In this tutorial, we'll go through all the steps of creating a flaming skull in Photoshop. We'll be using some images we shot ourself of flames, and a stock Designious vector skull to get us started. This tutorial covers some relatively simple steps and some clever photo manipulation techniques. Let's get to it!
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Step 1
For this tutorial, I used Photoshop CS3, a skull from Designious.com (you could choose to use a free skull though, such as Skull Vector Pack 1) and some hi-res flames images. The high-res image files are available to Psd Plus members in the download pack. Though non-members are certainly welcome to shoot your own flame photos or find some stock to use here, so you can follow along.
To get things started, create a new document 210mm by 290mm with a 100% black background.
Step 2
Copy (Command + C) and paste (Command + V) the vector from Illustrator to Photoshop as pixels.
Step 3
On a new layer create an ellipse filled with dark red (#4c0400) that surrounds the skull. Next, apply a Gaussian Blur of 250px (maximum value), and place that layer under the skull.
Step 4
Let's prepare the skull for the flames. Select the white color from the skull. (Select > Color Range) and fill it with an orange-yellow color(#f9ae31), except the teeth and mandible that will be filled with light red (#e82b19).
Step 5
Select the red area using Select > Color Range and then contract using Select > Contract > with 4 px, then and Delete.
Step 6
Select the yellow color. Next use a Brush with Toll on 250-300 px, Hardness of 0, Opacity at 10-15%, red for the color (d02207), and gradually color from the interior towards the exterior, until you get a skull with a bit of glow.
Step 7
Lets try to add some volume to the skull. Use the Eraser Tool with a diameter of 200px, Hardness of 0, and Opacity of 70%, and erase some of the red. Here we establish the lighter and darker parts of the skull so we can see some volume.
Step 8
Now double the Skull layer. Select the skull closest to the background and apply a Gaussian Blur of 8-10 px to create a glow.
Select the area under the nose including the teeth. Now grab a 80px Brush with a color of red (#d02207). Brush color on the right and left sides creating a soft gradient that ads depth to the lower part of the skull.
Step 9
Now that we have a hot skull on our screen, let's start the fire! Open the files with the flames and prepare each of them to be used on our image as follows:
A. Open the flames files.
B. Go to Select > Color Range, and select the darker area of the background. Next, Invert the selection (Command + Shift + I).
C. Go to Select > Modify > Feather, and set to about 20px. Then drag and drop them into our main skull document.
D. Set the blend modes to Screen or Lighten.
E. For the flames that will have other flames on top of them, we'll need to adjust the color Balance. You can do this by going to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance (Command + B).
Step 10
Use the Free Transform Tool (Command + T) to arrange each flame into the desired position and the desired proportions.
Step 11
Notice that the teeth area looks a bit darker than the rest of the skull so using the Brush Tool(B) and yellow (d02207) you lighten some parts of the teeth so they can blend better with the flames.
Step 12
Use the Smudge Tool (R) on the flames near the eyeballs to make them touch the skull so that you create a smooth transition from the skull to the flames.
Step 13
Use the Smudge Tool (R) to make the yellow parts of the skull blend with the base of the flames.
Step 14
Use the Smudge Tool again in the red areas from the shadow where you try to draw a contour going towards the dark areas.
Step 15
Use the Dodge Tool (O) to enhance the glowing effect on the edges of the skull.
Step 16
Use the Burn Tool to work on the shadow areas of the contour so you can smoothen the passes from light to dark.
Step 17
Now for the smoke. To create the smoke, use the same flame images and apply the same techniques you did in Steps 10 and 11 to them. The difference here though is that you'll need to desaturate these images to make them look like smoke. You can do this by going to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation > Desaturate (Command + U), then set it to -100 for Saturation, and -16 for Luminosity.
Step 18
Now lets apply a 2px Blur filter on the smoke so it blends better. Do this by going to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
Conclusion
Now the sparks! Using a Brush of 3px with 100% Hardness and 100% Opacity you start drawing the sparks. You can alter some of them using the Smudge Tool (R). And that puts the finishing touches on this image.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Flaunt April 14th
wicked!
( )MaJJ April 14th
That’s probably the only word that describes it fully
( )Philip Wallage April 14th
What he said. Quality stuff m8!
underdog April 15th
it’s cool…i will try it ..thank you buddy!!!
( )Melody April 19th
This is sick!
wauy May 14th
awesome
( )Peewee1002 April 14th
Cool result
( )jacky April 24th
that is good
( )thank you PS
Chris April 14th
noice
( )Davey Struijk April 14th
Looks awesome! =)
( )Jun April 14th
wow ~ Awesome …
thx for share!
( )Angga April 14th
Fantastic result ! thanks for sharing the tutorial.
will definitely give it a try
( )Jason April 14th
Superb…will have to give this a try!
( )Biodog April 14th
Nice tutorial
( )Timothy April 14th
pretty sick
( )kiziel April 14th
Crazy and stylish.
( )Rawm April 14th
oh my god this is mindblowingly awesome, although i think i would like it without the smoke.
( )jbcarey April 15th
Totally agree with this…. the smoke was done in one step and as such doesn’t look as good as it could.
( )myfr3ak April 14th
Nice! I Like it! So simple & Easy to Follow!
( )Violence April 14th
Tnks! Greate one!
( )Ryan O. Hicks April 14th
Awesome.
( )Christian Tobler April 14th
Now this is cool, great work!
( )David April 14th
Very rad. Way easier than I thought it would be great tut!
( )Alan Valek April 14th
That’s sick.
( )mino April 14th
I say wow..great work!!
( )bojoy April 14th
That is so cool and hot…
( )Colin April 14th
Fantastic. A very well done “back to basics” sort of tut.
( )Franky April 14th
Sick technique!
( )RUGRLN April 14th
Sry for my lg, but this is BLOODY AMAZING! DARN RIGHT COOLEST TUTORIAL I’VE SEEN ON PSDTUTS EVER!!
( )Nikhil - Powerusers April 14th
Yeh, Ghost Rider….
( )John Deszell April 14th
That is pretty friggin sweet!
( )massafakka April 14th
lol this is some nice effect!”
( )im gonna try this for sure! wixer!
lawrence77 April 14th
wow!
Simple and nice technique!
Going to try soon!
Thanks mate!
( )Roxanne April 14th
Thats awesome. I’ve seen this effect around, but I didn’t know how to do it. Thanks for the great tutorial
( )mr.man April 14th
thats pretty kewl
( )Saro April 14th
Very very nice, i like it better without the smoke though!
( )iconz April 14th
Fantastic stuff… so simple, brief n nice!!! 5 stars to this!!
( )Alexandre Broggio April 14th
good job
( )eatmypuss7 April 14th
wow amazing easy to follow straight forward
( )Sjoap April 14th
omfg, now THAT is just plain awesome!
( )Younes April 14th
Mighty awesome!
( )macias April 14th
awesome ghost rider !
( )Aey Web April 14th
l must try this
( )Irving April 14th
thats be-awesome.
( )Empire Grafxs April 14th
krazy
( )Josh April 14th
dude thats bad ass
( )Johnson Koh April 14th
Two thumbs up! Simple steps for amazing results!
( )you April 14th
awesome and gruesome!
great technique i liked it
( )Labeed Assidmi April 15th
It’s easy, simple, and quick. When I first saw the finished artwork I thought this will be one of those long tuts. but I guessed wrong and you made my day. Thanks
( )Magnus April 15th
One thing that never goes out fashion. Ritual burning of skulls ‘n’ bones.
( )flee April 21st
agreed
( )imsraaia April 15th
simply awesome…
( )Maurizio Liberato April 15th
Really cool! well done!
( )CgBaran Tuts April 15th
Great Effect!! thanks
( )Zik April 15th
Thanks for sharing, really nice tutorial !
I was affraid at first, as the flaming skull concept looks really outdated,
( )but you successfully gave it a 2009′ touch, so gratz for that !
PC Performance Tips April 15th
That is awsome man. Wish I had your skills
James
( )underdog April 15th
thankyou mate..this tut. look like simple..but i tried…not simple…..
( )Isis April 15th
Simplest that I thought It could be. Nice! =)
( )ricky April 15th
that was great……. i’ll try to make that…
( )Tom H April 15th
Great effect in short steps!
Well done!
( )javiinthezone April 15th
great!
( )Collin Moore April 15th
Absolutely epic.
( )Marcio B D A April 15th
I’m not a fan of flaming skulls or things like that… but… WOW!
( )Ahmet April 15th
heey man you are crazy : )
( )Sean Smyth April 15th
Wow. I’ve yet to read the tutorial but the final piece looks stunning.
( )ompopo April 16th
Incredible, looking forward to try it
( )Ross Peart April 16th
Great tut.
( )cschack April 16th
Certainly looks better than the CGI job in “Ghost Rider”.
( )Diego SA April 16th
@megamouth – sorry. i’m trying to apologize but I think I’m being blocked here!
( )moih60 April 16th
amazing one …thanx alot for sharing with us
( )added to my blog
Kid April 16th
Top Notch, Top Notch!!
( )Spaik April 16th
just great and easy to do it.. i did it and it looks awesome
thanks man.
( )idon | saustomat April 16th
outstanding …
( )Ron April 17th
This rocks …!
( )Twen April 17th
pas mal
( )kerwin April 18th
great stuff!!!
( )chris April 18th
CAn i use any skull that is vecotrize cause its hard to find better skulls then the one you gave
( )srichakri April 18th
it’s greatest tutorials and easy to learn
( )Wood Door April 19th
so cool. amazing job
( )Godserv April 19th
Very cool tut. I must try this.
( )Jan April 20th
AMAZING!
( )Natalino April 20th
This tutorial is awesome! One of those cases when you have no clue when starting reading, and you shout “of course, it’s so easy!” while approaching the end of the article!
( )Abhishek Khare April 20th
Very nice tutorial. I like it………….
Thanx for sharing.
( )Eric Shafer April 20th
Nice easy tutorial!
Featured here: http://www.presidiacreative.com/web-picks-18/
( )Kovi April 21st
very good
( )Gyrel Dagooc April 22nd
I think the smoke gives realistic effect of a flame or something burning. Wooahh!!Its cool! and totally hot tuts! Thanks!
( )Mata April 22nd
Awesome tutorial!
( )saurabh shah April 22nd
Thumps up !
nice one …
( )Maicon April 22nd
Very good effect. And nothing better than a infernal skull. \m/
( )roter April 23rd
nice job
( )joel April 23rd
You got skils man! Important skils!
( )Gustavo April 25th
Really Really Cool!
( )gentita April 26th
Great the picture
( )Ray April 27th
Looks like a great tutorial, though I am already stuck at step 4. The skull you used is much easier to change colors on compared to the ones in the Vector pack you linked, and I just can’t seem to color the skull without catching some of the teeth as well. Maybe I’m not using the right method…?
Ah well.
( )conviuzd April 27th
Scorpion!!
I’m not good desiger but I have idea to make similar project but with blue smoke
( )My Brain Died Yesterday And I Just Noticed It 5 Minuts Ago April 28th
This is an awesome image. I really really like it. Basically, to create such things isn’t necessarily difficult, I think. It is just like an author who writes novels. There is always creativity and without it, you can know as many words as you’d like to, but there will never be a great work.
Thank you for sharing this great piece.
( )Ken April 28th
This is superb for all of my Hellacious Flaming Skull needs!
( )But seriously, thanks for the tut. Awesome.
Krzycho_666 May 1st
God damn….. This is incredible! It’s the best flame usage ever! I love your designs!
( )Zoumingcong(邹敏聪） May 5th
How can you do this?WOW!!
( )creacion paginas web May 6th
wooow… this is far away from my PS skills…
( )MuhammadAhmad May 13th
cooooooolllllll fire, nice tutorial, thank u ..
( )kangtris May 13th
the picture is very amazing
( )KaVi_BorLaNd May 13th
very nice
( )cyberfrogz May 14th
very2 nice tutorial….,keep rock….,thanks..
( )jrink May 14th
hohoho… i like it. thx.
( )mas-aripp May 14th
Great design. i never saw skull could be like this. it’s very inspiring and makes me learn more about photoshop…
( )floral May 15th
wawo amazing !!!!!!!!!!!
( )noma May 15th
Very nice done! Thanks for the sharing.
( )soff-tis May 15th
wooow, soo cooll
( )chandru May 21st
good
( )huwaw69 May 25th
as a non member i really was been recourceful on making this tutorial, i got a free image of the exact flame of this… hahaha thanks for sharing his cool tutorial
( )Rockz May 29th
Nice Yar………..!
( )Rockz May 29th
Good Job
( )lil rick June 8th
thats it.put more to your comment.cant u say it was cool
( )lil rick June 8th
yo dog that was tight hommie.i got to ”try” to make something like that or maybe the exact thing dog.you’ll see my drawing write next to yours at the art museum.lates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( )agung June 9th
it’s amazing!!!!
( )Ammar June 12th
Aweome Work Dude
( )Dooby June 14th
Very cool!
( )kangtris June 18th
wow….fantastic
( )kangtris June 18th
very nice
( )Joe June 21st
Awsome!
( )Joe June 21st
thats AWSOME!
( )igu cmyk July 4th
Wow… good tutorial
( )thanks!
albozz July 11th
wowww ist beatifull
( )Ayat July 18th
wow very cool!
( )btw, anyone have tutorial about cloud skull??
nazcar July 18th
cool tutorial..
( )Riyadi July 21st
Yeach….
( )Nice …
Riyadi July 21st
Nice
( )Good Job
oes July 22nd
great job…….
( )oes July 22nd
great job….mamen……
( )srikanth August 28th
its very hot and good.
thank u.
( )CMYK September 14th
Very nice tutorial!!! Thankss!
( )Gustavo November 14th
awesome
Can i use this skull in my blog?
( )My blog is about metallica, heavy metal and its for project in school
tks
reez November 17th
amazing…
( )megamouth April 15th
this isnt youtube. watch your language
( )Diego SA April 16th
huauhauhuha! sorry man!
( )Troll April 20th
No its just ass..
( )