How to Render Ghostly Smoke Using Photoshop Filters

Amazing special effects and surprisingly realistic textures can be rendered using Photoshop and its element filters. By running different filters and playing around with different settings, anyone can create surprisingly amazing images that can be used in in combination with other images, or by themselves as the background of a Web page. Types of textures that can be rendered abound, including fire, water, metal, wood and smoke. Ghostly smoke can be used to create a haunted atmosphere, or simply may be added to any scene that needs smoke effects.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photoshop

1. 

   Use the "Clouds" filter. It is found in the "Rendering" drop-down menu, which is found in the "Filter" drop-down menu.

2. 

   Use the "Watercolor" filter found under the "Artistic" drop-down menu. Play around with the settings until you are happy with them.

3. 

   Go to the"Brush strokes" drop-down menu and select "Sprayed Strokes." Use a stroke length of seven to nine and a spray radius of seven. Choose right for the stroke direction.

4. 

   Run the glowing edges filter under the "Stylize" drop-down menu. Maximize the brightness and smoothness while leaving the pixel at one.

Tips & Warnings

• Select hue and click the "Colorize" checkbox. Then adjust the hue and saturation to change the color of the smoke.
• Make sure to save your work often.