroke on the inside, inner shadow and then deleted the bits that I did not want.
Flag as inappropriateI LOVE YOU! (L) awesome tutorial man
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial, but I have one problem. The Color Balance Adjustment layer DOESN’T automatically create a layer mask when I’ve selected one, several or none of the ‘light bar’ layers. Little help?
Flag as inappropriateso usefull tips, thanks David Leggett
Flag as inappropriateSimply! But Amazing!
Flag as inappropriateThanks! Great help :D
Flag as inappropriatelol..sorry, figured it out…your tutorial is a little wrong in one point: it is ctrl+shift+click in the THUMBNAILS of the light-layers that are to be coloured…
Flag as inappropriateAwesome!! but the last step doesn’t work…Where u select various layers and add color balance adjustments for “extra” effect. No matter how I try, the light streaks NEVER change color WHATSOEVER… What am I doing wrong?
Flag as inappropriateAwesome……
Flag as inappropriateit’s good,thanks for sharing
Flag as inappropriatevery good, thank you
Flag as inappropriateThank you! I really like it. And your tutorials are very useful!
Flag as inappropriatethank you!! easy and cool photoshop tip :)
Flag as inappropriatedone as from microsoft =)
Flag as inappropriateAwesome … Thanks
Flag as inappropriateyou’re the pimp of ps
Flag as inappropriatethanks for the great tutorial and long live man your services
Flag as inappropriatewow! awasome! thanks!
Flag as inappropriatesuperb one..
Flag as inappropriateohhhhhh very nice
Flag as inappropriateThank u verry much for the great tuto, you’re realy the best. Good luck man
Flag as inappropriateVery nice! Looks great.
Flag as inappropriateAwesome tutorial! Thanks alot mate.
Flag as inappropriateDear David , thankyou very much for you time and share yours skills
Flag as inappropriateGraciassssss, muchas gracias, realemten tienes un don para compartir tu conocimiento y no solo yo te lo agradezco si no todos los que seguimos tus tutoriales. Gracias.
Flag as inappropriateWow very cool and easy!
Flag as inappropriateImage result doesn’t look pro because of the very huge color gradient jumps especially in the dark areas.
Flag as inappropriateI have a different technique to make the arcs:
1. Make a Screen layer
Flag as inappropriate2. Draw an white ellipse (Larger than the image)
3. Fill the transparent area with black
4. Use the magic eraser tool to make the ellipse transparent
5. Apply Outer Glow (I like it at 50% opacity and 250 pixels)
6. Repeat
Hey Awesome tutorial! I never knew it was so easy to create such stunning effects.. :) Now that I know the technique I can innovate on my own and bring up some cool looking stuffs :) Thanks again.. Keep up the good work!
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial man Its Quite Hardd hehehe
Flag as inappropriateStep nine got me too. :( Can’t seem to only apply the color balance changes only to the selected layers.
I wonder why that is.
Great tutorial! Thanks a lot.
Flag as inappropriateI have some troubles in step 9. The colour balance layer is colouring the whole composition. Could somebody help me??
Flag as inappropriateim having difficulty with part 5
Flag as inappropriateeverytime i use white to paint over my selected part
in the end it just turns out to be much light (whole selected part)
i dont know how you get that luminescent effect on the lines
and btw since im kinda new to this
what does a white foreground mean anyway???
No way! Thanks man! You’re the best! XD
Flag as inappropriatevery good keep it up :D
Flag as inappropriateThis is indeed good… btw, that Step 5 canbe done in other easy way too.. with this way you could get an accurate effect..
With pen tool make the curve and reasonably large portion above the curve i.e. above the concave part and save that path. Now, make that a selection and save that selection too… Stroke the pen path and with the previously saved selection, you could easily delete the glow part on the convex side of the curve… Got me? :)
Flag as inappropriateya step 5
Flag as inappropriateCan remove the sponser bar, it’s very anoying in small sceen sizes. VERY,
Flag as inappropriateThanks, ^_^
Thanks.Very nice
Flag as inappropriateThanks.Very good
Flag as inappropriateIn step 9, PS doesn’t seem to be automatically creating a layer mask, so the color balance layer is coloring the whole composition.
Flag as inappropriateGreat,
Flag as inappropriateby applying a blur to photograph and turned it to a background.
Amazing Tut :* …
Flag as inappropriateSo useful in making textures ;)
Thanx K.Jagdish but…
I tried it out, and it doesn’t seem to work, i select a part in my image, have a new layer, start to brush, and it brushes both inside and outside the selection..
It’s very weird, because it worked in first instance, and i tried again, and it doesn’t work anymore :S
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial man – very helped me…
Flag as inappropriateIts quite hard hehehe
Flag as inappropriateYo!
Very nice!
In first instance, i tried it, and it worked perfectly!
But now i try it again and i dont get step 5 good anymore!
I brush, but it is visible at both sides of the selection…
Can you help? =D
Flag as inappropriateHi… wonderful tutorial … Step 5 can be done if u are doing it on a new layer and u move the very large brush with 0 hardness outside the selection region along the curve .. a bit farther from the edge so u can get the lfaded blend ;) ..
Cheers ..
Flag as inappropriatenice
Flag as inappropriateStep 5 too… didn’t get the brushing effect
Flag as inappropriateReally nice tutorial. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateMake an elipse with your marquee tool, and edit/stroke it with a 30 – 50px line in white. Then with the marquee/elipse still on, go to filter guassian blur. The blurring only happens inside the marquee, which will give you that nice crisp edge. This is a much simpler way of creating that white curving gradient line.
Flag as inappropriatethanks, this was a pretty cool tutorial. I love making backgrounds and thought your blurring a normal photograph was an interesting technique.
Flag as inappropriateWoW, simply and nice effects :) thx for tutorial! (And for many others tutorials! its really best) BTW… in PSD we can se more details how He do that :)
Flag as inappropriateYeh me too step 5 is bit confusing cud any one help
Flag as inappropriatehey miriam how r u ?
Flag as inappropriatei hope u will be fine i can send u all the details.
Umm dude could you please explain step 5 in a little more detail cause i cant get the effect along the curve.
Flag as inappropriategot it man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flag as inappropriateit’s good
it is quite easy dont paint inside the selection pain outside it. some of the white will go into your selection and u get a white aura.
Flag as inappropriatestep nine doesn’t work if your getting paid to do this at least answer the comments and tell everybody how to fix it
Flag as inappropriatetheres a mistake – its not colour balance you want but
Flag as inappropriatelayer > layer style > colour overlay
I am having a problem with the last step.
I cant seem to make the color balance only for the light effect layers.
Any tips on this?
Flag as inappropriatereally very nice & very Usefull 4r every Designer
thanks
Flag as inappropriate4r
u r
design
Thank you! You are so kind to post this! I am going to try very shortly!
Flag as inappropriateA really nice design tutorial. I am definitely going to have a look at more of your tutorials
Flag as inappropriateDavid,
Flag as inappropriateBrilliant! its really difficult to make something simple, and you have done just that!
Thanks a lot!
-Susmith
very good, thanks
Flag as inappropriateit’s Crazy Idea
Flag as inappropriateStep 1 unlocks the mystery. Best technique ever. thanks
Flag as inappropriateHaha, such a simple idea, and it beats a lot of manual brushing (unless you’re going for a precise effect). Thank you :)
Flag as inappropriateHaha. I was thinking the exact same thing. Great tutorial.
Flag as inappropriatewow it’s simple but looks great. tks for sharing
Flag as inappropriateI can see why some would want to use the pen tool but I found that doing it your way with the soft brush along the edge gave me a slightly more creative feel to the whole thing…just my personal choice after testing both options.
nice work anyways…:)
Flag as inappropriateNICE WORKING
Flag as inappropriategreat tut, but I would like some more pictures from photoshop, because I’ve got the dutch photoshop and some functions I can’t find because I don’t know what it is in dutch…
sorry for my weird english..
Flag as inappropriateGood tut, actually got me opening Photoshop.
If you’re not good at free hand brushing, try this:
Flag as inappropriate• Make the selection as described above.
• Get your brushsettings right.
• Take the pentool (set on Paths) and draw a line next to the selection.
• Right-click the path, choose ‘Stroke path’ and take the brush.
• Click Ok and tataa!
awesome tutorial! good job!
Flag as inappropriateCan you explain how to get step 4 accomplished in Photoshop elements 7? I get the first 3 parts fine, but when I add the 2nd adjustment layer as instructed (after I make the wide circle, I can no longer see the circle to paint anything and my brushes become useless. Is there a specific layer setting that was not mentioned that would create this issue?
Flag as inappropriateExplain the stock
Thanks
Flag as inappropriateGood tutorial but u not creater..It may enjoy and beatiful
Flag as inappropriatethanks for the tutorial..
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial for the starters.Very informative.
Flag as inappropriateIt’s so simple but it does look very complicated on the photo.. fantastic effect. Thank you. I can’t wait to try it.
Flag as inappropriateGreat tut, but cant get the layer mask to change for step nine.. got the whole ctrl click the thumbnail and that brings up the selection, and then Layer > layer adjustments > color balance and I can see the layer mask come up, but adjusting the colors doesnt do anything :(
Also another easier way to do the bends..
Draw a rectangular selection across the entire width of the image.
Select Gradient Fill tool > White to Transparent
Select outside the selection hold down Shift and then Press left mouse button and drag up until its just inside the selection.
This should then give the very bottom a gradient which fades.
Now whilst the rectangle is still selected right click inside, Free transform > Warp.
Grab the bottom left anchor and drag up slightly, now do the same with the other side and even it out (can put a guide on if you need to) and then double click inside, apply free transform.
You should now have a nice smooth bend, an for the other layers you can just use a little less or a little more warp.
Flag as inappropriateThank you, I’ve been looking all over how to do this!
Flag as inappropriateThanks for your idea….
Flag as inappropriateFor Step 9, I just can’t quite get the colors as nice as yours. Anyone have any tips or tricks to do that?
- Jason Xiao
Flag as inappropriatethanks, really easy to do and i good intro for beginners in photoshop.
Flag as inappropriatemagnifico, excelente y facil de entender gracias por enseñarnos :-)
Flag as inappropriatewonderfull, excelent and easy to understand tkx for share ur knowledge:-) i’l keep these page in my favorites
Really nice, i had good fun creating this!
Flag as inappropriateHello There!
It is a very nice tutorial, especially using the photograph for easily getting a good starting background. Also it is possible to get to a nice result within 5-10 minutes.
However, the use of the marquee tool and brushing by hand could be avoided; thus avoiding the trial and error when using the brush.
It is more easily to draw a path, with two anchor points outside the screen, and curve the path somewhat. Specify your brush settings (for example 300px, soft edge) and stroke the path using brushes (When pentool selected, right mouse on the path and stroke path).
Now we have a stroked path, however, we just want only one side of the path to be stroked (as in your tutorial). Well, that is pretty easy. Just close the path we just draw, on the side you want to be deleted (so we use the pentool to select what we want to remove), and right mouse > make selection. Hit delete and your done! No trial and error and awkwardly brushing ;)!
Kind Regards,
Leichim
Flag as inappropriatehttp://www.m-sign.nl
You’re all very welcome. Glad this continues to help so many :)
Flag as inappropriateThank you for this. I’m a beginner at Photoshop and I found this very easy to follow!
Flag as inappropriateThanks for sharing this technique.
Flag as inappropriateIt has been popular
for a some years now.
Fashion trends aside,
I still like the look of the end results.
I’m starting to like
Gaussian blur more and more.
Here is a link to my post:
Flag as inappropriatehttp://fadedsilverscreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/tutorial9-presents-gift-of-knowledge.html
Wow!!! Awesome tutorial! Thanks for all & sharing the .PSD, Appreciate it man.
Flag as inappropriatethank you , its really amazing
Flag as inappropriatei will try to do it now
jewel
Really nice tutorial. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateHi,
This tutorial is great and i had no problems with it what so ever!
However, below the tutorial you have an example with a grey/black background but no info for it, I have been trying to get the same effect but can only seem to get a very dark blue. This may sound stupid but how did you get it to go like that?
Flag as inappropriatehey david,
first of all i wanna say that this tutorial is amazing. but im struggling with it tho.
i gotta say that this is the first day using photoshop^^
anyways here is my problem.. i cant brush the border like you did :/
http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=struggliniy5.jpg
pls i rele wanna create a vista background^^
thx for help
so far
Stephan
Flag as inappropriatethank’s dav, notice me please if theres other tutorial
Flag as inappropriatehey i have no hardness tool in brush too……….how will i reduce the hardness….
Flag as inappropriateExcellent!! Thanks
Flag as inappropriateI’m struggling a bit. I have the base done with the colour balance – had to use a few more to get the right effect. But, with the lines that you brush on, mine don’t seem to have the same effect as yours, they just seem so boring, yours have more emphasis in certain places. Also, it is – as far as i am aware – impossible to change the colour of those lines with colour balances. You can’t use image-adjustment-colour balance because you select more than one. If you make a new adjustment layer then it affects the whole image and if you click the mask option in the new layer box that comes up, it has no affect whatsoever on the image. Please help :)
Flag as inappropriateI really can’t do this tutorial David, i’m on a laptop and I don’t have a steady hand when using the brush is there any chance you could help me with another way of doing this tutorial without using the brush. e.g: The pen tool (as Matt said already) Let me know asap :) Thanks.
Flag as inappropriateI might have approached Step 5 differently – I think it’s somewhat difficult to brush the selection evenly. Instead of using the brush tool, I would have filled my selection in Step 4 with 100% white (Alt-Delete). Then, Ctrl-D to deselect. Filter -> Gaussian Blur (about 40 pixels). Then Ctrl-shift-D to Reselect and Delete the filled area (or you can mask it with a quickmask). Same result, but likely quicker and more accurate….
Flag as inappropriatethanks a lot,
Flag as inappropriatevery fine result.
Thx! for the tutorial!
Flag as inappropriateWow! Great tutorial, got one on my first try!
Flag as inappropriateExceptional man
Flag as inappropriatevery nice and clear and to the point
This is awsome……wish all sites were like this. Its was pleasure doing this, very clear consise to the point LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flag as inappropriategood thanks tutorial9
Flag as inappropriatethe best site ever
This site is immensely good, I found it through Google, and Haven’t stopped reading. Great Job!
Flag as inappropriatehello nice tutorial, but whenever i try this on a gradient background and turn it to overlay layer for the lines it dissapears but when i try it out on ur background it turns okay
Flag as inappropriatesorry, copy this link, and you can look http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/ff354/meskis667/vistash.jpg ;)
Flag as inappropriatecan you help me, i don’t get it how to make step 6: ” Set the blending mode of this layer to Overlay.” what need to do, that look nice. look what i have done on 6 step
Flag as inappropriate[IMG]http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/ff354/meskis667/vistash.jpg[/IMG]
@Achmes: Unfortunately, no, but it’s for certain that I jumped up those Red highlights quite a bit…
@Achmes: Changing the color mode will affect the entire image. Select the layer you want to Desaturate, and select Image > Adjustments > Desaturate
Flag as inappropriateI do not know how to delete color in one layer….
Flag as inappropriateI tried =>Image ->Mod->Grayscale but it’s delted color in all…….
i am irani
Flag as inappropriategood learning in thank
Do you renember settings witch you used in Color Balance?
Flag as inappropriate@Achmes: I darkened the background, desaturated it, and then applied an Color Balance Adjustment layer to the lighting to give it that nice glowing effect. Glad you like it mate!
Flag as inappropriateAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! It’s cool
The last image is so really amazing!
David..Please…Just tell me how can I get effect like at last screen…..It’s amazing.
Flag as inappropriateDark colours….Wow. It’s better than in Vista :D
Great Work dude ! 5/5
Flag as inappropriate@Mr. G: You can have a color balance layer affect ONLY your selection using layer masks. Usually, Photoshop will create the layer mask for you when you have a selection, and THEN create the new adjustment layer.
Flag as inappropriatebonjour,
votre tuto est extra. cependant, l’orsque je crée un nouveau calque de règlage des balance de couleur pour les lignes, celui ci s’applique à tout le document et non pas aux calques que j’ai selectionné, y a il une manipulation particulière afin de lier le calque d’effet aux calque auxquels s’appliquent l’effet ?
Merci, salutations
Mr. G
Flag as inappropriateWow, that’s such a simple effect to get something so great! I like the use of the color balance layers and how you mixed it up. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateGreat technique !
Flag as inappropriateReally Awesome, thx
Flag as inappropriatejust perfect for my new project.
Flag as inappropriateIf you do not mind you could do a tutorial completely with all the effects from last picture? we have provided in downloading to see in photoshop … because they are probably many who do not understand how you do the effects … much easier for us and for you to escape as many other questions … please so much … sorry for my english
Flag as inappropriateYou just got bookmarked :)
Flag as inappropriateThis doesn’t [work, I set the layers to overlay but I do no gt the effect you have i.e the parts where the brush strokes overlap and you see a bright glow. I just have dull srokes.
Flag as inappropriateThanks for the fast responce David. Cleared up my questions, just wasn’t clicking the thumbnail with Ctrl. D’oh!
Again, nice tut. =)
Flag as inappropriateYes! I got it! Finally :D
Flag as inappropriateHold Ctrl, click on the layer thumbnail in the layers palette and create a new color adjusment layer! how simple is that?lol
Ok just so you don’t have to type one and the same thing all over again, just ignore my last post ;) I see many people have the same problem as I do and you’ve replied to them already, so I’ll just try to figure it out myself. It looks great with out the different colors anyway ;)
Flag as inappropriateOh kay, but hot di I add a new Color Balance Adjustment layer for those? Is it like just applying layer effects of something? Like, if I want to get each of those rays of light in a different color, like shown in the last 2 images.
Flag as inappropriate@ Jana – I think I may have confused my words there. You see, when you hold Ctrl and click several layers, you do indeed select the actual layers in the palette.
However, when you hold Ctrl + Shift and click multiple layer thumbnails you actually select the layer contents (in other words, a selection is created in the actual image workspace).
So… If I have a layer that only has a circle in it, and I Ctrl + Click the actual layer thumbnail, then a circular selection will appear in my document where that circle is. If I hold shift + ctrl at this point, and click a different layer thumbnail with a square in the layer contents, THEN I will have a selection of a circle, AND a square in my document.
Hope that clears things up!
Flag as inappropriate“For add effect, you can add some extra color into it using Color Balance Layers. In order to do this, Select several of your light layers (Ctrl + Shift + Click a Layer in the Layers Panel), and then add a new Color Balance Adjustment layer (Like we did in step 3). The Color Balance Adjustment layer will automatically create a layer mask so that it only gets applied over the selection you made. ”
I really don’t get this part. First, you can select those layers with just Ctrl + Click, so why the Shift? But it’s not that important. My question is how toadd new Color Balance Adjustment layers when you have selected those layers?
Flag as inappropriate@ Sean – This is a question that has to do with Masks – something we will cover in the School of Photoshop Very soon. I won’t go into specifics right here, but basically, “Adjustment Layers” such as Color Balance use masks. By selecting the layers you want to affect (Ctrl + Click a Layer Thumbnail… Hold Ctrl + Shift + Click layers to select multiple layer contents at once), and then creating an adjustment layer, that adjustment layer will ONLY affect the selection.
Flag as inappropriateFirst off, nice tutorial, thanks =)
Second, I’m sure this has been asked already, but I didn’t really understand the answers to it…
When trying to add the new color balance to the single rays of light, instead of the whole document, I’m running into problems.
I go Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Color Balance, and it opens up Color Balance 2. As soon as I start changing the sliders, it changes the whole document. How do I link it to only the few layers I want to edit?
Flag as inappropriatewow, that is beautiful tutorial. I’ll give it a try.
Flag as inappropriatethank you
Great! Thanks Dybcio! :D
Flag as inappropriateFixed the Typo. Thanks for your help Dybcio & Ben :)
Flag as inappropriateAndy, you have to change one value in the Highlights slider, from 34 to -34. David has made a typo and that’s the problem. For future problems download PSD file that is provided with most of tuts here :)
Last but not least this problem was first solved by BEN over here: http://www.tutorial9.net/photoshop/creating-the-windows-vista-lighting-effect/#comment-21
Flag as inappropriateThe values for the color balance adjustment layer in Step 3 do not match the color of the screen shot provided. Additionally, there’s “ridges” in the color (the color doesn’t change smoothly).
Here is what I’m getting: http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5381/helplj4.jpg
I’m pretty sure I’m following the instructions exactly, (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance) and then entering the precise values.
What am I doing wrong? Thanks.
Flag as inappropriatewow!nice!
Flag as inappropriateThx! for the tutorial! :D
Flag as inappropriateAmazing! Just amazing!
Flag as inappropriateMany thanks, has very much helped with work.
Flag as inappropriateI know much, but this good addition!
Very good…
Flag as inappropriateThanks…
Thanks for the awesome tutorial :)
Flag as inappropriate@ KM Graphic Design – Yeah, it really is a lot easier than it seems, isn’t it?
Thanks again folks!
Flag as inappropriateNice….. vey nice :)
Flag as inappropriateGreat way to use a stock image to create something unique in just a few steps!
Flag as inappropriatehmmm interesting, too hard to get though xD
Flag as inappropriateIt seemed so defficult to me but you got the way to make it easy. Great tutorial. I loved it. Thanks heaps!
Flag as inappropriateGlad you got your problem solved Timothy! Thanks mate!
Flag as inappropriateomg i found it…friend of mine helped me out over msn(and at this time of day! 1:17 am :P) forgot to click the thumnail *smashes head into a wall*
nice tutorial dude :D
Flag as inappropriateHey there, i tried giving color to the bands of light, but for some reason i cannot seem to get the effect at all. everytime i slect the layer and go to Layer> New adjustment Layer> Color balance, i have to tick clip to current layer, otherwise it will affect the background, but when changing the colors it does not change the band of light at all! i need some help, coz its kidna frustrating….im using ps cs3.
Flag as inappropriateit’s really easy to create such effect.
Flag as inappropriateWELL GOOD!!
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial!
But had you used CS2 or CS3 version? Because on the CS3 version, the numbers you give at Color Balance doesn’t match the colors on the preview.
I’had to change it a bit, so I got this:
shadow: -37,-40,+21
Flag as inappropriatemidtones: +15,+62,+15
highlights: -37,+20,+85
interesting effect …
Flag as inappropriateWOW great tutorial,i lov it..
Flag as inappropriateExpect more like this keep it up.
Thanx
Awesome! =D
Flag as inappropriateWas doing this tutorial and was having trouble with steps 5 & 6,another way to do it is by making a rectangular selection and giving a white to transparent gradient and then use the warp tool to get the crescent shape. You might have to duplicate the layer though.
Flag as inappropriateNOp i cant get it right when i make the color balance layer for the lighting effects it just leaves the mask in white so nothing changes
Flag as inappropriateThe best!
Flag as inappropriateVery nice tutorial.
Flag as inappropriatethis is absolutely beautiful
Flag as inappropriateMatt has a good point if anyone’s finding it hard to paint the edges. That was my initial thought when I saw this, just ever so slightly different.
If you create a curved selection or path and fill it with any colour then set the Fill to 0%, then you can then apply Inner glow and you’ll just see the Layer Style, but none of the filling colour.
Of course, you’d only be able to make a uniform-width glow, but you could always apply a layer mask to vary that.
Flag as inappropriateThanks folks! Appreciate all of the feedback!
@ Paw – try creating a brand new adjustment layer on top of your other layers (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance). Good Luck!
Flag as inappropriateThanks! Great job!
Flag as inappropriateHey. Nice tutorial and the result is pretty nice but i cant find out the last part whit a color balance on a single layer???
Pleass help.
/Paw
Flag as inappropriateGenius
Flag as inappropriateHey boris like the new site man you never cease to amaze me with all your grahical creations. Like michaelangelo with computers man good work.
GHP O7″
Flag as inappropriatedude.. you’re a friggin genius.. i dunno how you possibly figured this out but man i’m just impressed on how easy you made this.. you are a very good man my friend.. thanks so much.. cheers!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! I’ve just completed it and I gotta say it’s very easy to follow and with a great end result as the reader. I think I’ll be using this effect in my new layout, thanks.
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial.
Flag as inappropriatethis is a GREAT site where i can learn more about photoshop… Im just starting everything and its not easy shifting from a cook to web publisher! whew, thanks a lot and more power!! by the way I just recently subscribe to your feed and hope to see some of Flash Tutorials.. Again.. THANKS A LOT!!!
Flag as inappropriatethanks friend, this tutorial is very good, now I can create myself wallpapers or new desing for the web :D thanks
Flag as inappropriateLove it! One key thing for foreign speakers, in step 5 when brushing the selection, I didn’t understand at first you need to just barely brush along the edges of the selection, not the entire selection :) That’s how the ‘edge’ feel is created (no need for shadows and such)… it’s late, hope I’m making sense.
thanks!
Flag as inappropriateU are great and see this useful, powerful,
Flag as inappropriateawesome tutorial, i like the fact that you’ve put in the .PSD file, it helps alot often too see how the layers look in the file itself
Flag as inappropriateFamous? I had no idea it was that well known :P
It’s very similar to the “Create a Wreath in Photoshop” tutorial (in some ways anyhow), so you may want to check that out.
I’ll see what I can do about getting a new X360 Rings Tutorial out though ;)
Flag as inappropriateHey dude, cool tutorial… when will you be putting the famous “Xbox360 Rings” tutorial on again? ^_^ Shame I can’t get access to it on GC anymore.
Flag as inappropriatenice touches so smooth
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! looks outstanding, always what i expect from you guys!
Flag as inappropriatevery nice tutorial! I’ll definately use this when I get the time! (=p)
Flag as inappropriateIts great that u even put the PSD file, makes it easier to find out what to do!
Flag as inappropriateGood job!
great job. i’m very impressed and i’m looking forward to your future stuff :)
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial
Flag as inappropriateMany Thanks
True but with pen tool although a bit more steps you could always duplicate the layer and change the opacity to get the brightness you want then merge them :)
Flag as inappropriateYou do bring up a good point Matt. Using the pen tool, and then using a drop shadow (or inner shadow) might work as an alternative here.
That said, you would lose some customization that you would get with the brushing. In my samples, I actually brushed a little more intense in some areas that I wanted to purposely make brighter.
However, I guess it’s all up to you in the end. It’s definitely a good suggestion.
Flag as inappropriateTrue but if its on a curve its hard to make quick motions and follow it evenly :P
I was thinking possibly another way is make the curve with a pen tool and add a gradient drop shadow.
Flag as inappropriateHey Matt, here’s a suggestion if you’re having trouble brushing.
Flag as inappropriateFirst off, a mouse will help you, and make things much, much easier. A graphics tablet will also work wonders, but if you don’t have either of those accessible, try making quick motions in order to make a smooth stroke. When you stroke quickly, you’ll generally keep the flow of the stroke much more consistent.
This tutorial was quite hard for me to do just because I’m on a laptop :| Even with mouse I don’t have that stead of a hand to keep it perfect all the way across the canvas D:
Flag as inappropriateOK, I got it !
Flag as inappropriateActually all these while I press crtl+shift at the wording of the layer, lol…but actually should click on the thumbnail pic xD
Anyway, thanks a lot ! You can be a great tutor…haha ..looking forward for more nice tutorials here ^^
Erm sorry to trouble you, I pressed CRTL and Hold it while selection my layers then the layers that I selected will be highlighted in the layer panel right? Then I go to Layer–>New Adjustment Layer–> Color Balance, I can’t get like yours @@
Flag as inappropriateThis is what I got >.<”
[IMG]http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4355/prob101dx5.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks everyone!
@ Ben – You should simply have to Hold Down the Ctrl Key While Clicking the Layer Thumbnail (in the layers panel) in order to make the selection. When you create the adjustment layer, it will apply the layer mask automatically.
Flag as inappropriateAt last! Greycobra is back. great tut btw
Flag as inappropriateSweet, Greycobra is coming back! :D
thanks for the tut, this really expands my techniques
Flag as inappropriateErm thanks a lot, after downloaded your PSD I understand a lot, and by the way, your tutorial you forget to add a negative symbol (-) for Highlights: “34″ —> -34
And I stuck at the last part, I keep try but fail to make the cliping mask for my colour balance? How do you do that? @@
Thanks a lot ^^
Flag as inappropriateHey Ben,
Try duplicating your Overlay layer, and see if that fixes things for you. I’m assuming by “Border”, you mean the sharp edge of the eclipse.
If you’re using a very dark background, Overlay might not work quite as well since it will basically Multiply the White with the Dark background. Sometimes, you can get around this by duplicating the layer a few times.
Let me know if that fixes things for you :)
Flag as inappropriateErm…I can’t get the same effect like urs in the tutorial especially when the brushing part. I brush my whole selection ( The eclipse part) with white and then I change to Overlay belnding, but I could get the effect like yours where your “border” seems to have a little white part, help please, thanks ^^
Flag as inappropriateThanks kenj! Glad you liked the tutorial mate! We’re happy to be back too!
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial.
Flag as inappropriateCan’t believe one of my favourite p.s tutorial site is back. Best of luck.
Thanks Iceberg! Hope you’ll stick around for more tutorials, and keep in on the discussion here. It’s good to be back!
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial David. I can’t wait until the site returns…it’s been such a long time.
Good luck with the new GC!
Flag as inappropriateHey Dubz! Thanks for stopping by!
This is just the beginning for Tutorial9, as we’ll be posting many, many, many more tutorials here on a daily basis. I’d suggest adding our feed to your feed reader if you want to stay up to date with our latest news and tutorials.
Anyways, Glad you liked the tutorial!
Flag as inappropriatewow great stuff.. thanks for the tutorial
hey guys im an avid fan of grey.cobra and i consult all my graphics tutorial on the site
im way too excited for the site’s comeback
eventually
maybe you c an post more tutorials here.. way to go tutorial9 :)
Flag as inappropriate