Create smoke
Using Photoshop, you can create a real smoke effect in small and simple steps. Go to file and click on new to open a new Photoshop document. The document can be of any size but the background layer should be filled with black colour as the smoke effect looks good on black. Go to Layer and click new layer or click on the new Layer icon in the Layer’s palette. From the tools palette, select brush tool and with grey colour, doodle any random shape. Alternatively, you can even use a polygonal lasso tool to create any abstract shape.
Then go to filter and select Distort and then choose Wave. Click on the randomize button and then click Ok. Then select Edit from the top of the screen and choose fade Wave. Now change the opacity to 50% and click OK. You will have to repeat these distort and fade steps many times to get the desired effect. You might have to repeat the steps at least 10 times to get smoke which looks real.
To move the smoke, go to filter and press liquify. Keep repeating liquify step to move your smoke around. You can add a gradient to create an atmosphere around.
These steps will give a smoke effect.
Original Authors: Siva
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 27/04/2009
