Cloud Tutorial for Photoshop Cs2

Clouds are difficult to paint using traditional mediums.

Making clouds and cloud textures using Photoshop CS2 is much easier than painting clouds from scratch. Make use of Photoshop CS2's pattern brushes and texture options to paint or create special effects. Choose a light and a deeper blue to create a sky-colored gradation, then use the pattern tools to stamp clouds on top. Use a directional blur filter to blend the clouds into the background. Use specialized render filters to create an entire cloud layer over a background.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Photoshop CS2 software

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop CS2 on your computer. Choose "File" and "New" from the Menu bar. The "New" dialog box opens. Select "1024 X 768" from the "Preset" pull-down bar. Click "OK" to open your image screen.

2. Click on the "Foreground Color" box at the bottom of the "Toolbox" palette. Choose a deep blue color from the "Color Picker." Click "OK" to return to the main screen. Click on the "Background Color" box. Choose a light blue color from the "Color Picker." Click "OK" to accept your selection and to close the "Color Picker."

3. Click on the "Gradient" tool in the "Toolbox" palette. Click on the bottom center line of your image and drag vertically upward. Release the mouse at the top of your image. A light blue to dark blue gradient covers the image screen.

4. Click and hold on the "Clone Stamp Tool" in the "Toolbox" palette. Choose "Pattern Stamp Tool" from the selection window that opens.

5. Click on the "Pattern Stamp Tool" preset box on the horizontal options bar. Choose "Cloud Pattern" from the option list. Click on the "Brush" icon box next to the preset window and choose "Airbrush Soft Round 100" from the pull-down selection list.

6. Stamp with your "Pattern Stamp Tool" brush on top of the gradient. Cloud-textured soft-edged circles appear. Repeat stamps to increase the density of your pattern. Click and drag to paint across the image with your cloud texture.

7. Choose "Filter," Blur" and "Motion Blur" from the Menu bar and pull down menus. The "Motion Blur" dialog box opens. Type "3" in the Angle Box. Type 24 in the "Distance" box. Click "OK" to close the window. Your clouds blur and feather out along the horizontal axis.

8. Click on the "Eye" visibility icon to the left of the layer's image window box on the "Layers Control" palette. Your background disappears. Choose "Layer," "New" and "Layer" from the Menu bar and sub menus.

9. Click on the "Foreground Color" box and choose pure white from the "Color Picker." Select "Filter," "Render" and "Clouds" from the Menu bar and sub menus. White clouds over a blue background cover the entire layer. Hold down the "Alt" or "Option" key while you select "Filter," "Render" and "Clouds." A new, more crisp cloud pattern covers the first image.

Tips & Warnings

• Select a smaller brush when using the "Pattern Stamp Tool" to paint more delicate clouds.

References

• "Adobe Photoshop CS2 Users Manual"; Adobe Systems; 2006
• Adobe Photoshop CS3 Users Manual: Paint With a Pattern

Resources

• Creative Pro: Graphics and Photoshop Clouds