Learn to apply the Warp Tool effectively and a few other tricks to make smoke look like a skull. This technique has a variety of outcomes and works well with water, clouds and a whole bunch of other stuff. This is probably more for intermediate users, as I guide you through the process well, but not every Warp Grid point handle move. Let's get started!
Final Image Preview
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Video Tutorial
Our video editor Gavin Steele has created this video tutorial to compliment this text + image tutorial.
Image Assets
- Smoker - from my personal collection
- Skull - thanks to Martin Land for that
- Smoke 1, Smoke 2, Smoke 3, and Smoke 4
Step 1
Open up Smoker image. It should look like this. That's me in the photo so please keep the abuse down to a minimum. I'll refer to this as the working document from this point on.

Step 2
Open the Skull image and draw a path around it using the Pen Tool (set to Paths not Shape Layers). Roughly clone out unwanted elements such as the nuts and bolts using the Clone Stamp Tool (with a soft edged brush).
Make a selection from your Path (Command-click the Path icon on the Paths palette) and copy and paste it into the working document. Flip it horizontally (Edit >Transform > Flip Horizontal) and then use the Free Transform Tool (Command + T) to rotate and resize it. You can flip it during this stage instead by entering -100% into the horizontal scale and then using the corner points to resize.



Step 3
Open the Smoke 1 image, then clone out the cigarette using the Clone Stamp Tool (with a soft edged brush). Then use the Polygonal Lasso tool to loosely draw a selection around the smoke, taking in some of the background as well. Copy and paste it into the working document and call the layer "CIG_SMOKE."

Step 4
Change the "CIG_SMOKE" Layer Blending Mode to Screen. You may now see some hard edges around the smoke, this is caused by the background not being true black, so select the Burn tool and burn. Then adjust the levels and finally Resize and rotate using the Free Transform Tool. See screenshots for the settings if you need them.




Step 5
Next we're going to treat the skull. Adjust the Levels (Image > Adjustments > Levels) as shown. Then select the Clone Stamp Tool (with a soft edged brush) and clone out the area of shadow in the eye-socket to the right-hand side.
Don't worry about being too accurate, it should take you a minute. Then desaturate the Skull (Image > Adjustments > Desaturate) and apply a Glowing Edges filter (Filter > Stylize > Glowing Edges) as shown.



Step 6
Select "CIG_SMOKE" and use the Burn tool (set to Midtones at an exposure of 37%) to soften the edge that meets the skull. I find it's best to stamp the tool rather than drag it around when affecting areas that you don't want to treat too brutally.

Step 7
Open the Smoke 2 image. Invert the image (Image > Adjustments > Invert) so the smoke is white and the background is black. Then copy and paste it into the working document, and name the layer "SMOKE."
Select the Dodge Tool (set it to highlights with an exposure of 18%) and run it up the right-hand side a few times. Change the layer blending mode to Screen. Finally copy the Layer (Layer > Duplicate layer).



Step 8
Use the Free Transform Tool to resize, but don't commit the changes. Instead go to Edit > Transform > Warp and adjust the Warp grid as shown below. You need to do it this way so that the Warp grid fits your graphic as you've resized and rotated it. You can manipulate the handles, the grid points and drag anywhere within each grid square. Now Burn to blend any hard-edges of the smoke.
We want to enhance the features of the skull so, still using the Burn Tool, use a soft edged brush to stamp on the eye area, but then ramp the brush hardness up to around 70%. Duplicate the "SMOKE copy," then use the Free Transform Tool to resize and rotate it to fit the jaw of the skull. Before you commit the Transform, go to Edit > Transform > Warp to bring up the warp grid, then manipulate as shown below.





Step 9
Continue layering up duplicates of the "SMOKE" layer to fit the contours of the skull. Blend out hard edges using the Burn Tool. Mix up the exposure using Shadows, Midtones and Highlights accordingly. This is trial and error so don't be afraid to use your History palette (Window > History) to jump back to an earlier point. Place some smoke over where "CIG_SMOKE" (the first smoke layer you created) meets the "SKULL" layer to create a more natural blend.



Step 10
Continue building up layers of smoke using copies of the original "SMOKE" layer. You can be fairly loose with the smoke outline, it will look more natural if it isn't perfect.
Use duplicates of layers that you've already warped and blended to fill in areas of similar detail, such as the eye sockets, or any curves around the skull. Turn the "SKULL" layer visibility off by clicking the eye icon next to the layer on the layers palette. This will allow you to see the build-up of you smoke layers.



Step 11
Now that the skull is beginning to take shape, we can add other patterns of smoke to it. Get the Smoke 3 image and open it. Desaturate, copy and paste it into your working document. Call the new layer "NEW_SMOKE."
Change the layer blending mode to Screen and then use the Free Transform Tool to rotate and resize so it fits at the left-hand side of the skull. Don't apply the changes, but go to Edit > Transform > Warp as before, and manipulate the grid to create a funnel-like shape from the smoke. The smoke would begin to disperse as it floats up so try and recreate this by breaking the outline of the skull. Again, blend any hard-edges out by using the Burn Tool.



Step 12
Now the skull is ready for some lighter, wispier areas of smoke, which should add realism to it. Download the Smoke 4 image and open it up. Have your working document window open to the side and identify which parts of the image can be used and where.
Select a portion of the smoke with the Polygonal Lasso Tool, then copy and paste it into the working document. Call this new layer "WISPY_SMOKE." Remember to desaturate the layer and change it's blending mode to Screen. Then Free transform, Warp and Burn as you did before.




Step 13
Keep building the skull shape using duplicates of the same smoke assets we've been using up until now. Don't forget to use all the tools we've been using along the way: Burn any hard edges or any patches of detail you wish to get rid of. Flip, rotate and resize areas of smoke. Use the layer opacity to create thinner smoke as it disperses. It should be looking roughly like the image below by this point.

Step 14
To make the next couple of steps easier it's best to flatten all your smoke layers (select them all in the layers palette and go to Layer > Merge Layers). Once that's done, you'll need to change the layer blend mode back to Screen. Use the Burn Tool to burn out areas in which the skull has features.
Switch the Burn Tool's exposure between Shadows, Midtones and Highlights as needed. Try not to over burn any area, as this will damage the pixels. I find the best way to avoid this is to stamp the tool down, rather than dragging the cursor. Turn the "SKULL" layer on for reference if needed.

Step 15
Hide all your smoke layers and select the "SKULL" layer. You should have a white keyline around the skull, which is a by-product of running the Glowing Edges Filter. Use the Eraser Tool to remove this. A fairly small brush with a 0% Hardness and 100% Opacity and flow would be best.
Turn any smoke layers visibility back on, select the "SKULL" layer and apply Levels (Image > Adjustments > Levels) as shown. This should add detail to the features of the skull.


Step 16
Now we need to better blend in the features. Using the same smoke assets (I used Smoke 2 and Smoke 3) and the same techniques, position smaller bits of smoke over key areas of detail. See how the smoke seems to come off of the teeth and nose, this will really fuse the details with the smoke.




Step 17
Select the "Background" layer (should be the smoker), then go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves and set up as shown. Select the Adjustment Layers Layer Mask then go to Select > All and fill it with black. Select the Paintbrush Tool and set it up as shown, then start painting white onto the layer mask to reveal parts of the Curves Adjustment Layer effects.
Use a smaller brush to get smaller areas of detail such as the eyes and any highlights on the skin. Keep painting over areas until you improve the lighting and contrast. If you paint too much then scale back the Layers Opacity.



Step 18
Create a Levels Adjustment Layer above the Curves one and set up as shown.

Step 19
Select the uppermost layer on your layers palette (should be the merged "SMOKE" layers) and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient map (this is optional, add whichever color scheme you see fit, or leave it natural). Edit the gradient so you have color #003949 (if you click the colored rectangle marked Color within the gradient editor window then the color options will appear.
The number field is where you input the values affecting the dark pixels and color #fdfea3 affecting the lighter pixels. Change the Layer Blending mode to Color. Finally, set up a paintbrush as shown and paint on the Layer Mask to reveal some of the natural skin tones underneath. A couple of passes should do it.


Conclusion
Et Voila! I've added a bit of post to the final image, a vignette, High Pass filter and some other tricks I usually do to finish an image (PLUS users check "SMOKE_LAYERED_POST.PSD").
It's worth mentioning that I duplicated the "SKULL" layer and deleted all but the teeth area, as I didn't think it was strong enough. I also tweaked the Adjustment Layers Opacities until completely satisfied in attempt to soften the noisy source photograph, which I must apologize for. You may want to take your own photos anyway.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Youssef August 17th
Cooool!!!
( )RoaldA August 17th
FIRST!
Nice tut! ^^
( )unadventurer August 17th
shut up.
( )Diego SA August 18th
LOL!!!!
Djierod August 18th
Epic fail
( )ph August 18th
Epic fail [2]
( )steini August 19th
Epic failin spree
( )Aerodynamic August 20th
Consecutive fail.
Johnson Koh August 17th
I love this. Very detailed.
( )Joe August 17th
This is dope!
( )vectorss August 17th
amazing very nice tut James Thanks.
( )Aysar August 17th
About time, an impressive tutorial is posted
( )Fharos August 17th
Coool !! Thanks
( )Kim Dolleris August 17th
Really nice! Thanks for sharing!
( )Ross August 17th
Nice tutorial
…kind of looks like a copy of this tutorial tho: http://aviary.com/images_orig/blog/tutorials/smoke.htm
( )ASJ August 17th
Yeah, it looks like a similar concept. I like this outcome better though.
Nice looking tutorial and very detailed.
( )Melody August 17th
Not really. They both use smoke and the burn tool, but the similarities really end there.
( )jv August 17th
Agreed. The process is completely different, and that’s what counts in regards to a tutorial. Great work!
josh August 17th
I could see using a combination of both.
( )Kirk August 18th
I dont understand how anyone can see only basic similarities between tutorials. While it is a very impressive tutorial, well executed with a better outcome than the original the fact remains that this tutorial plagiarizes the original.
There’s more to a design than the process, this work uses the same composition, idea, and effect.
Poor show.
( )Dizz August 19th
I agree with Kirk here, This tutorial looks exactly the same concept as the other one. Concepts are always created using inspiration from other sources. So this is plagiarizing.
James Davies August 21st
I’ve never seen the other tutorial or final piece. I’m guilty of one thing, not scouring the internet for what else is out there before I sit down and write a tutorial. However, I do think it’s acceptable to expand on an idea if the original attempt is poorly executed. Plagiarism is a fairly serious accusation within journalism and I’d like it be known that had I been aware of the existing tutorial, I would’ve cited it as the inspiration.
And Kirk, there is more to a design than the process, but less so when the ultimate aim is to showcase specific processes and techniques, which having now read the other tutorial is lacking.
And Dizz, it’s only plagiarizing when you specifcally imitate the language and ideas of another whilst passing it off as your own, which didn’t happen here.
Jeremy August 17th
Very details tutorial, awesome result! I love the colors on the gradient map too…
( )Corey August 17th
Very nice tut!
( )vasu August 17th
like this…..
( )Diesel Laws August 17th
Loved it. Really awesome tut, very interesting, easy to follow and the techniques can be used on so many other things. THANK YOU!
( )TwenStudio August 17th
Thanks man , nice Tutorial
( )Alvaro August 17th
Like it! good analogy
( )larusso August 17th
Really excellent stuff. Great techniques and a beautiful, professional end product.
( )This brings a tear to my leg.
Dizz August 19th
your leg?
( )The Cucu Bau August 22nd
omg, make a tut with your cryin` leg =))
zomglolstfu xD September 24th
Emo Leg With Cuts xD
flips September 27th
great tutorial, it inspired me to do this ( the second one)
( )http://flipsgraphics.blogspot.com/2009/09/smmmokey.html
G October 6th
love the angry bear – sick!
James Davies October 27th
Yeah the bear is quality
salmanlp August 17th
Man! this is what i want
( )Tebe August 17th
Thank you very much for this tutorial, it’s well explained and the outcome is great! I’ve been actually wanting to see a tutorial like this for a while
P
( )Max Stanworth August 17th
Now thats a great concept
( )Sam August 17th
nice stuff, very versatile tutorial
( )Liz August 17th
Wow awesome tutorial!! Will be doing this one tonight for sure… thanks!
( )BroOf August 17th
Super detailed! The outcome looks so real! Nice tutorial!
( )Shlomit August 17th
looks gr8!
( )I hope a lots of people stop smoke now
g3niuz August 17th
great tutorial..
( )looks so smoooth
nikhil August 17th
cool!
( )Ahmad Elabbar August 17th
Amazing … its been a while since we’ve had such u useful tut with a cool outcome .
( )Vasili August 17th
Amazing. The gradient at the end makes it amazing.
( )dk August 17th
god…you are so hot :$
( )Tungston August 17th
Very nice tutorial.
( )Final image link is broken however.
Nahid August 17th
Amazing outcome.. Lovely tutorial. Gonna make similar one soon… with better detail
( )Felix August 17th
finally there’s a nice tut on psdtuts again
may try this one.
( )good job!
cheers, felix
Melody August 17th
Very cool..very nice, clean result..
( )Toniccio August 17th
Well done, cool smoke effects with impressive result, thx for share
Toniccio
( )TomH August 17th
The best tutorial in a very very long time.
I love this – my first bookmarked tutorial from this website.
Thank you very much for your time. Good to hear the voice of a fellow Brit on the web.
Regards,
( )Tom
Symon August 17th
Man thats good. Inspirational. Thx.
( )RCKY August 17th
Reminds me of the one with fire … like it too.
( )ZaFaR August 17th
Really Amazing!
( )Niyi August 17th
Your Message… Dude, seriously, this sick, u culd use it for an ad campaign. nice technique
( )Daniel Whyte August 17th
I think it would make more sence if he was blowing out the smoke, becuase more would be coming out, but it looks exelent nonetheless. \
Great Tutorial
( )hitesh August 18th
good tut but technically speaking the small cigarette doesn’t create this much of smoke the it will be better to put a cigar in place of cigarette
( )5ivedance August 18th
fire or water may be used in the same way
( )georgette August 18th
TOTALLY AWESOME!! yay!
( )Alyanna August 18th
BEAUTIFULLLL…..UNIQUE AND VERY WELL DONE!
( )1000 * BRAVO
Benjamin August 18th
Wow, awesome result, nice job!
( )Hassen August 18th
Great tut, I like the final result!!!
( )win August 18th
man this makes me wanna smoke some cock, i mean bud, i mean ure mum…wtf!
( )Oliver Web August 18th
An impressive tutorial and a great end result. Easy to follow and well explained and I will have to go and try this. Thanks for sharing this with us.
( )salmanlp August 18th
Epic tutorial
( )Alex August 18th
http://psdtuts.s3.amazonaws.com/300_Hyper_Smoke/Final_Large.jpg — Final picture have a little bit link )
( )serzz August 18th
nice tutorial,
I have created similar manipulation about 1 year ago.
http://www.design062.com/datoteke/slike/wallpapers/nina_smoke/IMG02128_1920×1200.jpg
http://www.design062.com/datoteke/slike/wallpapers/pirateship/piratska_dimna_1920×11200.jpg
( )amrit virk August 20th
i watch ur work …it’s really awesome
( )serzz August 23rd
Thx for you comment
Diego SA August 18th
WOOOOW! Never though using this filter like that.
( )Awesome!
YourButik August 19th
Wowwwww…..
( )bav August 19th
Nice tutorial. The old one was too vague and didn’t have any decent source pics.
( )Matt August 19th
Extremely nice.
( )smolicek04 August 19th
nice..very nice..i try it:http://smolicek04.deviantart.com/art/Smoker-133956005
( )SDEE August 19th
U ROCK JAMES
( )Timothy Eberly August 19th
Here is a photograph I took without the manipulation.
( )http://www.timothyeberly.com/uploaded-images/deathplayschess-1280_org-newsite.JPG
100% real
Cypher_psh August 22nd
wow.. i Like the shot. nice one.
( )amrit virk August 20th
awesome…… :0
( )black August 21st
Mantap banget bos..keren abis..
( )shaun lunk August 21st
( )mine….
Zijkant August 21st
really great tutorial I really like the outcome!
( )Sevenene August 21st
Man thnx for sharing you knowledge… excellent excellent tutorial, I was eating pop corn… is like a show.. really good job.
Greetings for PANAMÁ
( )SlickU August 21st
this is coool!!!!
( )tck August 22nd
Atlast, found the use for the filter Glowing edges lol !
( )tillyuk August 22nd
great tut
personally i would have prefered if the skull had slightly less of a complete outline around the jawline ( just personal preference)
( )sabiluna August 23rd
wow.. smat gak
( )grafilker August 24th
nice tutorial…
( )lekoklatik August 24th
looks very very beautifull. Great tut. keep goin
( )Rich August 25th
Is the skull in the source and the skull in the document the same one?
( )jagat August 26th
understanding of drawing rendering & common sense…that’s it. nice tut.
( )ibrahim August 26th
good tut. thank you…
( )LETHAL August 27th
KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( )Luca August 27th
10x
great work
( )Dave August 31st
Great effect, thanks
( )wien September 4th
very cool tuto
( )Jodie Gibb September 4th
this is decent as. doing a hnd in photography at college, have an image editing class and this has came in proper handy.
( )took like 2 and half hours to do this.. not really as good as yours but i am pleased with it!
ill put it on my bebo..
thanks!
eeyore September 7th
It’s really great. Thank you for this very nice tutorial.
( )Mary September 9th
Fantastic tutorial! Very thorough explanations; great video tutorial. I like it when I can apply these skills to other montages using techniques similar to the ones learned in tutorials like these. Thanks!
( )annonymousssss September 12th
wow..! THANKZ!
( )Yun September 13th
Yeah cool, that’s so WOW !
( )ehab September 16th
ooo my god you are best man i need your help how i download this video tutorial if you have can you send to me on the torrent if you have because the link in iraq not good blease i need your help
( )FAILure September 18th
This tutorial is awesome, btw.
( )Looks like lots of pixelwork for a seemless transition between smoke and skull, though
Matias Ginestet September 23rd
exelent! i’m from Argentina and i love this website…i learn a lot whit your tutorials…thanks for doing this
( )elReyMòn September 24th
Verdaderamente fantastico!
( )existingdark September 24th
My result from using this tutorial: http://existingdark.deviantart.com/art/Smoke-Skull-Tutorial-Result-138092675
Thanks for posting it. ^^
( )Splasz September 28th
Thanx 4 this tutorial. it is really usefull. I was really looking for soem smoke tutors.
( )VeNaH September 28th
Great tutorial, but for the last part (before adding more details to the skull) I used the Other -> Maximum Filter 2 pixels instead. I achieved the same level of detail; I had to improvise because my skull had thicker, whiter lines that couldn’t get covered even though I used different filters and stuff.
Cool tutorials and great website! Kudos!
( )Akjoh September 29th
really good tut my friend, but i got stuck at step 17 , didnt really understand that , anyone can explain , i use cs3 , cause i cant find what u said to do
( )James Davies October 27th
Hey man, for clarification check the screen grabs. If you look at the highlighted Layer within my Layers palette you should see what the text is referring to.
( )fk September 30th
Thank you so much! Great work, so glad I found this
( )pırlanta October 1st
that s really good job
( )Todd October 1st
Champion
Classy stuff
( )Amber October 4th
Awesome
( )robb October 4th
awesome tuts.
( )i’m gonna try another type of skull.
Calle October 17th
AWESOME tutorial, easy to follow and so on
My result from using the tutorial:
http://lindbergofc.deviantart.com/art/Smoker-and-a-skull-140610916
bye
( )ahmed Sleem October 26th
nice mate you are doing just fine. shears
( )anom November 4th
nice thanks a bunch
( )Cory November 6th
Hey, this is a GREAT tutorial! Very helpful!
I was wondering if I could use the Smoker image for a tutorial of my own? I would, of course link back to here or to whatever URL that you’d like. If you have an email, I could send you the finished photomanipulation so you know if you’d like it up on the internet.
Please get back to me!
Cory
coxc400@hsd.k12.or.us
( )cox_cory@msn.com