How to make smoke?

buso23 · #1 12-16-2006, 02:09 PM

Hi,

I'd like to add some gentle smoke rising from the coffee bean above and was wondering what is the best way to do this? I've seen some tutorials on smoke but they do not work well on this image since it's on a challenging backround (all the tutorials worked well on black background) . Anyway here's the image and would like to see if someone can come to the effect I am looking for. Thanks, Ljupco

Peter S · #2 12-16-2006, 02:22 PM

If you check out the link below, in the challenges section was just this type of thing, and explanations how it was done.

http://www.retouchpro.com/challenges...ry.php/cat/582

Hope this helps.
Peter

buso23 · #3 12-16-2006, 02:51 PM

Thanks. I'll have a look at those techniques

Swampy · #4 12-19-2006, 03:51 PM

Pardon my lack of artistic skill, but this may work. I did the sample below in about 2 minutes. No joke, I can't draw, but you should get the idea.

Create a new alpha channel and run Filter, render clouds. Duplicate that and run render clouds again on the dupe (black and white as foreground/background colors). Turn on the RGB channel then run Image-Calculations and blend these two alpha masks using the screen mode. Result should be a new channel.

Select All and copy the resulting channel. View RGB again and go back to layers and paste clouds . You should get a new layer. Add a black mask to the clouds layer and just start painting steam with a low opacity white brush. Blur, paint some more. Change opacity and size of your brush. Blur again etc. If you don't like something paint over with black or refill the mask with black and start over.

You may want to play with levels or blend modes. Linear Burn might be good.

unimatrix001 · #5 12-19-2006, 07:51 PM

i found this tutorial on making smoke in photoshop ... might be what your are looking for hope it helps.
http://www.pslover.com/click/7876

Daviskw · #6 12-20-2006, 08:06 AM

Hi there

The first two examples below...as you can tell... where pictures of smoke downloaded off stockxchng. You can find 48 pages of smoke there. I looked for a black background because it was just a copy paste and change blend mode to screen.

The third was a quick attempt.. you and i could do better... to make my own. I used a grass brush painting white on a black background. Then a little gaussian blur and liquify. A change of blend mode to screen.

Another layer with black and white I rendered clouds while holding the alt key... again a blend mode change to screen and a layer mask to shape.

Hope this helps
Butch

KR1156 · #7 12-20-2006, 08:41 AM

you ever try alien skin's smoke filter? I've used that before for subtle, light clouds of smoke.

Daviskw · #8 12-20-2006, 08:53 AM

Don't forget you can also find smoke and cloud brushes... Below are a few examples

Butch

DJSoulglo · #9 12-22-2006, 08:24 AM

Draw some soft lines, distort them with the Smudge tool, Liquify them, duplicate them, mask the copy of 'em, and add highlights where needed. It makes for really really nice smoke.

Cassidy · #10 12-22-2006, 05:48 PM

A few variations, made by drawing a s line or two in a pale grey on a new layer, and then gaussian blurring and roughly teasing with the liquify filter. Finally dropping opacity to taste.

Lasa · #11 12-22-2006, 08:55 PM

I would think that the smudge tool would make ok smoke..Liquify for sure.
This was done with the smudge tool set to 40-70..

(oh-oh just read not to have on a black background..oh well)
same difference use the smudge on 4 - 5 different shades of grey streams.

Lasa

Bielefeld · #12 02-15-2007, 01:31 AM

If I have to add smoke on a background like this, I export the picture into Cinema 4D and add the smoke there. It's one of the perfect ways to add real-looking smoke to even a 2D picture.

B.

Shadd · #13 03-08-2007, 02:25 PM

As a photographer I always turn to a camera first. Possibly because I don’t have the photoshop skills to create what is not there? However photographing smoke is very easy and you end up working with the real thing. Light a cigarette and balance on it’s tip, shine a light from the rear through the smoke and take pictures. (needs a black background to work the best)
Drop the smoke image on top as a separate layer colour if required, and blend.
For steam:- switch the kettle on.

You will be amazed at the beautiful shapes you get from smoke and steam.

R

Swampy · #14 03-08-2007, 02:36 PM

Great, Shadd!

Getting the black background could be hard. Lighting a cigarette, no problem

Shadd · #15 03-08-2007, 02:59 PM

Hi Swampy.

Getting a black background is very easy. A piece of black velvet hung about 2-3meters away from the subject, and protect the velvet from the light source using black card or curtain. If you don't have studio flash lights try a desk light, or even a powerful touch (you may need to increase the ASA / ISO to reduce movement of the smoke)

R