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Last week I was working on a project where I needed to create a sort of lightning effect like that Tesla Coil. I spent a couple of hours in Photoshop playing around with some filters to create the effect. So In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a Magic Crystal Ball with some nice light effects and textures happening.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our Psdtuts+ Plus membership. Also, I’ve got some tutorials I’m working on that aren’t about lighting effects that you’ll see soon.
Step 1
Create a new document, I used 1900px by 1200px. Fill the background layer with black. Then with the Ellipse Tool (U) create a circle. You can fill it with a dark gray, but the color won’t matter because we will apply a Layer Style to this object shortly.
Step 2
To add the Layer Style, go to Layer > Layer Style. First, select Inner Glow and use: white for the color, Color Dodge for the Blend Mode, and 70% for the opacity.
The second Layer Style will be Gradient Overlay, use Linear for the Style, and keep Normal for the Blend Mode. Now the colors will be #12232c and #313444. The last Layer Style will be Stroke, which should be set: 2px for the Size, 60% for the Opacity, and for the color use #a395cf. Feel free to change the colors and test new variations.
Step 3
Create another circle using the Ellipse Tool (U). The best thing is to create a Path with the ellipse tool. Adjust the shape the way you want. Then create a selection from the Path Palette. This circle will be the top reflection on the ball.
Step 4
Create a new layer and rename it to "reflection top." Then select the Gradient Tool (G). Use white for the color on both ends. Change the opacity though, one will be 100%, while the other will be 50%. Select Radial for the Style. Then create a radial gradient, as in the image below. For the Opacity use 70% Tip: Make sure that the 100% is the center of the gradient.
Step 5
Lets create a reflection at the bottom of the sphere. To do that, create a selection from the circle layer, which is the first one we already created. Create a new layer, and rename it to "Bottom reflection."
Select the Gradient Tool (G), and use the same settings as in the previous step. This time lets set the Opacity to 100% and 0%. Now create the gradient. Also, change the Layer’s Opacity to 50%. Use the image below for reference. Tip: You can resize this layer to make it slightly smaller so you can move it 1 pixel up.
Step 6
Create a new layer, and rename it to "lights 1." Make sure you have black and white for the background and foreground colors. Then go to Filter > Render > Clouds. After, go to Filter > Sketch > Chrome. Use 3 for the Detail and 10 for the smoothness. Then rescale the layer, make it much smaller so the details will be smaller too.
Step 7
Create a marquee selection from the "ball layer," and go to Filter > Distort > Spherize. Use 100% for the Amount and Normal for the Mode. Then go to Filter > Brush Strokes > Sprayed Strokes. Use a Stroke length of 17 and Spray Radius of 7.
Step 8
Now lets add some color to the crystal ball. With the "lights 1" layer selected, go to Layer > Layer Style. Then change the Fill Opacity to 60%. After, select the Gradient Overlay, use the Violet, Green, and Orange preset for the colors. For the Gradient Style use Radial. Align the radial to the ball, so the orange will be the center of the gradient, and then go to the Violet.
Step 9
To create the lighting effects inside the ball we will use the Difference Clouds Filter. So create a new layer, and rename it to "rays." Then go to Filter > Render > Clouds. Then go to Filter > Render > Difference Clouds.
Next we rescale the layer to the same height as the ball. You may notice that with the difference clouds filter we have created the lightning, but they are black. Also, you can define the thickness of the lightning when you scale the layer.
Step 10
To change the color of the lightning from black to white is simple, go to Image > Adjustments > Invert. However, to get the effect right you will have to change the levels as well. So go to Image > Adjustments > Levels. Use for the Input Levels 0, 1.00, and 70. Then change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge.
There are 2 more things to do here. First, we create a Layer Mask, so the lights will be only inside the ball. Then with the Eraser Tool (E), select a medium brush, a regular one, but with a hardness of 0% and 10% opacity. Then erase some parts of edges 1-4. Also, you can change the opacity of "Reflection Top" and "Reflection Bottom," so they will be more visible.
Step 11
To create more Rays, you can either duplicate the layer or repeat steps Steps 9 and 10. I duplicated it, but the best thing to do is to repeat the previous steps. Also, you can apply the Spherize Filter. Tip: Change the Opacity of the layers to give more depth to the effect.
Step 12
Here, we will create a layer to adjust the colors. We need to make the ball a bit darker. So just add a new layer, and create a marquee selection of the original ball. After, fill it with Black.
Add a Layer Style. Change the Fill Opacity to 0% and select Gradient Overlay. Use Multiply for the Blend Mode, 90% Opacity, and set it to Linear. For the colors use Black and a dark gray. Tip: This layer will be beneath the other light layers.
Step 13
Lets create a nice texture in the ball. Create a new layer on top of the others, but beneath the "Reflection Bottom and Top layers." Rename it to "texture."
Now go Filter > Render > Clouds. Then resize the layer, and make it a bit bigger than the ball. Finally, go to Filter > Distort >Wave. For the Number of Generators use 5, the Wavelength use Min. 10 Max 320, Amplitude Min 5 Max 35, and the rest keep the same.
Step 14
Go to Filter > Brush Strokes > Spatter. Use a Spray Radius 15 and Smoothness 2. Next we create a marquee selection from the "ball" layer, and go to Filter > Distort > Spherize again. Use 100% for the amount.
Step 15
Let’s adjust the layer next. Change the Blend Mode to Screen, the opacity to 50%, and the fill opacity to 50% as well. If you don’t want to show the texture that much, just reduce the opacity.
Step 16
Select the Ellipse Tool (U). Then click on Shape Layers. This will create a layer in the shape of the foreground color. Now create an ellipse, as in the image below. After, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Then use 90 pixels for the Radius. This layer will be the spot of light for the ball.
Tip: This layer has to be beneath all the other layers, even the "ball" layer.
Step 17
Now lets create another ellipse, as we did in the previous step. This time let’s use black. Also, instead of creating a light spot, let’s create a shadow.
Step 18
Next we add a glow light at the top of the ball. Again, repeat step 16, but for the Gaussian Blur use Radius of 70 pixels. Notice that this layer will be on top of the others.
Step 19
Let’s adjust the colors. Create a Gradient Fill layer. To do that, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient. For the colors use #223158 and #b8641c. For the style use Radial, and set the angle 115º. After, change the Blend Mode to Overlay.
Tip: You can position the gradient by clicking and holding the mouse button. Also, move the mouse while the Gradient Fill dialog box window is open.
Step 20
Create a new layer on top of the others. Then fill it with black, and go to Filter > Render > Lens Flare. Use 60% Brightness and 50-300mm Zoom.
Adjust the levels of this layer. Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels. Then change the Input Levels to 7, 1, and 210. Now change the Blend Mode to Screen, and rescale the layer, use the image below as a reference.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we learned a light effect that is created by using the clouds and difference clouds filter. You can add more layers to create different effects inside the ball, or duplicate some layers to create more reflections, like the Caustic effect I created on the final image.
You could use the Spherize filter. Also, you can change the Gradient Overlay colors in one layer only, and change the other colors separately, thereby creating a totally new effect. It’s all about playing now; Have fun!
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Nice Result, I like the way of using fliters. thanks
Lower light on the orb looks unreal. It’s physically impossible to have such as light on orb near the shadow.
Not bad, although it would look alot better if you had the galaxy inside of the orb with a few stars etc and take out the lightning
Hi I am new to this website. Awesome tut~! Looking for your next tut thanks
WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW
very Nice.
It amazes me what can be accomplished from using the built in filters in Photoshop!
Great result.
Absolutely fantastic tut. Gotta love this site and all the extremely cool tips and tricks.
Cheers!
Photoshop is such an amazing tool!
Tons of my options are greyed out but I’m in rgb mode…I can’t color dodge or screen or most things to any layer. ANyone have any ideas?
I love this site, but I’ve got to say that this tutorial left quite a few little things out. I couldn’t get the color to shine through when I got the lightning (it was just white). I think that for some cool filters and lighting effects, a little help in the communications department could have turned this decent tutorial into something really worth while.
oh! this is awsome!!
thankx fabio..
Looks awesome! can’t wait to try that! :)
Beautiful ****
so cool, I like it!
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Nice result, very badly written. Got a headache from this, I’m stuck on step 3.
Very frustrating.
awesome tutorial!! i love it!!
Incredibly frustrating, yet again.
The outcome looks great, but it’s impossible to follow!
I tried this tut using CS3 and it looks like the author skipped quite a bit.
Excellent tutorial! A++ – the details are amazing. this is gonna take tons of hours for me to perfect. kudos!
this is just what i was looking for. thanks for the tut!
That is very good.I enjoy!
Awesome tutorial,,, Keep it up
Nice one
please spend more time refining your steps and explanation of your procedure. i got a quarter of the way into this and realized that what i was reading made no sense. then comparing my image to the current image in the tutorial i ended up calling the whole thing a lost cause.
several of your steps are out of order and some are missing small details. you need to work on your execution of tutorial writing.
This is an awesome tut. just like most from this site!
but like many many people are saying there seems to be some stuff missing…
on step 8 I can’t seem to get the top layer to look as soft as this one… mine look WAY harsher
Not to shabby,…. Perfect perfect
~Sandra Rangel
BTE Photography
http://www.myspce.com/behindtheeyephotography
By step 3, mine looks significantly different. I went through step 4 before deciding that it’s not me — it’s the tutorial. You have to be missing some vital steps here…
I agree with jason and dranixolf….i got half way through it and it doesnt look good at all its like you’re holdin out on some important steps maybe blending modes..ill try to make this good but i would like to finish this tutorial successfully
Super-Very-mega-Combo nice tutorial!
you got to spet 3, I cant get past step 1 to step 2, add layer style is greyed out for me and I hate to give up so soon!
This is a nice effect, but the tutorial was difficult to follow. There were several notes about opacity (the cloud layers in particular, but others as well) that were left out, as well as notes about layer order and other things I’m probably missing. It took a lot of playing around to get my image to look anything like the final image. This tutorial ought to be rewritten to include all the necessary steps for the final image. That would include the steps to create the caustic reflections shown in the preview image, since “duplicate some layers” is not a step.
I’ve never been unhappy with a tutorial on this site before, so I’m rather disappointed with this one.
Hi, looks like an awesome tut, but on steps 3 & 4, your circle looks almost black, yet in step 2, you said to apply a gradient overlay to it, it looks like your telling us to do that, but you’ve not done it yourself, =S
Also, you need to give screen shots of the layers and stuff more, there isn’t one screen shot of the layers in this tut, Would really appreciate it if this was re-written with a lot more detail and info.
1 of the worst tuts i have read :o(((
if your gonna do something dude …do it correct or dont it at all
peace John
things are cool until step 6 ..after that …you must have left out some details out
peace John
Ok I don’t mean to rain on any one’s parade but I can’t follow this tutorial at all.
But I could just me but I thought tutorials are supposed to help the new guys to Photoshop (me) learn how to use the different effects in Photoshop.
On the lighter side it’s a really cool Globe. :)
Rewrite it please.
looked amazing, I got up to step 8 before i got really confused. If you can make this again explaining all the steps and send me an email mabye? or call it a v2 or whatever. like right at step 8 the photo you took shows the clud and stuff gone, the opacity is also very light (like 5% or something :S) its a shame I couldnt finish this :(
Well, I do appreciate the effort, but like many have said..
It would be nice if you could refine this tut: add more detail explaining how you used each tool on a specific layer, screenshot your layers palette showing your organization (cause thats what’s lacking)… don’t overlook what seems remedial and simple to you, most likely there’s someone out there scratching there head or pulling out their hair (like me) cause they’re confused and can’t get passed step 2.
I’m a newbie and I thought this would be a cool tut to practice, but its kinda complicated- due to lack of organization. But I don’t want to give up just yet.. so please refine.
thanks anyway :)
Wow.
Noob level…
It’s one thing to be a great artist, but quite another to be a competent tutor. Practice on that before turning out tutorials. Please — for I feel that you have much to give.
awesome, thanks
From step 9 to 10, it skips the part on HOW to actually make the lightning in it….
Anyways Nice tutorial, if only I could get further…
awesome tutorial dude…but how to create the caustic reflection shown in the final image?
The end result is gorgeous, but the tutorial is very badly written. I got to step 4, and couldn’t get any farther. There are some steps left out – my image looked very different from the one above after I applied the layer styles. Also, there should be more step-by-step explanations for those of us who are new at Photoshop.
Very disappointed in this tutorial!!
This tutorial has many VERY IMPORTANT INCOMPLETE DETAILS
Ex. At the step 8 It wasn’t stated about the its blend mode, I just saw on the picture what was the blend mode of it’s layer style.
A TUTORIAL MUST HAVE COMPLETE DETAILS!!
This tutorial is really incomplete. You leave out too many details. If one follows your instructions to the letter, by Step #6 they will be way off course. It’s not worth joining this site if your training is so incomplete.
Could somebody please explain the missing steps in this tutorial? I’m pretty new to Photoshop, and I found this tutorial very difficult to follow.
I just don’t understand how you can get it to look that cool. The way you use the light is amazing! Fabio is the man
i’m from Mongolia. I’m photoshop master ,