solar
System
Create your own
I
n this tutorial you will use filters and effects in Photoshop to create your own solar system. You
will create 5 unique textured planets and combine them into an image such as the one
above.
You will be evaluated on the complexity and visual interest of your planets as well as how
effectively you combine them into a single image.
You will learn how to create wacky gradients, create the illusion of 3-D and use filters and effects
to create textures.
Part 1: Create Cool Gradients
Open Photoshop Elements. Select new and create a 640 x 480 pixel image. Make sure it is set to pixels!
Choose the colour R40 G195 B19 (green) as your foreground colour and leave white as
your background colour.
Foreground/Background Colour
Select the gradient tool. Click on the edit button. Select the first preset: Foreground to Background.
Click OK.
Make sure that the mode is set to
Normal.
Gradient Styles
Click and drag from left to right inside your image
window to create a gradient starting at the left side of the image.
Create a new layer, select it to become the active layer. Set your foreground colour to R72 G38 B221.
Click on the gradient tool: accept the first preset again. This time, drag the gradient in the opposite
direction: start at the right side of the image and drag left.
Changing the style of the layer
Under the tab marked layers in the layers palette, drop the arrow down and
select exclusion as the layer style. Notice the changes to your image.
Create a new layer, select it to become the active layer.
Set your foreground colour to R243 G17 B17, leave the background colour to
white Select the gradient tool. Change the gradient type to radial. Click and
drag to create a gradient on the new layer. Click and drag from the centre of
the image to create a radial gradient.
Select exclusion as the layers style.
Create a new layer, select it to become the active layer.
Set your foreground colour to R243 G219 B17, leave the background colour to white Select the gradient
tool. Change the gradient type to diamond. Click
and drag to create a gradient on the new layer.
Select difference as the layers style.
Play with the tools in Photoshop until you have a
gradient you like. Once you are happy with your
gradient select from the menu bar:
Layer -> Merge visible
Your gradient may look something like this.
It’s okay if it looks different.
Save your work as gradient
Part 3: Playing with Planets
Continuing with the file you created called gradient.
From the menu bar, select Filter -> Texture -> Patchwork. Set the square size to 6 and the relief to 0.
Save the file in your student folder as patchwork
It should look something like this:
Creating 3-d shapes
Create a new layer. Use the Elliptical Marquee to draw a circle (hold down shift to keep it a perfect circle).
With circle shape still selected, click on the patchwork layer to select it and press “Ctrl-C” on the keyboard.
This copies the information contained in the circle selection.
In the layers palette click on the new layer you created and
press “Ctrl-Shift-V” on the keyboard. This pastes the contents
of your selection into the new layer.
Notice the texture from the background has been placed in the
sphere.
Select Filter ->Distort ->Spherize. Mode is set to normal and
the amount is 100%.
This is the first planet in your universe. Now let's make more.
Create a new layer above the patchwork layer.
Click on the effects tab and select the filter: Wood-Rosewood.
Let the filter do its work.
Create a new blank layer.
Draw a perfect circle, then select the rosewood layer and press “Ctrl- C”. Return to the new blank layer
you created and select “Ctrl-Shift-V”
In the main menu select Filter ->Distort ->Spherize. (Remember to keep the selection
active when you distort.)
Again, keeping the circle of rosewood selected, from the menu select
Enhance ->Brightness and contrast and lighten the rosewood sphere.
Don’t forget to save often!
Part 2: Building a solar system
On your own...
Make at least 5 planets and a sun…figure the sun out for yourselves. Ask for hints if you need to but first try
it yourself.
Other fun effects to try are rusty metal, sandpaper etc. If you use the airbrush or paint brush tool to add areas
of colour to a layer, then apply filter effects you can create some dramatic effects and textures for your
planets.
Also try adding other filters and effects on top of those in the effects tab to make rich complex surfaces
Play around and have fun. Make a minimum of 5 planets and a sun. Remember I am marking you on the
complexity and richness of your textures.
Rusty metal effect
Filter mosaiic
Dodge and Burn tool
Gradient fill
Dark gray to light gray
Airbrushed highlights
Airbrushed pink and Yellow
Glowing Edges filter
Plastic wrap filter
Create a Solar System Image
Resize your canvas to 800 by 600 and delete all the layers you borrowed patterns from. Leave only the
planets behind.
To soften the edges of each planet, go to a
planet layer, select the space around the planet
(magic wand!), And using the main menu
choose
Select ->Feather. Enter 3 as the radius, then
hit the delete key. Do this for each planet layer.
Add a black layer at the very bottom of your
layers (New layer, fill it black).
Organize your planets into a solar system. Add
other details to make it look more polished.
It should look something like this:
Hint: A small white airbrush (size 7-12) is good
for stars, adjust the pressure % to make them
look far away. A soft, wide airbrush with a very
low pressure is good for interstellar gas.