I have been asked to post a tutorial on a vortex. It is easily accomplished. You not need be an expert to follow this tutorial. I will be as simple as possible. Though I will demonstrate it in Photoshop CS4, you can do this also in other versions.
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Step 1 : I have opened this photo in Photoshop. Find a similar photo and just follow along.
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Step 2 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the Background Layer to Layer1.
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Step 3 : Go to Filter>Distort>Twirl.
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Step 4 : The Twirl dialogue box opens. Drag the Angle slider to 100. See how the Twirl looks like in the Preview at the right bottom (red arrow). Click ok.
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This is how the image looks like.
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Step 5 : Click the Add Layer Mask button. A Layer Mask forms next to the layer thumbnail on Layer1.
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Step 6 : Click the Brush Tool. Click where the arow points to.
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Step 7 : As soon as you click the default Brush presets dialogue box opens. Set the Hardness to zero. This means I am going to use a Brush with the softest tip possible. The Master Diameter you can set suitably depending on your image. I have set it at 200. You can change the diameter by dragging the slider.
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Step 8 : Make sure that the Foreground Color is Black and background White. If it is not press 'x' and then 'd' on your keyboard.
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Step 9 : Begin painting. As you paint on Layer1, you are revealing the Layer below. I have begun painting with the Brush at the right bottom of the image.
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Now I am painting away revealing the horizon of the Background layer at the left.
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This is how my image looks.
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Look in the Layers pallette. Look at the layer mask. The black is what you have painted away on Layer1 to reveal the background layer.
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Step 10 : In the layers pallete change the Blend Mode to Overlay from the popup menu. If you are using a different image you may also try Soft Light or Screen or Lighten.
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This is how my image looks after changing the Blend Mode to Overlay.
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Step 11 : I have used the Brush Tool to paint away the sand in the foreground and a bit of the horizon to the right.
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Step 12 : Click the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers pallette and a New layer -- Layer 2 forms above layer 1.
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Step 13 : Click the Ellipical Marquee Tool to select it.
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Step 14 : Keep SHIFT pressed and you will be able to draw a perfect circle with the Marquee Tool.
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Step 15 : Click the Gradient Tool. Then click the Gradient Editor in the top panel.
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Step 16 : The Gradient Editor opens. Click the first Preset in the top row.
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Step 17 : Click the first color stop at the extreme left. Press ALT and drag slightly towards the right. You will find that the stop duplicates into two.
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Step 18 : In the Location box type in 25 and the stop moves forward 25%.
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Step 19 : Click the second stop. Press ALT and drag slightly to the right. A new stop forms. Note that it is a Black stop.
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Step 20 : Type 50 in the Location and the thrid stop moves 50% forward.
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Step 21 : Now click the Stop color at the left bottom. The Select Stop Color dialogue box opens. Type ffffff (6fs) where the red arrow points to.
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Step 22 : The Color changes to White. Click ok in the Stop Color dialogue box.
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Step 23 : Now press ALT+click the White stop and type 75 in the Location box. The White stop moves 75% forward.
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Step 24 : Click on the Extreme left stop. The Color is Black. Click on the Color.
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Step 25 : The Color Stop dialogue box opens. Type ffffff and the stop color changes to White. Click ok in the Stop Color dialogue box.
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Step 26 : Click the Gradient Tool.
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Step 27 : Look at the Gradient Editor. You can see the custom Gradient that has just been created. Also click the Gradient Style (white arrow) in the top panel.
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Step 28 : Since the Gradient Tool is selected, choose the midpoint in the circle and drag outwards as shown.
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This is the effect you get. DO NOT press CTRL+D to deselect.
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Step 29 : Go to Filter>Distort>Twirl.
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Step 30 : In the Twirl dialogue box drag the Radius slider to 100. Click ok.
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Step 31 : Now press CTRL+F 15 times and you will get an effect like above.
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Step 32 : Now change the Blend Mode to Overlay.
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This is how the image looks now. Press Ctrl+D to deselect.
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Step 33 : Now press CTRL+J. Layer 2 duplicates in Layer 2 copy. Click off the eye icon of the Layer.
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Step 34 : Click back on Layer 2 .
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Step 35 : Click on the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
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Step 36 : Draw out a selection with the Rectangular Marquee Tool Just be careful to draw the rectangle a little below the midpoint of the circle.
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Step 37 : Press the DELETE key on the keyboard. Press CTRL+D to deselect.
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Press 38 : Click the Move Tool.
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Step 39 : Drag the semi circle down.
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Step 40 : Click on Layer 2 and click back the eye icon of the layer.
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Click 41 : Press CTRL+T. A selection forms around the circle.
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Step 42 : Press SHIFT and drag up the midpoint handle slightly upwards.
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Step 43 : Now drag down the midpoint handle keeping SHIFT key pressed.
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Step 44 : Now to align the circle with the half sphere use the Down and Left Arrow keys on the keyboard till you have a perfect match as shown above.
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Step 45 : CTRL+Click the Layer thumbnail on Layer 2 copy.
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Step 46 : Apply the Twirl Filter with the same settings as earlier, then press CTRL+F around 10 times or till you are satisfied with the result. Press CTRL+D to deselect.
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Step 47 : Remember you are working on Layer 2 copy. Click the Add Layer Style button in Layers pallette and click on Outer Glow.
Step 48 : In the Ouer Glow controls. Drag the Size, Spreas and Lastly reduce the Opacity. I have given my settimgs. There is nothing hard and fast about it. Click ok.
Step 49 : Right click Effects under Layer 2 copy and from the popup click on Copy Layer Style.
Step 50 : Click on Layer 2 and right click it. Click on Paste Layer Style from the popup.
This is how the image looks. There is a straight white line towards the bottom of the circle. That has to be fixed.
Step 51 : Click on the Add Layer Mask in the Layer pallette. A Layer Mask forms next to the Layer thumbnail on Layer 2.
Step 52 : Click on the Brush Tool.
Step 52 : Make sure the Foreground Color is set to Black and Background to White.
Step 53 : With the Brush Tool gently paint away the white line at the bottom showing in the image below Step 50. The votext is complete. Let us add a human figure to make the composition complete.
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Step 54 : I have opened this photo. I have deliberately chosen a photo with a white background for convenience.
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Step 55 : Click on the Magic Wand Tool.
Step 56 : Click with the Magic Wand on the White area. A selection appears all around the figure as well as the outer edge.
Step 57 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+I. The selection reverses and only bound the figure.
Setp 58 : Press+F6. The Feather dialogue box opens. Set the Feather radius at 1 pixel.
Step 59 : Click off the eye icon in Background.
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Step 60 : The white background disappears. Now press CTRL+A and then CTRL+C.
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Step 61 : Click the other image and press CTRL+V. The image of the man is pasted on it.
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Step 62 : Use the Move Tool to move the man's image into the middle of the vortex.
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Step 63 : Drag the image of the man below Layer 2 in the Layers pallette.
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Step 64 : Click the Add Layer Mask button and a layer mask forms next to the Layer thumbnail on Layer 3.
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Step 65 : Ensure that the Foreground Color is Black and Background to White. Gently paint away the trousers so that the glow is visible in front.
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And here is the finished vortex. Try it out.
Other photoshop tutorials are here.
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