Hello and welcome to our third tutorial on AREA 1!
This is what we’ll be learning how to make today:

So let’s get started!
Open your Adobe Photoshop, make a new file (width: 1280, height: 1024).
See Screenshot 1.
Next, using the Gradient Tool, draw a line on your background until you get something like this: Screenshot 2.
Then import you model. See Screenshot 3.
After this, choose the Magic Wand tool (Screenshot 4) and click on the background of your model (Screenshot 5) and choose Refine Edge and change the Feather to 2 px (Screenshot 6), Click Ok and then press the Delete key on your keyboard to erase the background. Repeat this until you have no background: See Screenshot 7.
Go to Layer > New > Layer (Screenshot 8) and using the Brush Tool draw whatever you want. See Screenshot 9. Create a new layer for each different brush or color you use.
Right click on a brush layer (let’s say that your layer is named Brush Layer 1) and choose Duplicate layer and change the name to Brush Layer Blur 1 instead of Brush Layer 1 copy. See Screenshot 10. Then move the layer Brush Layer Blur 1 under the layer named Brush Layer 1. See Screenshot 11. With Brush Layer Blur 1 selected go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and choose Radius 10. See Screenshot 12. Do this for each layer (different shape or color). You should have something like this: Screenshot 13.
Make a new layer and, using a sun rays brush, draw one. Put this layer above your Background layer and change its mode to Multiply and the Opacity to 50%. See Screenshot 14. You should have now something like this: Screenshot 15. Now create a new layer, choose one of the colors you’ve used before and draw some dots using particle brushes. Duplicate this layer and change it’s mode to Color Burn. See Screenshot 16.
Now using the techniques above make some more layers, use more custom brushes.
Here’s my final result: Screenshot 17.
Download the project here. (Size: 13 Mb)
Hope you’ll enjoy this tutorial! Please leave a comment & thanks for the visit.
You can discuss this tutorial on the forum, click HERE.
Author: Mihai Opariuc - E-mail
My name is Opariuc Mihai, I'm a graphic/web designer from Ploiesti, Romania and I'm the owner of AREA 1. I hope we can share a lot of information, tips&tricks and ideas through this website. Follow me on Twitter @area1.