How to Airbrush in PhotoShop CS

Add airbrush effects and graffiti to your images with Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop CS is a large graphics package software which allows the most novice photographer through the most experienced designer to edit, enhance and alter images through the program's vast array of tools, filters and palettes. If you're looking to create an image of a gritty city scene or try out a new graffiti tag, Photoshop can help you add elements to your pictures with its airbrush painting tool.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Photoshop
• Digital image

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop and click "File," then "Open." Browse to where your photo is located on your computer. Double-click it to open it on your workspace.

2. Click the "New Layer" icon (it looks like a flipped-up post-it note) on the "Layers" palette on the right of your screen. A new Layer 1 appears. Right-click it and select "Layer Properties," then change the name to "Airbrush 1."

3. Click the "Paintbrush" tool in the "Tools" palette on the left side of the screen. Notice the new toolbar at the top of the screen. Pull down on the "Brush" drop-down menu and slide the scroll bar down to one of the airbrush brushes: choose number 14, 24, 27, 39 or 46. The size of the brush relates to how wide and strong your airbrush strokes will be.

4. Double-click the upper left box in the "Color Picker," the two overlapping squares in the "Tools" palette. Place your cursor on a color for your first airbrush, then click it and click the "OK" button. The color changes in the top left box.

5. Drag your mouse over your picture in the desired airbrushing design.

6. Add a new layer to the "Layers" palette and name it "Airbrush 2."

7. Change the brush size and click the "Wet Edges" box at the top toolbar. Slide the "Opacity" bar to 50 percent and choose a new color from the "Color Picker."

8. Draw more airbrush designs, noting the changes; these lines allow parts of your image to show through from beneath them and also have a wet, saturated look to them.

9. Click the right-pointing triangle in a circle at the top of the "Layers" palette. Select "Flatten Image." Save the file by clicking "File," then choosing "Save As" and giving the image a name and destination on your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't find the "Paintbrush" icon, right-click the image of the pencil and select "Paintbrush Tool." These two icons share space in the palette.

• Don't panic if you don't like one of your airbrush strokes. Just click the "Edit" menu and select "Undo" or "Step Backward." This removes your last action on the screen. Repeat these steps to go as far back in time as you need.

• To create an entire piece of artwork from airbrushing, instead of doing "File" and "Open" when you begin, click "File" and "New" instead, then set the size for your design.

References

• University of Washington Learning & Scholarly Technologies: What is Photoshop?