In this tutorial l will show you a technique used to create a great star-field with an exploding red giant. This effect is extremely easy to create and looks great for a desktop background, or a signature.
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Step 1.)
Start a new document that is any size, l'm using 500x400 for this tutorial. Fill the background with black (#000000)
Step 2.)
Next set your foreground color to red (#FF0000), get out the brush tool and set it up like so:
Now draw a random shape near the middle of the canvas as l've done here.
Step 3.)
With the brush still set at 80 pixels in diameter, set your foreground color to yellow (#FFFC00) and trace the inside of your shape as l've done here:
Step 4.)
With the brush still set at 80 pixels in diameter, set your foreground color to white (#FFFFFF) and trace around the inside of your shape once again this time inside of the yellow, as l've done here:
Step 5.)
Next go to Filter->Blur->Gaussian blur with a setting of 45 pixels:
Step 6.)
Go to Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Hue/Saturation.
Press okay.
Press okay.
Your layer pallet will now look like this:
Step 7.)
Create a new layer, and press 'D' on your keyboard. (this will set your foreground color to black, and your background color to white)
Go to Filter->Render->Clouds and press CTRL + F to repeat the effect 2 times.
Change the blending mode of this layer to "color dodge"
Next got to Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Levels
Press okay.
Press okay.
Result:
Step 8.)
Now we'll add some stars for the background, this is very easy. Create a new layer. And fill the background with black (#000000).
Go to Filter->Noise->Add Noise and apply these settings:
Change the blending option of this layer to "Screen"
Result:
After playing around with the image for a bit l was able to create this piece. Really the only difference is a slight Opacity to the "explosion" layer, and a tint of blue added to the outside of the explosion to add a more dramatic contrast.
Adjusting any of the steps in this tutorial will create a completely different effect. Experimentation is the key to photoshop. Have fun and
enjoy!
Retro Style Background
