In this Photoshop tutorial I’ll be showing you a really easy technique that can be used to enhance any kind of subject with amazing light effects. The main Photoshop tools we will be using will be selection tools, gradients and brushes to achieve the result below.

First things first is to download the required files to make the above image. These files are for reference only, and if you want to download and use different images and stocks then you can.

• Model: dancetechstudio.com
• Background: stock.xchng

For the font, I used a clean thin sans serif called Chalet Paris 1960 which is a premium font, although there are plenty of free alternatives out there, not to mention Steiner, Cicle, Mank Sans and Asenine.

So, let’s get on with it!

Step One:

Start a new Photoshop document (Ctrl/Cmd+N) with the dimensions set to 2000*2600. If you want to make the design suitable for print, don’t forget to set the resolution to 300 DPI and work in CMYK mode. Grab the gradient tool (G) and make a radial gradient with the colours going from black (#000000) to dark gray (#4a4a4a).

Step Two:

Time for some clouds, one of my favourite Photoshop tools. Immensely powerful, and so simple. Create a new layer – either through the Layer menu on the top toolbar, on the Layers palette, or by pressing Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+N – and make sure your foreground an background colours are black and white by pressing D. Go to Filter>Render>Clouds, then press Ctrl/Cmd+F to repeat this effect. Set the layer style to Screen, and reduce opacity to 10%.

Now you can use the erase tool (E) to remove unwanted pixels and clouds. Use a large soft (hardness set to 0%) brush for this purpose. As you can see in the screenshot below, I removed some clouds from the bottom of the canvas, where the text is going to go.

Step Three:

Let’s add the text in now so it’s out of the way. The effect I’m going to use is massively simple, and can be applied to lots of different images, from posters to web design, and still retains a powerful effect. For demonstrative purposes, I’m using what I actually called the original piece which was Adagio for Design. As described above, you’re looking for a clean and think sans serif font. Ultimately, it’s up to you what you use, but this is my preference. With your font layer selected, right-style the layer thumbnail and select Blending Options. You’re looking for gradient overlay and outer glow styles. The screenshots below show what settings you want.

Step Four

Create a new layer and use a soft white brush to enhance the text, and reduce the layer visibility to 50%:

Step Five:

Create another layer and use the rectangular marquee tool to make a selection, and then fill with a white to transparent gradient as shown in the screenshot below:

Step Six:

Right, create a layer mask by pressing the “Add layer mask” icon at the bottom of the layers window, and use a large soft black brush to make the gradient thinner.

Step Seven:

Now move this light effect to the bottom of the text and, change the layer mode to Overlay reduce the opacity to 40%.

Step Eight:

Right, now for the hardest part of the piece – the model. Using the pen tool, extract the dancer from the background using as many points as many to capture every detail. When the loop is complete, right click and select Make Selection. Depending on how good you were tracing the lines, set the feather to between 1 and 3 pixels. Copy and paste in the subject into the main piece, and press Ctrl/Cmd+T. Scale the image to 85% and apply the changes.

Step Nine:

Now we’re going to apply a gradient map layer, which makes the image more vibrant. Go to Layer>New adjustment layer>Gradient map and add a gradient going from purple (#711f72) to green (#00922f) to red (#ff0017). Set the layer to overlay and reduce the opacity to around 80%. From now on, this layer will the topmost layer in your layer stack. Already, the piece is coming to life.

Step Ten:

Right, time to use the other stock image – the fractal. For my version, I altered my levels so that the image was more purple, but you can leave it as it is if you like. Copy and paste the fractal in above the clouds, set the layer to Screen and reduce the opacity to 25%. Again you can use the erase tool to remove unwanted parts:

Step Eleven:

Now for the cool light effects. Create a rectangle using the Rectangle Shape tool:

Step Twelve:

Ctrl/Cmd+Click on the rectangle layer in order to select its pixels, hide the visibility of the rectangle and select the model layer. We have only the selection visible. Move the selection using the Move tool (V) to wherever you like and press Ctrl/Cmd+D to Deselect.

Step Thirteen:

Create a new layer and use the marquee tool to make a rectangle selection, and create a linear gradient going from white to transparent. Then press Ctrl/Cmd+D to Deselect and set the layer mode to Overlay.

Step Fourteen:

Press Ctrl/Cmd+T to open the transform tool and rotate the light effect to cover the part we moved out from the model. Then create a mask, and use a soft black brush to make the effect thinner:

Step Fifteen:

The next step is to simply apply the same technique several times over, resulting in the fragmented break-up in the screen-shot:

Step Sixteen:

As a final touch, create a new layer, select the model by Ctrl/Cmd+Clicking the layer thumbnail. Select a large soft brush and paint over the model using blue or purple. Then reduce the opacity of the layer. And, we’re done.

Thanks for reading my first tutorial, and keep your eye out for some more Photoshop tutorials coming soon!