Creating a Stunning Digital Smoke Effect
Nov 1st in Effects by Fabio
Some time ago I came up with a technique to create digital smoke using the Liquify filter in Photoshop. Although it was a simple and efficient way to achieve that sort of effect, people sent me emails asking how to customize it or that it wasn’t so easy to follow.
In this tutorial we are going to show you how to easily create digital abstract smoke using both Illustrator and Photoshop. One of the best things about this technique is that it’s very customizable and you can do it pretty quickly.
As I said before, we will use Illustrator a bit, but actually you can use whatever vector software you have. The only requirement is that it have a similar tool to the Blend Tool in Illustrator.
Step 1
Open Illustrator, and using the Pen Tool (shortcut: P), draw two different curved lines, try to make them cross each other like the ones below. Those will be the shape of our smoke. After that, do the same thing again and draw two more lines. From those two pairs of lines, select one pair, and set the stroke color of the first line white and the other with dark gray(70%). Repeat the same thing on the other pair of lines but invert the colors. The reason we do this is because when we import those shapes in Photoshop we will be able to tweak the colors with a lot more ease.
Step 2
Using the Blend Tool, click on the edge of the white line and then click on the edge of the gray line. It will create a line between the two lines. With the Blend Tool selected, go to Object>Blend>Blend Options. There, change the Spacing to Specified Steps and put 200 steps. Repeat the same procedure on the other pair of lines we have.
Step 3
Now it’s all Photoshop from here. Copy the first blend and paste it in to Photoshop as a Smart Object. Repeat that for the second layer. We choose to paste as Smart Objects because you can scale and re-scale without losing quality. This happens because they remain vectors rather than becoming bitmap graphics. Besides that we can edit the vectors again, and if you are using the CS3 version it’s possible to apply all filters in a non-destructive mode as well. That means if you apply any filter you will be able to change their parameters anytime or even delete the filter effect returning to the original image. This is not dissimilar to Layer Styles except now with filters.
Step 4
Here I just organize my layers using folders. Set the blending mode to Multiply for both folders: Shape 1 and 2. After that apply a Gaussian Blur with a radius of 1 pixels in both layers: Smoke 1 and 2.
Step 5
Duplicate both layers inside of each folder. So you will have Smoke 1, Smoke 1 Copy, Smoke 2, and Smoke 2 Copy. Change the Blending mode of the Smoke 1 Copy and Smoke 2 Copy to Overlay
Step 6
Now we are going to change the color from that grayish tone to a blueish one by creating a new fill or adjustment layer and choosing Hue/Saturation. Put that layer on top of the others and double-click on the layer to edit the Hue/Saturation parameters.
Step 7
Duplicate the Smoke 1 layer and Rasterize it. Then put it on the top of the other layer, even above the adjustment layer. After that change its blending mode to Color Dodge and apply a Gaussian Blur with the radius of 25 pixels. You will get a light blue color like a glow.
Step 8
Now we have the basics. We could stop here and have a great effect already, but let's take it to the next level. It's time to add some extra wafts. First fade Smoke 1 back to about 50% so it's a little softer. Then duplicate the Smoke 1 group and fade right back to 20%. Select the group and add a Layer mask. Then using a White to Black radial gradient, mask it out as it gets to the right side so the smoke is fading off into nothing.
Step 9
Next duplicate the same fading out smoke layer we made in the last step and rotate it to make it look a bit more random. If you had time you could replicate these layers from the very beginning steps in Illustrator. Your aim should be to have wafts of smoke going away from the main smoke channel. If you want a smoke on white effect, you should stop here.
Step 10
Next create a new layer above all the others and fill it with a gradient going from white (#FFFFFF) to grey-ish blue (#C4CCD0) as shown.
Step 11
Set the new layer's blending mode to Exclusion. Exclusion (as well as Difference) invert colors from lower layers, which gives us a smoke on dark-grey effect.
Step 12
The coloring is now pretty cool, but it could be even more graceful. Create a new layer above the others and fill it with a linear gradient from #5f4547 to #7096e4 as shown. Once you have the gradient, set the blending mode to Color and 50% Opacity.
Step 13
Finally we add a bit of text to finish off the image. This effect is best when you create it larger than you need at the end, then shrink it down and run the Unsharp Mask filter over it (Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask) to get the curves looking clean and crisp.
Conclusion
Using Illustrator’s Blend Tool gives a lot of flexibility so it’s possible to create all sorts of shapes and blend them, even creating blends with four different shapes. Then in Photoshop with the Smart Objects and Smart Filters we can apply, change, and test all kinds of filters and combinations. It’s all about playing with the tool.
As Bert Monroy always says, I hope you have learned something from here and it’s not the end result but how we got there. Thanks
Sample PSD
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Bob Backus November 1st
Hmm, this is a slightly weaker tutorial than the normal amazing stuff we see here.
I’m just sayin’.
( )Patrick November 1st
That’s a real pretty effect and all but it’s doesn’t look all that smoky to me.
( )Malte November 1st
Great Tut! But I have my difficulties on creating the curved lines in Illustrator.. Is it also possible to upload the Illustratorfile? This would be great help for me =) …
( )Murray McGinley November 1st
Good to see a bit of illustrator work here!Hope to see more soon.Cheers for the tutorial!Brilliant as always!
( )Jf November 1st
Excellent tutorial. I already know where to use this technique. Thanks a lot
( )Kyle November 1st
That is gorgeous. Another wonderful tutorial. A+
( )Tobolka November 2nd
Oh my god, this is graet, thaks man.
( )Noel November 2nd
Pretty … love this site and how often it’s updated with fantastic content and easy to follow tutorials
5/5
( )Hauff November 2nd
Hmmm.. sorry, but I must say… this was not a good tut.
I was expecting the best here. =(
Extremely Yours Sincerely
( )Markus November 2nd
I have not tried this tutorial, but can you make it in Photoshop CS2
( )Solarion November 2nd
Very nice!
( )But I think the effect would be better with darker colors or with a darker background
Deezul6 November 2nd
Another great tut! Thanks!!!!
( )Alen November 2nd
Very nice. I like it.
( )Naveed Ahmad November 2nd
WOW nice trick and a gud use of Illustrator and Photoshop
( )keep it coming mate
bigFan November 2nd
doesn’t really look like smoke… maybe a film-ish fake-ish type ? Sorry man i expected more from PSDTuts.com
( )Ravi Vora November 2nd
I think the main drawback to this tutorial is that you have to switch applications. Really, you could make this tutorial Photoshop only and get away with it.
( )matthew October 18th
U’ve seen beta I guess. if I could get books on how to use photoshopcs3, adobe illustrator cs3 and corel draw 12, I’ll be grateful.
( )thanks
mygrads November 2nd
not your best I’m afraid…
( )Neo November 2nd
This isn’t as good as your previous Smoke Tutorial. THat one created a better effect than this. Look more real.
( )Jeffrey November 2nd
this tutorial definitely looks like a came off of some newbie website. Not a good tutorial at all, you can do all this in photoshop, not 2 programs. Horrible tutorial, I was expecting better from this website.
( )hadouken May 20th
you are just insecure
( )Deezul6 November 2nd
Honestly, some of you should be a bit more appreciative that a site like this exists. I know i am. So ease up. You can’t expect every tutorial to be some grand thing. There are people who pay for this kind of stuff.
( )Chris Biele November 2nd
Good tut Fabio. Mine didn’t quite turn out the same due to my amature pen techniques, but with a little color adjustment I turned it into some nice flames.
Cheers
( )Mike November 2nd
Have to agree I’m afraid. I preferred the other technique on your website. This one doesn’t look natural at all, although that is probably intended?
Still very useful though!
(…but not for smoke).
( )Nobody November 2nd
I think he was aiming for a DIGITAL smoke look, not a realistic one as some of you seem to be moaning about. And it looks like he made this tutorial upon request anyway….so it obviously helps some people…
( )handx November 2nd
I dont have illustrator..help me PLEASE!n
( )Stephen November 2nd
To the author’s credit, this tutorial does lay out some general concepts that can be applied to your own composition. That, and I couldn’t have written a better one, so I have to approve.
( )Collis November 2nd
Hey folks! Zee and I have done a little more work on the tutorial to give it a bit more punch at the end in true PSDTUTS style
I think Fabio’s tutorials are going to enrich this site tremendously and I for one am already learning a few things from him!
( )Shyam November 2nd
Where do you get these ideas man! you rock as usual. This one is a simple piece when comparing with all other tuts., yet well presented… keep it up boss!
( )fabio November 2nd
Firstly I would like to thank you all for the comments…. I know i could have done it only with photoshop but with illustrator it is much faster and easier to customize than with the liquify in PS for example…..besides that, the idea was to come up with a very easy way to create an abstract design in this case like those smoke photos…..
( )T-Bone November 2nd
quote: I think he was aiming for a DIGITAL smoke look, not a realistic one as some of you seem to be moaning about.
__________________________________________________
^ exactly.
this technique could come in very handy, thanks a lot for the tut.
only thing i can moan about is the way it’s written – it could really use an editor ’s eye… commas and full stops would work wonders!
( )andrea November 2nd
No, it doesn’t look like smoke, but it is a nice sorta-elegant little effect that you could use in a number of ways.
Love the tips on this site, keep it up.
( )davidmac! November 2nd
This was cool. I will add it to my toolbox and hopefully find somewhere to pull it out when needed like I’ve done with most of your other tutorials. Keep up the good work. Thanks for all your help.
( )ididthis November 2nd
i’ve been digging this web site since it started! you all have fantastic tuts! this also is great, nice use of illustrator! keep it up!
( )adrian vergara November 2nd
i love this!
( )Its called digital November 2nd
It is called a [i]Digital[/i] smoke effect. That is the reason it looks like this. This is a great digital image and I will most likely use it myself
Nice Tut
( )Eric Thoolen November 2nd
I just want to say I LOVE IT! This kind of tut’s I can learn a lot with! Thanks….
( )Bjorgvin @ stockvault.net November 2nd
Excellent tutorial as always.
( )Richo November 2nd
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT TUTORIAL!
Don’t listen to all the whingers, I think it is very important for psdtuts.com to have tutorials ranging from easy to difficult. I am a novice Photoshop user and I find this tutorial is completely within my ability!
Thank you and keep it up Abduzeedo, you have supporters!
Richo
( )ieki November 2nd
Doesn’t look very smoky to me either….
( )Sangesh November 2nd
I’ve been searching for this type of tutorial. Thanks to del.icio.us i found your website and thanks to you for this awesome tutorial.
cheers.
( )Bruce Colthart November 2nd
Nice enough tutorial – thanks! I’d bet there’d be fewer negative comments if “stunning” wasn’t promised in the title. A less sensational and more descriptive (honest) title – might have been better, using “smoke-like” or “smokey.”
( )Eagerly anticipating your next totally incredible installment!!!
nico November 2nd
thx
WE WANT MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This site provide the best tuts I ever seen
( )Kimlam November 2nd
can anybody mail me the the intermedia tutorial site or stuffs for photoshop! thanx in advance! u may mail me at this address rosy45@mail.com
@@@@
( )IlLness November 2nd
I dont suppose there a way to imitate the first few steps in photoshop, i tryed and the end result was,. pooo
pointers
ps. nice tut
( )Arik November 2nd
When I visited PSDtuts yesterday and saw the original version I kinda thought to myself…this isn’t worth it. It looked like a cheap piece of plastic.
I still don’t think it’s smoke, or at least, not the same realistic result that if to be obtained with the liquify filter such as explained on abduzeedo. BUT, when you add in the extra steps it does create a nice effect.
( )bart November 3rd
Nice that it is updated. This is much better!
( )Great tutorial on a great site!
levent November 3rd
updated superb
( )Marty November 3rd
This is a fantastic tutorial! I learned a lot. I actually intend to go read it a couple more times. Thanks again for the great tutorials! Keep up the good work.
( )Jon November 3rd
I am loving this site more and more. Keep up the amazing tuts.
Jon –
( )http://www.dinnermint.org/
joost canters November 3rd
props! very nice!
( )Jeremy November 3rd
I think this was a great tutorial. It’s called *digital smoke* and hence has an unnatural digital vibe to it. The title makes sense, but is a bit misleading because it seems so many people were anticipating something else. This seems more deserving of a title relating to creating an attractive and abstract wallpaper, like the tutorial that shows how to create a Mac style background. Still interesting to see how you used the blend tool.
( )Scott November 3rd
Great tutorial. Surprising to see some of the negative comments on this. Are you guys for real? Personally I like using the 2 applications together, especially since they were designed to work together.
( )jamarvelous November 3rd
Thank you for the article. Very clean and slick. Very controlled. This is going into me digital morgue.
( )Jeffrey November 3rd
I left a bad comment on this tutorial before, But now that you have updated it, I think this is a very good tutorial. Very nicely done, looking forward to seeing more of your tutorials. Thanks
( )Ando November 3rd
Great as always! Keep it up, and guys buy them coffee!
( )Antomio November 3rd
Do any knows where can I get free tutorials that I can add to my website. I will be giving credit to the author, and site. Also, I can give them links that can bring more traffic to their website. Do any one knows?
( )benny November 3rd
Nice tutorial using illustrator and photoshop .Well done Fabio and psdtuts
( )Jeff Boek November 3rd
In itself it may be a ‘waeker’ effect then the other tutorials here. But if you combine it with your design the effect would look amazing with the right work.
( )Mike November 4th
Yeh, the update has made quite a difference. Looking pretty cool now. Thanks for this and all the other tutorials!
( )k November 4th
hi.. great tutorial. just one thing (dont know if it’s cs2 problem). when applying gaussian blur to the smart object (after setting 1st layer to multiply) it’s rasterizing it. would that be fine? or am i missing something?
( )mykdotcom November 4th
thanks for sharing!
( )i’ve made it differently using some variations!
thanks again!
Ken_Sai November 4th
Very nice! Cool TUT!
( )Nyan November 4th
I am very interested your’s smoke style. If possible, could you please explain step by step. Thanks!
( )Joefrey Mahusay November 4th
What a nice effect!. Great Work!
( )Andrew November 4th
Great work! and…
To the complainers please shutup! So what if it doesn’t look like smoke, at least it still looks amazing.
( )JS November 5th
I think that most of the people complaining probably don’t have the skill set to figure this stuff out. Nice job…very elegant look.
( )Ether November 5th
Thanks Fabio!
I love the abstract-look of this tutorial! I’ve actually been looking for something like this to incorporate into a project I’m working on.
Thanx again!
( )PT November 5th
Great Tutorial, Great simple effect.
Horrah for PSDTuts.
( )Alan November 5th
I’m a bit confused – I followed your tut step by step, and I keep getting a very different result. Is this because I’m using AICS3? Because the problems start at the blending – there’s no “line” created once I blend, and all blending does [even with the options] is make a gradient between the lines [they do cross].
Thanks-
( )Alan
KitsuneChan November 5th
Thanks for what I think is a great tutorial only one thing.. What if you don’t have any other program that is even close to illustrator!! What are “we” supposed to do then?
( )sandy November 5th
nice.. Amazing effect
( )Thanks PSDtuts
wonder full tutorial
Daniel Pinheiro November 6th
O tutorial é bem bacana Fábio…
E o seu site tb é 10…
Parabéns…
( )@rend November 6th
Very good tutorial, you get the best quality of vector objects by exporting them from illustrator to photoshop, this way al the objects will remain the same and they’re also exported as several uncombined layers. Everyone knows vector object are made in Illustrator, not in photoshop..
( )josh November 6th
I think this is a great tutorial. I really like the effect – it is what you say it is – a digital smoke effect. I think most of the complainers are just hacks looking for quick effects. Tutorials are to be used as an addition to a growing skill set, not a one-time deal.
( )scfcats November 7th
You guys are invaluable, a constant source of inspiration. Thanks!
( )Sayajee November 7th
It’s Coooooooool
( )mark November 8th
Very nice. Reminds me of my ps3 “wave background”.
( )Mark November 8th
Awesome technique – this is cool and great job this is very awesome tutorial.
Thanks for this
( )ezoryak November 8th
Nice tutorial using illustrator and photoshop! Great tutorial on a great site! Very nice..!
( )strk November 8th
thanx for this tutorial! interesting…
just a question: I don’t have the option to paste from Illustrator to Photoshop as “Samrt Object”. Any ideas?
Thanx in advanced
( )Perre November 9th
Yea i like it, and the blend effect on the curves in AI is really helpfull. Never thought of that
and i love illustrator
( )Agilius November 10th
Wow! Grate job. I am impressed. Wonderful tutorial.
( )crabbie November 10th
the tutorial is great.
( )clear step by step easy for dummy like me
CrazyLeaf November 10th
Great tutorial. Doesn’t really look like smoke. More like silk blown by wind, but nevertheless it’s a cool tutorial.
( )Simon November 10th
Fabio another awesome tutorial! So jealous of your talents!
( )Tuts4all November 12th
Not sure how much people would use this as apposed to the other tutorials you write. But its another great tutorial.
( )BAMF! November 13th
hey love this man i was just wonderin what font was used here anyone help me out?
( )Alex Pobi November 14th
Just the kind of tutorials i need, a beautiful work, thanx alot and keep up the good work.
( )kiran November 15th
ya really nice effects i liked it very much
( )VELAYUTHAM.P November 15th
What a nice effect!. Fantastic Work!
( )William Johansen November 16th
Hey guys!
Awsome illustration. Thing is that Im kinda new to this, specially illustrator.
So I was wondering if some one could explain step 2 to me a little closer. (Please send me a mail: dkmwilliam@gmail.com)
I didnt really understand the part with gray and white.. Like how Im supposed to do it, couldnt find the tools or what Im supposed to use.
Didnt work with step 3 either with blend thing, but maybe because I skiped step 2..
Would be VERY, VERY nice if someone of you could help me out!!
Thanks ALOT!
( )William November 16th
Hey guys! Great tut.
Im new in illustrator and need some help with step 2. Could anyone please explain closer to me how I do the white and gray stuff to the lines?
Would be VERY nice. I really want to be able to create an image like this! It`s awsome.
If someone could just mail me: dkmwilliam@gmail.com
THANKS!
( )jordan widel November 16th
Thats such a good affect
( )Ezequiel November 16th
WOWWW nice job!! great designer!!
( )nguyen kiem November 16th
i wanna learn more about creat a powerpoint to plan my lesson . please show me how to do this . thanks in advance
( )Chibone November 17th
:S the tutorial look so hard, but pretty nice
( )ni3 November 17th
Hmm, this is a slightly weaker tutorial than the normal amazing stuff we see here.
I’m just sayin’.
( )Mankaran November 18th
Great tutorial!!!!!
( )Matt November 19th
Add a few Filter / Wave effects and it will look more smoky.
( )diverdan November 19th
This is great. I’m almost done. Thanks for all the greats
( )arnel November 21st
wow.a nicene….
( )Ashutosh November 21st
this is very good for bad students
( )Shami November 22nd
i love it
( )Rajender Kumar November 23rd
I think its amazing effect which we use in differnet style.
( )reezluv November 23rd
wow..awesome tutorials..this is the best website that I have ever seen that provides the fantastic design and graphics..thanks a lot..
maybe I will submit some tutorials to your site later..lol:)
( )israel November 24th
quisiera saber si puedes hacer este tutorial en español, pq me paece muy interesante.. gracias
( )Thales November 24th
Hey
( )I really like this tutorial, so I want to translate it to post in a design forum
I will not change the text (just translate), and I will put the credits
I wait for the answer in my e-mail
Thank’s
Peter November 25th
I can’t get the first few stages on this either…
The PS stuff is fine but I can’t get the initial “smokey effect” in stage 1 and 2 look like the ones in the tutorial.
Help please! peter_john_myers@hotmail.com
thanks
( )IsmetM November 25th
I love this tute. I dunno how anyone can say it’s a weak tute! Maybe the title confused some? I ain’t looking for smoke but just that beautiful effect.
( )Mayura November 27th
great designer!!
Thanks
( )Karthik November 30th
Very nice and creative…..
( )this is very helpfull and brain stroming
mehdi December 1st
dear friend
( )thank you for nice work ……
Pavel December 1st
Doesnt look like smoke really, but its still pretty creative and looks cool
. Thanks for the great tips 
. Keep up the good work.
( )Sabaj December 2nd
this is a great tutorial!… I could see how the title be misunderstood.
( )Thanks for the beautiful effect!
Tele Ogundeko December 2nd
what a drag!! whats with the dweebs here who keep moaning? He did say digital smoke, not natural smoke for bloody designs sake! This is a nice looking effect for people who could need it. If you don’t, then put a sock in the moans and just look away..to punch holes in the designer’s aura for a tutorial he gave out freely is just not worth it. Very unappreciative and down right ungrateful for something you dont pay for. “i expected better from this site” what a load of bullfrog!!!
( )Mike December 7th
Love the look, I did have trouble with step 2, with the middle grey line not showing once the blend between the white and dark grey line are blended with the 200 lines.
( )egypt web design December 10th
really very nice effects i liked it
( )Anton December 11th
man this is great.
i was on your website all day reading stuff. i am actually a fireworks user but still learned alot.
wonder in all the photoshop features can be transfered to the fireworks…
thanks alot for the tutorials.
doing a great job.
Dont Waste Your Life.
( )dan December 11th
Difficult to follow and unclear…
( )Gabbby December 13th
Excelent!
thnks…
have a nice day
( )JOE December 15th
ok grate one but this is some how confuzing for new ps and ill user like i am not couse its hard but its kind not
( )good explaned or some steps are just skiped
khalidbrar December 17th
great designer!!
Thanks
( )hossein December 17th
wondefull
( )thanks
Abhijit December 20th
Nice but I don’t have illustrator so have to try in Photoshop only
( )Kathryn December 25th
I’m a design student and I so appreciate your taking the time to share your techniques. Thank you.
( )Mohammed December 25th
its nice effect but the title doesn’t fit.
( )Ahamed Bazullsh December 26th
Wish you all the best.
Very Nice for us.
Thanks.
Ahamed Bazullah
( )YOHAN December 28th
VERY NICE . THANKS
( )Susanne January 3rd
Great tutorials. More please
( )Kon Green January 5th
Very good! Thank you!
( )utor January 7th
nice one. thanks for sharing. :thumb
( )Gabriel Rosca January 7th
Very nice effect
( )muggl January 8th
Good Tutorial.. very good, but I’ve seen that you’ve used a smart filter (gaussian blur) without showing us why.. maybe my one doesn’t look like yours cause I haven’t got used these smart filters (I have CS2)..
Sorry, my english isn’t very good..
I’m from Switzerland.. 
( )sanoop January 9th
very nice
( )Joott January 9th
Could not get this to work … Everytime i tried to work in Photoshop it kept on going back to Illustartor to make changes … not sure what I did wrong … followed the tutorial as stated … hmmm … disappointing …
( )Rriizzzaaaa January 10th
gooood. well this is fine enough to be used, and thank you.
( )Manicd January 16th
Great tutorial – end of
( )Elisa January 16th
It is a very nice tutorial thank you.
( )Manicd January 17th
Can you purely use photoshop to do this tutoorial btw?
( )Jonas January 17th
it’s just… perfect! congrats
( )Jen January 19th
Been using Photoshop and Illustrator for years and could not get this tut to work…Might want to explain a bit better. Yous looks great though!
( )roiji January 22nd
Thanks a lot! now i can make these kinda things…!
( )The instructions are pretty straight forward that is if you have prior experience with photoshop and/or illustrator…
DoubleX January 26th
[[[[[HELP]]]]]]
i cant find blend tool,where is it, what is it next to, is there any hotkeys?
( )rolly_darkhand January 28th
great designs comes only from great minds,..you’re one of them man…keep up the good work.
( )Taria January 29th
is there anywa to do this with out useing Illustrator? I don’t have that program and if it’s possable to do this with out having to resort to brushes or Illustrator and just do it in Photoshop that would be great.
it’s a nice effect though.
( )bratwurst January 30th
is there anything photoshop CAN’T do? seriously, this design should win an award. dude, you are the best.
( )Ali Fida February 2nd
Thanks, this is the very comprihensive way/technique to create such a nice smoke effect,
thanks again for this nice tutorial.
( )Sangesh February 13th
Impressive. Just great…
( )Laura February 14th
Very cool effect!
( )LP February 17th
excelente trabajo. Siempre quise saber como se lograban estos diseños artisticos…
( )AleX February 21st
This was an Excellent excellent i mean “EXCELLENT TUTORIAL!!!”
simple and vary straight forward…
Smoke looks amazing you just opened up my creative block with this tutorial!!!
thanks!!!
( )John K February 22nd
great tutorial
( )thank you!
babarazeem February 23rd
Thanks man its great technique
( )vectorfabrik February 24th
good stuff! thank you
( )Chris Rusnak February 28th
This tutorial was well worth the effort for a stunning digital smoke effect. But I needed a realistic smoke effect, and this only got me so far. So I tweaked PSDTUTS version and was very pleased with my results. If it wasn’t for PSDTUTS I could not have done it without them. I’d say about 75% of it was their tutorial and 25% was my tweaked version.
I needed a photo realistic smoke stream coming from a cigar held by someone on our April cover publication. Here were my results. http://snak.deviantart.com/art/Realistic-Smoke-78598589
Thanks again PSDTUTS for such a great place to learn, visit and have fun.
( )Chris
Gabriel Rodriguez March 4th
Extremely difficult tutorial. I am still having trouble using the pen tool. Is there a video tutorial on this same lesson or equivalent? Thanks.
( )Jayden March 4th
Amazing tutorial, at the moment its 1:45 am and i been trying to figure this thing out
( )i just want to clear up a few things so others don’t make the same mistake as me
when using the pen tool MAKE SURE THE FILL COLOUR IS SET TO NONE OTHERWISE THE BLENDING WONT WORK PROPERLY
haha that’s my rant over, yep 2 hours just to learn i was making a simple mistake so yes lol don’t make that mistake or you could be there for hours
for people struggling with the pen tool, i used to have trouble and well yeah i found a way that works for me
Draw a line using the pen tool and on that line click on it using the pen tool to create an anchor. switch to the direct selection pointer and click on the anchor you just created and now you can resize it, rinse and repeat until you get the desired lines you want
Exquiste KaMabura March 12th
WoW!!! this is quite cool and i am trying it right now, Keep on raizing the bar.
( )Thanks
Mabura March 12th
This is definately stunning, keep up the good work. Im waiting anxiously for the latests work.
( )what March 13th
Nice tutorial.
( )Nothing you need very often, but a great way to learn some techniques in PS and Illustrator.
And that´s what a good tutoriall is all about.
Manicd March 16th
When it comes to copying/pasting from Illustrator to photoshop my second image will not paste in. The “Rendering placed document” dialog box appears and the object never gets pasted in. Any ideas anyone to why this is happening….. please???
( )anish March 16th
exxellent , very best tut iv gone throu
( )alfalamborghini March 20th
Very very nice~ I like it~ thank you!
( )arnold a March 24th
its does’nt look like a smoke its better to do it using liquify tools
( )Deb March 26th
Good job. Great tutorial!!!!!!!
( )Thanks,
fl March 27th
i really like this tutorial and honestly, i don’t see what the others are complaining about. keep up the good work, i really appreciate it.
( )himanshu April 4th
AWESOME
( )tutorial
A+
hats off……………………..
Icetrix April 9th
Wow… this is amazing to know and gives a very nice effect!
Thanks for showing another great Illustrator thing… it is very easy and it just looks great!
Thanks again^^.
( )Nat April 19th
Not the greatest tutorial but it provides great basic ideas that you can modify using your own knowledge of the programs.
Thank for that!
( )Patience April 25th
Yo, this tutorial’s pretty great. At least, what I see on your end result pic is. But, I’m just wonderin’, but is it possible to achieve that very effect in CS2? I’ve got my doubts, since I’ve tried this twice and it ain’t workin’ out to be as shiny and polished-lookin’ as yours… I’ve got another nice matte-effect, but would like dat nice shine.
( )Olivia April 27th
Hi there,
This is a wonderful effect – it’s really great. I’ve been wanting to learn how to do this for a long time.
Your skills are really good – but as a very new user of illustrator I struggle to use the pen tool, everything I do goes wrong and no matter how many times I try to do this I fail to get the first 1/2 steps in Illustrator. So, if anyone could help me I’d appreciate it so much
( )Erkki May 9th
Hi,
Very nice effect but i got some problems when i try to make it. When i try to blend the middle line, it will be dashed every time. Same thing happens if i try to fill up more lines! Can some1 reply some simply solution?
( )Danny May 9th
This is a really nice effect, finally I can do it!
( )Donovan May 10th
Nice Fabio!
( )Alex May 14th
thanks JAYDEN for the useful remark you made, people, dont forget : MAKE SURE THE FILL COLOUR IS SET TO NONE OTHERWISE THE BLENDING WONT WORK PROPERLY !!!
( )SV Creation May 19th
good tutorial thanks
( )Miss Mal May 21st
Wow. Your amazing. Though its not good enough for a few people on here (as i can tell from the comments). But your doing a good job and helping many people. Thought I’d say thanks and that I appreciate this effort by you!
( )ayeminminbo May 29th
I love your thinking.
( )Thanks for your brain.
Amulyaranjan behera May 31st
well a great effect to add some new concepts into reality….. thanks
( )recy June 4th
I need the video tutorial……………….step by step from the adobe photoshop……………
( )Kirit Vora June 5th
Great Tutorial
( )I know Illustrator, basic level.
I had trouble with step 2
No matter what I did I did not get blend like yours. Is there an implied step that is not spelled out. 2 wavy lines crossing, one grey pne white stroke “no fill” Make blend 200 steps
Right?
Can you send me your illustrator file or comment please.
Thank you
kiritcomp@gmail.com
billseymour June 10th
Wonderful effect. Two questions:
Is there any way to eliminate those linear ‘gaps’ within the wisps of smoke? I experimented with different # steps in blend, but never completely eliminated them. I also tried ‘painting in’ the gaps on a separate layer, but this does not look at all good (very choppy, not smooth).
And: Rasterizing the smoke 1 smart object: how does one rasterize a vector smart object (smoke 1), and still have a smart object? (Do I rasterize the Vector SO, then make that layer a Smart Object again?)
–Thanks. Bill
( )Sasuke61694 June 13th
I could see how you could consider that digital smoke, it looks like a very magnified close up of smoke mabye if you think abstractly. Good effect none the less. =)
( )Muhammad Shahid Akram June 13th
Thats Amazing
( )Raj June 14th
thats pretty cool tutorial. Thanx m8.
( )FrankCrank June 16th
Decent tutorial
Too bad I don’t use Illustrator
( )sphynxylynxy June 17th
hmm, I must say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your Digital Smoke Effect!
I really like variances of the subject.
Anyway I do believe that what your’e doing goes a long way + your’e helping so many
out there who know zilch about Photoshop and Illustrator.
And yes I have learned something from this tut. Perhaps my deviations will also have
a pleasing result. Bert fan.
Cheers Fabio
( )HuhGuy June 20th
I like the effect, but had a problem with the blending (which was a little unclear, at least for me).
( )The first blend should be set a 1 step, correct? That being done, you can’t make the second blend
(the 200 steps) without erasing the first. I don’t think you can make two different blends on the
same object, though you seemed to have done that. All I know is that once I make the second blend, the
first blend line disappears (or is a least obscured by the second blend).
ZaFaR July 1st
Great Tutorial, Great simple effect.
( )Mujahid July 21st
Lovely! Great work.
( )Oh WutEvur July 23rd
OH what – EVER!!!
That isn’t even Illustrator! Who are you trying to fool?
( )Rasmus July 25th
Woah, this is really amazing, I must say, this stuff is something I can use.
Took some time for me to complete this Tutorial, I love it, and I need more stuff of this!
Illustrator and Photoshop CS3 live forever!
( )NaldzGraphics August 10th
pretty cool effect
( )John August 14th
another lame tut
(( …things were going okay ..till about here …then you totally lost me
“Set the new layer’s blending mode to Exclusion. Exclusion (as well as Difference) invert colors from lower layers, which gives us a smoke on dark-grey effect.”
anyone make any sense out of this ??
peace John
( )dan March 17th
I just set the gradient you make on the layer above everything – the light to blue gray one – then set the blend mode to exclusion. worked fine for me.
( )lweon August 22nd
very nice mexmo
( )Vasco Dias August 26th
Excelent tutorial. I know exactily where i’m going to use this effect. Thumbs up!
( )Billy August 28th
All I can say is you have put me light years ahead! I hate to comment on the negative replies, but if the people who are reading these are not getting anything out of them, I feel sorry for them! You can’t expect this guy to completely hold your hand! I thank this man for having put these tutorials up here! THANKS!!!
( )babarazeem August 30th
Brilliant
( )Joshua August 30th
Very cool. Nice tutorial…
( )Joshua August 30th
John, I was also a little confused at first about the Exclusion comment, but after looking for a moment I realized what he was saying. I think it would have made more sense had invert(s) been written with an s at the end…
What hes saying is that Exclusion as well as Difference invert colors from lower layers, which gives us a smoke on dark-grey effect.â€
So you could set the blending modes to either for varying but similar effects…
( )Sangram Kumar Hati August 30th
realy excelent tutorial regularly i used this site
( )liko September 5th
cool smoke…i made the effect according to the tuts step by step, but the result is so bad ,i don’t why..haa
( )zakaria September 7th
nice tutorial . thanxx man
( )sahar September 15th
wow amazing!
( )Blackout September 18th
That one really nice tutorial lol..
( )Francisco September 22nd
I’ve never use illustrator in my life, and I was able to understand this.
I heard once, “You really know something when your grandmother understands your explanation”
I think my grandmother could do this.
Excellent
( )Hans September 25th
Heyy..
I just can’t get the lines to be transparent in the last step in Illustrator!!
Could somebody help me.
Thanx alot..
/Users/sandifort/Desktop/Afbeelding 2.png
( )Adobe photoshop tutorials September 26th
great tutorial, thanks for sharing this awesome tutorial
( )Trabajo Freelance September 28th
I have been wondering for years how this kind of effect was done. Thank you really.
( )honour chick October 3rd
great tut…
( )Get-A-Grip! October 4th
That’s not the smoke effect I’m looking 4! 2 all yo crazy digital artists here’s a link to a place 4 the real looking smoke effects try it! http://www.bluesfear.com/submittuts/ps/1/
( )Calvin October 7th
That was an awsome tut! I personally am a novice at illustrator an your better than average with PS, but man you brought some things (quite a few) home for me that I have been trying to learn. Thank you very much for sharing and taking the time to put out a well explained tutorial. I am not a graphics artist but this tut help me explore and feel like one, Thanks again.
( )r4ge October 7th
great tut easy for me but for beginners i think it might be a bit hard.
( )KTWizard October 10th
This is awesome man.
( )I’m new to photoshop, so this really helps me out.
Antoine October 21st
Hey cool!
Thanks! Check out how you got me inspired
“http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SM4cTL07RQI/SPydi8NJxkI/AAAAAAAAAc4/IKDuNSnPQg0/s1600-h/smokeweb.jpg”
Very nice, thanks!
( )Mohan October 23rd
Excellent
( )swapnil October 24th
This effect is very nice…
( )i learn a lot from this tutorial
thanks a lot man!!
Oba October 26th
Cool effect, cool tutorial.
( )almighty November 7th
one word…
INSANE………
( )suvan adhikary December 3rd
i have more quastions, but now i want to know how will i apply real water effect and lighting effect please give suggetion as soon as possible
if is it solve that then i thankfull to you.
( )i will wait for your cooments
Abdullah Alhourani December 8th
thanks
( )Konrad December 13th
Very good! Thanks!
( )MikeM December 19th
Thank you this was a simple awesome tutorial. Helped me so much with my latest project for the web design studio i work for.
( )Niko January 9th
when i follow the tutorial i don’t end up with the same nice result as you. It is noticable in step 6. My shapes don’t get the same vivid blue as yours, mine are more pale and lifeless. What gives?
Appreciate the help
( )The Scourge January 12th
i think this is great for advertising.
nice tut!
( )gopi m January 13th
very nice
( )Guto January 19th
Muito bom, parabéns
( )giony January 24th
hi people:)
( )i think that the result of this tutorial is great ..but i am …hmm..how can i say…a little noob:D …and i don’t know how to make that shapes in Photoshop ..(step1 and 2 ).. and…if
someone could explain me in a few lines how..or when i can find a tutorial to explain me this…i would be verry greatfull ^_^ …THX
giony January 24th
…where…not when…:D
( )Martin January 27th
I basically copied what one guy said and pasted it:
“I’m a bit confused – I followed your tut step by step, and I keep getting a very different result. Is this because I’m using AICS3? Because the problems start at the blending – there’s no “line” created once I blend, and all blending does [even with the options] is make a gradient between the lines [they do cross].”
I’ve got the same problem.
Would anybody help me, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
smayus@hotmail.com
Cheers everybody
( )Duane February 3rd
I dont know what I am missing but it seems to me this is a great tutorial that teaches you a little about two complimenting software applications. Its a really cool effect. Keep doing your thing bra… great stuff, I tweaked it a bit and got great results too thanks for the wicked concept. One Love.
( )andy February 15th
this is freakin sweet..tnx dude..
( )Hass February 18th
you can do most of the stuff here without using photoshop… just keepin’ it real all within Illy ^_^
( )Gunner February 18th
Excellent
( )Hani February 24th
Hi,
( )thnx for the amazing effect, I do all of the steps, but on step 8 I couldn’t Fad it!!!! the option was inactive!!!! so I know that I did some thing wrong so, plz can u guide me?!!
Nathalie March 1st
great tuto
( )you can see my realisation on http://nenuphare24.blogspot.com/
c u
Michael March 2nd
I have to say; i’ve done this tutorial two times now, with the same crap outcome. When I made personal changes to your direction, I came a bit closer to your end result, but there must be so many things wrong with this guide.
First of all, you ask us to blur the layers right away. That ensures that nothing looks crisp like yours from there on out. Then there is all the confusion about layer effects. The mix of effects does not provide the effect you have pictured. The blue glow does not work perfectly with the effect you mention. When we get to the point of inverting all the layers, my orange smoke is barely visible/incredibly dark. At this point, I give up. Just about every step has a faulty explanation in it it seems.
The illustrator part was fine though.
( )koly design March 4th
Wonderful what ever happen. I like to see this typr of tuto
( )George Dogkas March 15th
Fantastic! I was searching for that…at least this smoke has a body structure, not like the others in photoshop that are plain /polygonal lasso tool/distort-wave/faint/dodge highlights…
I was searching for this exactly tutorial. 100% for my work.
Had to post this after i read most of the comments…
Kind regards
( )George Dogkas
Radel March 15th
Great tutorial!!!!
Some people didn´t like it because they were expecting a real smoke effect, but the only thing wrong I see here is the name of the tutorial.
I always wonder how to achieve this effect, so thanks!!!
( )dan March 17th
I agree with radel. I thought this looked really great. I would think we all know it doesn’t look exactly like real smoke – its a moody whispy vector graphic. to be honest i think smoke sums it up pretty well – you have to call it something!
( )okinawa japan March 18th
AWESOME!!
( )suresh NADAR April 5th
nice one
( )kam April 5th
would have been easier to follow if you continued the steps as in the begining, towards the end you just wrote what to do, haven’t managed to get it looking the same, im baffled
( )DanM April 25th
This is wicked, found this when I was looking for a light blur effect. Wanted to create something like the old apple wallpapers, works a treat – great stuff, cheers
( )Jeremy April 25th
I really like this effect, unfortunately like your last tutorial, you are missing some steps. Its frustrating to follow along on a tutorial spending x amount of time following it just to discover you cannot complete it.
( )sheen wells April 26th
your really close to perfecting a realistic smoke a simulation believe it or not i had the same idea in mind ,nice job ,but try making the smart object pixel and g-blur one and liquidfy the other than merge or place it on a black background overall great tut
( )Rajeev Thomas May 9th
I really like this tutorial now, after playing with it for sometime
. This tutorial is not written for complete beginners like me. But I played with it for hours and finally figured it out. I think if a person closely follow the tutorial and .psd file with it, then we will get the result. I have to say that this tutorial taught me a lot about Illustrator, when I started playing with the tutorial that was the first time ever I have used AI, now I can say that I am pretty familiar with the tools 
Thank you Fabio… regards, Rajeev.
( )Ashely Adams : Sticker Printing May 20th
Well, though I wouldn’t call it really ’stunning’, this is a nice tutorial. The effect can be applied to great effect elsewhere. Thanks for sharing.
( )Prachi May 22nd
Excellent Tutorial
( )Tim May 23rd
Really cool effect, great work and thanks for sharing the tutorial.
( )Digisapien June 21st
DIGISAPIEN::: to Artist:::
( )Ive been wondering how to do that for a very long time, ever since I saw it on ps3,…….. Thank you, however it seems as if I need illustrator lessons big time,……cuz It just aint workin for me When I cross my two lines together a peice of the previous line dissapears,………is there any prep settings we need to know about in illustrator?
ktyellow June 26th
Excellent tutorial!!!
( )Rajesh June 29th
This turial is very fantasitic
( )99designs blog July 7th
I love this effect.
( )Bhav July 29th
simply beautiful…thank you so much.
( )pol July 30th
I think it doesn’t look like smoke, does it?
( )Jeremy Shuback August 12th
You just blew my mind. Does not look like smoke at all and I do not care. Thanks.
( )Dave August 21st
Maybe I am a bit thick !?! I can’t get it to work ! I get everything up to Step 8 working sweet then it just goes a bit wrong.
I tried following this through the psd that was supplied and it seems there are more layers than I end up with.
Have made three separate attempts to get this to work with no luck. Love the effect but can’t follow the tut.
Sorry.
( )Zainudheen August 24th
Nice ,very good design.
( )Clippingimages September 1st
Dint listen to all the wringers … This is an amazing post. Thanks for sharing
( )SEO Nottingham September 2nd
Great post and I found it was really easy to follow (I’m using CS3), I may use my own smoke design for my website backgrounds.
( )IsraJ September 4th
Thanks and friendship from Madagascar
( )musc September 4th
love this tut very very much
( )Xidalos October 13th
Man, the outcome looks really great, that’s why I want to know how this stuff is working, but I stuck at the pen tool (every time I paint a line like you showed, it creates a whole path and the one line covers the other). Please help :S
( )matthew October 18th
would be very grateful, if I could get books on how to use
1. photoshop cs3
2. corel draw 12
3. adobe illustrator cs3
can not buy books on these because I’m broke. a little help will be honestly appreciated.
Matthew
( )Nigeria.
Donald October 20th
I always saw some of these around, but I never knew how to do it. Now I do! Thanks!
( )Andhrus October 21st
Cool tutorial!! very nice effect! i gonna try to follow!
( )Ibrahim November 4th
This more Beatiful
( )Very Excellent
Thank you