Create a background in the style of cosmic glamor. How to draw space: competition finalists and step-by-step master class

In this lesson we will learn how to create space background, which can be used as wallpaper or backing for a wide variety of designs. We'll be doing a lot of brush work, using filters and layer styles. Having mastered the technique of creating this illustration, you can easily create similar backgrounds in other color variations.

Result:

Create a new document ( Ctrl+N) V Adobe Photoshop CS5 size 1920px on 1200px(in color mode RGB) and resolution in 72 pixels/inch. Tool Paint Bucket (G) fill with color #090F27 new background new layer.

Create a new layer.
Give it a parameter Fill V 0%. Double click on the layer icon in the palette Layers to indicate to him Layer style/Layer style. Select.

This is what you should get:

Create a new document ( Ctrl+N) size 1200px on 1200px (RGB) and with resolution in 72 pixels/inch.

Create a new layer and give it a layer style Gradient Overlay.

Set up the gradient as shown below.

This is what you should get:

Now we need to rasterize the resulting layer. To do this, create a new empty layer below this one and click CTRL+E to merge layers. Apply to the resulting layer Filter > Distort > Wave.

This is what you should get:

Apply Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates/Filter>Warp>Polar Coordinates.

Result:

Move the resulting rays into the first document we created. With help Free Transform/Free Transformation (Ctrl+T) stretch them across the entire canvas.

Specify parameter Fill for this layer in 9% and change to Divide.

Create a new layer and tool Paint Bucket (G) fill it with color #28828F.

Specify Fill V 50% And Blending mode - Hard Light.

In the palette Layers click on the icon Create new fill or adjustment layer(it's at the bottom of the palette). Select type Curves and configure them as shown below.

Result:

Create a new layer and brush Soft Round big size create a spot of color in the center of the document #FF00CB.

Refer to the picture below:

Specify Fill V 80% And Blending mode - Lighten/Replacement with light.

Create another layer with the same brush, but this time white and with the parameter Opacity V 20%, draw a spot of smaller diameter:

Tool Ellipse/Ellipse (U) draw an oval as shown below.

Select the oval layer Fill V 0% and layer style Stroke.

Result:

Rasterize the oval layer in the same way as we did earlier. Apply to the rasterized layer Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur/Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur.

Result:

Specify layer Fill V 30% .

Create a new layer and brush Hard Round white paint many small circles, changing the brush size and parameters Opacity.

This is how it should look:

Select the layer with the circles Fill V 50% And Blending mode - Overlay.

Duplicate the circles layer.

Duplicate the circles layer again and specify the copies Fill V 100% .

Apply a layer style to the layer Outer Glow/External glow.

Result:

Create a new layer and brush Soft Round paint other small circles by changing the brush size and opacity using color #93308F.

Result:

Create a new layer and in it with the same brush draw more circles with color #232B41. Change the size, opacity and hardness of the brush.

Continue drawing circles in a new layer with a brush Hard Round white color with opacity 20% .

Result:

Create another layer and brush Hard Round Add more white circles. Also change the brush settings.

Result:

Change Blending mode for this layer on Overlay.

In a new layer with a white hard brush, paint circles even smaller than in the previous step. Change your brush settings to keep things varied.

Result:

Another new layer and more white circles with a hard brush at low opacity.

Result:

Tool Ellipse/Ellipse (U) draw a shape of color #CCC2C9.

Apply a layer style to the ellipse layer Gradient Overlay.

Set up the gradient as shown below.

Result:

Create a new layer and fill it with black.

Apply Filter>Render>Lens Flare/Filter>Lighting>Flare.

Result:

Specify the highlight layer Blending mode Screen/Lightening.

Create a new layer and add some circles with a soft round white brush. .

Result:

In the palette Layers click on the icon Create new fill or adjustment layer/Create a new adjustment layer or fill layer and select an option Curves/Curves. Set up the curves as shown below.

Result:

Create a new adjustment or fill layer again, this time select Hue/Saturation. Set the correction as shown below.

Result:

Merge all layers into a group. To do this in the palette Layers select all layers by holding down the button CTRL then click on the icon Create a new group new group at the bottom of the palette.

Now we need to rasterize the group. Select it in the palette Layers and press CTRL+E to merge layers.

Apply to the resulting layer Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask/Filter>Sharpness>Unsharp Mask.

Result:

That's all! You can download.

Translation – Duty room

While listening to a new song jazz performer MaryAnna “Purple spaceship”, I wanted to create something cosmic in a glamorous style in Photoshop. Then I went to the Internet to search for photographs of the performer. After looking through many resources, I finally found what I needed - a photo provided by photographer Alina Magdalyuk. To complete the lesson, you can use your own photo or take the one I found from the archive.

Lesson materials:

Step 1. So, open our photo. In order to create a new background for it, let's first get rid of the existing one. I cut out a girl using a tool Pen (Feather ), hair using the function ColorRange(Color range) and tool Background Eraser(Background eraser). You can do this in any other way known and convenient to you.

Step 2. Now we need to understand what gives us an idea of ​​space... The first thing that comes to mind is various planets, many stars... Yes! Stars are exactly what we need! On the Internet I found a photo provided for free use by Skywalker79. Open the photo with stars in Photoshop. Now, since our composition will be vertical, let's rotate the photo to a vertical position. To do this, select the layer with stars and go to the menu Image>RotateCanvas>90o(Image > Rotate Canvas >900) . Now let’s drag this background into our main document and place it under the girl’s layer (call it “Stars”), you should get something like this:

Step 3. So now we have something cosmic in the background. But he looks somehow separate from the girl, and she’s still in zero gravity, which, you see, doesn’t look very pretty. Since our goal is to create a glamorous background, let's change the color of the stars, for example, to purple. Make sure the Stars layer is active, then press Ctrl+U to open the window Hue/Saturation(Color tone/Saturation), check the box next to the parameter Colorize(Toning) . Please note that the background color with the stars has changed, which means that our function is ready for use, now just move the sliders to select the required color, its saturation and brightness, and then click OK. For my work I set the following values:
Hue(Color tone): 302
Saturation(Saturation): 44
Lightness(Brightness): -41
Here's what happened:

Step 4. It's a beautiful color, isn't it? The only thing I don’t like is that our dress seems to be transparent, and in some areas it shows through the old background:

Using a tool Pen(Pen) select the required areas, right-click inside any created path, and select from the menu that appears MakeSelection(Create selection) Featherradius(feather radius) set to 1. Now press Ctrl+X to cut out the selected areas, and then Ctrl+V to paste them as a separate layer (note that it is better to place the layer with the cut out parts above the layer with the girl). If the pieces move after insertion, return them to their original position using a tool Move(Move). Now let's change Opacity(transparency) of the layer with pieces of fabric up to approximately 50%. This is how it should turn out:

Step 5. Well, what kind of star can we have without a stage! To do this, let's go back to the "Stars" layer, activate it and press Ctrl+J to create a duplicate. You should have two layers with starry background, we work with the top one, for convenience, call it “Scene”. Then flip the “Scene” layer vertically by going to the menu Edit>Transform>FlipVertical(Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical) and, using the tool Move(Move), move it down halfway. Then let's go to the menu Edit>Transform>Perspective(Edit>Transform>Perspective) and transform it as shown in the image below (I removed the main background to make it easier to see how to apply perspective).

Step 6. It seems to me that if the stage is oval, it will look better. To make our scene take an oval shape, we will use the tool. Let's use it something like this:

Now press the key combination Ctrl+Shift+I to invert the selection and erase with the tool eraser(Eraser) excess (it is better to use an eraser with soft edges). This is roughly what it should look like:

To keep the scene from looking too harsh, apply a little Gaussian blur to it ( Filter>Blur>GaussianBlur(Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur)) . A value of 0.4 was enough for me.

Step 7 For realism, let's add a little shadow and reflection to the scene. To create a reflection, we need to make the layer with the girl active and duplicate it (Ctrl+J) (before duplicating, I had to slightly reduce the size of the girl in order to place the reflection below and leave space on top for the inscription). Now we work with the layer that will be located below (that is, with the original). Make it active and go to the menu Edit>Transform>FlipVertical(Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical). Place the resulting image as shown in the picture.

As you can see, the reflection is not very realistic. Go to the menu Edit>Transform>Warp(Edit>Transform>Warp) and deform our future reflection so that it touches the entire foot. Then, when everything is ready and you are happy with the result, install Opacity(Transparency) of the layer about 55% and erase with the tool eraser(eraser) with soft edges unnecessary details. You should end up with something like this:

Step 8 Look at the original photo, the shadow is barely noticeable and extends away from the girl. We will try to depict the same thing in our work. To do this, create a new layer above the scene layer and call it “Shadow”. When creating the shadow for my image, I used a 50px soft edged black brush, then set Opacity(transparency) of the “Shadow” layer to 39%. This is what it should look like:

Step 9 I think the composition lacks a little dynamics. Let's do this: go back to the "Stars" layer and duplicate it once (Ctrl+J), call this layer (top) "Shine". Now let's go to the menu Filter >Blur >RadialBlur(Filter>Blur>Radial Blur) and set the settings as in the image below:

We will get the following:

Now apply a mask to the “Shine” layer:

Select a black soft-edged brush and erase the area behind the girl and a little around her. This is what my mask looks like:

And here's what we have with the image:

Step 10
Now let's move on to the girl's layer. Double click on it to open the window LayerStyle(Layer styles). Activate the option OuterGlow(Outer Glow) and set the following settings:
Blendmode(mixing mode):Screen(lightening)
Opacity(Transparency): 46%
Color(Color): 4e174e
Size(Size): 46

And this is the glow we get:

Step 11 Not bad at all, in my opinion, but a little boring. Let's dilute this composition with an interesting lighting effect. To do this we need to use the tool Rectangle(Rectangle), set it to mode ShapeLayers(Outline layer). It doesn't matter what color you draw the rectangle, we'll still change the color for it later.

Draw a rectangle like this (don't forget to place it above all layers):

Right-click on the resulting rectangle icon in the layers palette and select ConverttoSmartObject(Convert to Smart Object) . Name this layer "Stripe". Install Fill(Fill) for this layer to 0%. Double click on it to open the window LayerStyle(Layer Styles) . Select an option GradientOverlay(Gradient Coverage) and set the following settings:

This is what your rectangle should look like with these settings:

Convert the rectangle to a smart object again. Well, now give free rein to your fantasies! You can duplicate this rectangle several times, change the size, transparency, blending modes of some copies and arrange them the way you like best. Finally, rasterize the layers with rectangles (right-click on the layer > Rasterize(Rasterize)) and erase their edges with a soft eraser so that they are not so rough. This is how it happened for me:

Step 12Attention, if you are working with a different photo and a different scale, then these settings must be set individually, otherwise a similar effect will not work.
Now let's add the inscription at the top. I chose the font EkaterinaVelikayaOne . The font is very beautiful, but to make it fit our composition, let's give it some style. To do this, double click on the layer to open the window LayerStyles(Layer styles). Set the following settings:

This is what you should end up with:

Step 13 Finally, you can add a few more stars on the letters, on the girl and around her. Create a new layer above all layers. Select the standard Star 70 brush, set its size to 50 and randomly place some stars. Then create another layer, also place some stars, but set the opacity of this layer to about 60%. After I applied all these effects, it seemed to me that the edges of the scene were still a bit sharp against the general background, I selected the tool EllipticalMarquee(Oval selection area), set in its settings Feather meaning(Feather) by 30, and then repeated in step 6.

That's all! Thank you for your attention. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I will be glad to see your options in the comments to the lesson!

IN this lesson We'll show you how to create an incredible space-themed composition using elements taken from published images by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Skillfully using a variety of techniques, such as adding depth to the image through the use of multiple layers, applying transparency, as well as deft manipulation of tools such as: Twisting e (Twirl), Spherization(Spherize) and filters Plastic(Liquify filters), we will show you that achieving the desired result is much easier than you thought. Along the way, we'll also show you how to create a custom star brush using a method that you can later adapt to create your other custom brushes.

This tutorial uses stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope. This is an excellent image resource even for creating works with non-space themes. Always choose to upload images to highest quality and use TIFF images.

Note: Some images are missing from the tutorial source. In the archive you will find an alternative version of materials for completing the lesson.

Step 1

Let's start our work by creating a new document of size Width(Width) 1500 pixels and Height(Height) 2000 pixels. Fill our base layer with black: Editing - Filling(Edit > Fill) or Shift + F5 and select black color in the dialog box. Now let's use the tool Ellipse(Ellipse Tool (U)) to draw a circle approximately in the center of our document. Doesn't have special significance what color it will be, since this circle will only serve as a guide for us in the first steps of our work, in the future it will need to be removed, so you can make it like in the screenshot.

Step 2

Download the Carina Nebula 'Mystic Mountain' image. Next, use the selection tool Oval area(Elliptical Marquee tool), set it to feather radius(feather radius (shift+f6)) 100 px to soften the edges. Click on the image and drag to select a fragment of the image approximately as shown in the screenshot. Copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) this fragment into your main document on top of the created circle.

Step 3

Transform the inserted image fragment using the tool Free transformation(Free Transform tool (Ctrl + T)), compressing the width of this fragment approximately three times. Then place what you got to the left of our reference circle. Next use the command Filter - Distortion - Spherization(Filter - Distort - Spherize), and then use the command Filter - Distort - Twist(Filter - Distort - Twirl) to create a ripple effect. Experiment with these filters until you get something like a curved flash at the edge of your reference circle, as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 4

Download images of other nebulae from http://hubblesite.org. In these images, repeat steps 2 and 3 using multiple selections different sizes from these two images. The basic idea is to use these curved flashes to form a ring-like shape. Once you have succeeded in forming this ring-shaped structure, you no longer need the guide circle layer, and accordingly you can delete it.

Step 5

Now, we will add even more of the same flashes so that we have something more similar to some kind of nebula. We'll do this using the same methods, simply repeating steps 2 and 3, but this time, styling our new flares so that they appear as if they are breaking out of the ring and crossing it.

Step 6

To add a depth effect, work on each flash layer individually and try adjusting the opacity level for each layer. Lowering the opacity will create the effect of flash fragments falling into our black background. Next, try blending the intersections between flashes using the tool Eraser(Eraser tool (E)) and a soft brush for each layer to make it all look more natural. The main goal here is to create an organic feeling of movement.

Step 7

Now, we'll move on to processing our background layer by adding what I call "space particles" to it. Create a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) on top of the black background layer(background), then take soft brush(soft brush (B)) and select Blue colour as shown in the screenshot below, setting it as main(foreground color). Using alternately high and low values opacity(opacity), paint over the entire document, but mainly focus on the top right and bottom left corners.

Step 8

Let's add another layer above this, set it as background colors(background color) black. Then we use the command Filter - Rendering - Clouds(Filter - Render - Clouds). Next, adjust the Levels (Ctrl + L) to make the effect lighter. Then add an adjustment layer Layers - New Adjustment Layer - Hue/Saturation(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Hue/Saturation). Saturation(Saturation) set to +6, Brightness(Lightness) -15.

Step 9

Reduce opacity(opacity) of the layer you created in step 7 to 10%, thereby creating a very subtle effect for the background layer. Now let's create something like a vapor trail in the lower left by duplicating one of the darkest and most transparent of the flare fragments you created earlier and move it away from our created ring nebula. Move this layer down below all the layers, but so that it is directly above the layers with “cosmic particles”.

Step 10

Select Plastic filter(Liquify filter (Shift+ Ctrl + X)). Apply the settings below:

• Brush Size(Brush size) 300
• Brush Density(Brush Density) 0
• Brush Pressure(Brush pressure) 100
• Brush Rate(Brush speed) 0
• Turbulent Jitter(Vibration) 50
• Reconstruct Mode(Reconstruction Mode): Revert(recovery)

Next, work with the tools Pucker Tool(Wrinkle / "S" key) Bloat Tool(Bloating / "B" key) and Turbulence(Turbulence / T Key) along our created vapor trail until you achieve a result that suits you. Graphics tablet would make this task much easier for you as it allows you to have much better control over the brushes you are working with.

Step 11

To seamlessly blend the steam trail with our background and space particles, desaturate it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + U, then set blending mode(blending mode) for this layer Screen(Screen), and level opacity(opacity) reduce to 20%. Repeat steps 9 to 11 several times to create many of these vapor trails around our composition.

Step 12

For this composition, since it is space themed, we need to add some stars by creating a "star brush". Upload an image and change it height(height) up to 2500 pixels (Ctrl + Alt + I). Next, invert the image (Ctrl + I) and desaturate it (Ctrl + Shift + U).

Step 13

Adjust the Levels (Ctrl + L) as shown in the screenshot. Select the entire image and apply the command Editing - Define Brush(Edit - Define Brush). Name your custom brush 'Star Brush'. It should now appear at the very bottom of the Brushes palette.

Step 14

We return to our composition, select our newly created brush, having previously set it as colors foreground (foreground color) white. Now, add a new layer on top of all the others. To quickly change the size of your brush while working, use the keys with square brackets, in the Russian layout these are the letters X and B. Next, click once on different places to place our stars. Also, if suddenly you didn’t like the location of the stars somewhere, you can use the tool Eraser(Erase tool (E)) with a soft brush to remove these unnecessary fragments.

Step 15

Our nebula still looks a little muted, so let's add a new adjustment layer Layers - New Adjustment Layer - Brightness/Contrast(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Brightness/Contrast). Brightness(Brightness) +60, Contrast(Contrast) +10. Create another new layer and paint over it different colors over the entire document using a soft brush as shown below. Install opacity(opacity) of this layer is 70% and blending mode(blend mode) Overlap(Overlay). This will improve the overall color of the image. All is ready. Congratulations!

There is no doubt that any person, thinking, so to speak, about the eternal, imagines the depths of space with its unexplored expanses and tries to express his feelings in the form of a painting or drawing. Let's see how to draw space using various means and techniques.

What do we associate outer space with?

The primary association of outer space, even on a subconscious level, for any person is reduced to infinity, although not everyone imagines what it is.

If you approach the question of how to draw space step by step, you should pay attention to some elements that are most often depicted in paintings. First, a spatial structure is created. These can be galaxies or nebulae with rarefied gas, then stars visible to the naked eye or through modern telescopes are included here.

Only then can we assume the presence of a planetary system, although in most cases the question of how to draw space comes down to depicting objects known to us in solar system, because we don’t know what the surfaces of other planets look like star systems(the nearest distance is 4 light years - Proxima of the Centaurus constellation).

And, naturally, to depict his view of what may be there, even a novice artist uses absolutely different instruments, most suitable to his imagination.

If you look at all the drawings and paintings, you will notice that most often they depict stars (constellations), nebulae, galaxies and planetary systems.

In the first, second and third cases, the question of how to draw space is solved quite simply. On any dark background (even black or gray) inclusions are applied in the form of stars, varying in size and light activity. This is the easiest way.

As for nebulae, they often appear colored not only in the ultraviolet or infrared spectrum, but also in the visible to the human eye range. It is from this perspective that it is worth considering the question of how to paint space in watercolors. It is best suited for this due to the fact that when mixed with water, you can obtain smooth shades and transitions that are inaccessible to, say, gouache or oil paints. But more on that later.

How to get inspiration?

If you’re really thinking about how to draw space, or rather, get some kind of charge that can give impetus to an outburst of emotions, first you should just look at the night sky in clear weather.

Alas, in our hemisphere the sky looks only like darkness interspersed with stars. Another thing is the Southern Hemisphere, where Milky Way(this is the name of our galaxy) looks in all its glory.

On the other hand, music is enough a powerful tool to activate thoughts. If previously so-called space music was associated with bands like Space or Zodiac, today it is enough to listen to compositions in the Ambient, Chillout or Downtempo style, which use complex sound effects.

How to paint space with paints?

Now about the colors. Based on the above, the most decisive question will be how to paint space in watercolors.

Here it is worth paying attention to the colors themselves. First you need to apply dark background onto a sheet, let the paint and paper dry a little, and then dilute the depth by adding water as usual. You understand that space cannot be equally dark.

After this, you can begin drawing images of galaxies or planets. By the way, it is with the help of watercolors that it is best to depict colored gas nebulae. But you can specify some elements using additional means in the form of gouache or oil.

How to draw space with a pencil?

With pencils the situation is somewhat worse. The fact is that it will not be possible to achieve the blurriness inherent in space.

Here it is better to use vertical, horizontal or oblique shading with a long stylus. In addition, even drawing some global elements requires knowledge of additional effects.

Additional effects

In the case of paints, everything is clear. Regular dilution with water gives a fairly powerful effect. But few people know what else is in Soviet times a method was invented to obtain smooth transitions when drawing with a pencil.

You just need to grind off the lead a little onto a separate piece of paper, then take the powder and smear it over the image on the paper. The effect is simply amazing. By the way, this applies not only to simple pencils, but also to colored pencils. This is called retouching.

Separately, it is worth noting that when it comes to the question of how to draw space, some authors of paintings do not limit themselves only to using standard means. For example, adding sparkles to symbolize stars is quite a hot topic.

Which is better to use?

Now a few words about what is better: a computer program or hand drawing? Both. Of course, applications for creating and processing graphics have their own quite powerful capabilities, but many people first record their flight of thoughts on paper, after which they scan the drawing and convert it into the desired format.

However, programs like Adobe Photoshop or the same package Corel Draw suggest using complex gradient fills as templates, which can be obtained regular drawing It's just not possible.

Based on this, we can simply advise you to initially make a sketch of the future drawing or painting, and only then decide whether it should be processed in a computer program or left unchanged. In principle, both options are acceptable. Although the solution to the question of how to paint space in the usual way seems preferable.

It’s another matter if the artist does not want to digitize the painting. This is understandable, because a sheet of paper or canvas looks natural. Unlike computer images, when viewing, you can touch the painting and see the paint application technique used by the author of this or that masterpiece.

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We get this result:

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You should get this result:

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