Photoshop Fog Tutorial

Ever wanted to add a foggy effect to your blend or make your picture a little spooky? Adding fog is fairly simple and might just add that extra something to your graphic.

Let's start out with a picture. I chose one of Johnny Depp from Sweeney Todd. Here's the original: sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/1.jpg

The first thing you want to do is make a new layer. Choose white for your color and then grab your airbrush. A diameter of 35-45 works well, but be creative. Under your airbrush options(see below image), set the pressure to something low. I used 15. sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/2.jpg

Now, on your new layer, start drawing out some "fog." It's not hard, just do a few cloud-like strokes. It should end up looking something like this: sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/3.jpg

If you wanted, you could stop there but we're going to take it a little further and make it look more realistic.

First, we're going to make that fog less cloudy and more foggy. Go under your filters. Then go down to "blur." Select "Motion Blur." With an angle of "0" and a distance around "130," click "okay."

Your result should look something like this: sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/4.jpg

Not bad, right? Well now (though, once again, you could stop here), we're going to give it an even more eerie look.

Add another layer. Then pick out a greenish or bluish color. I used a lighter green but you can choose the shade of your preference. Use your paint bucket to make this entire layer your chosen color. Set this layer to "soft light."sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/5.jpg

sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/6.jpg

What do you think? We're not done yet...

Now, for a final effect, we're going to edit the lighting a little.You know how the sun looks strange on a dreary day? That's the kind of effect we're going for.

Flatten your image and then go under your filters again. Go to "render" then click on "lighting effects." Keep the style on "default" and move the circle around so that the light isn't whiting anything out. (see pic below) When you have it like you like it, click "okay."

You are now finished! Your result should look something like this:sweetchaos.freehost10.com/ballisticblends/tut/fog/finished.jpg