Making an abstract universe

Step 1: Create a new 800x800 pixels document. Press D and X to reset your foreground and background colors. We will create the universe first, so use the Gradient Tool (G) with Foreground to Background and Diamond Gradient settings

draw a line from the center to the corner like this

Step 2: Go to Filter > Distort > Twirl and twirl it with a big angle:

Step 3: Duplicate the Background by pressing Ctrl-J. Now we are on the Layer 1. Go to Edit > Transform > Perspective and drag 2 points on the top down

After finished, click on the Move Tool to leave the Perspective mode. A dialog box will appear, click Apply. Congratulations, you have just created the universe!

Step 4: Hide the Background layer by clicking on the Eye icon on the left.

Now we need some planets! We can create one with Photoshop but it will take a long time to do, so we use an available photo. Here is the one I recommend:

(if you want a bigger image then go to www.sxc.hu/photo/969403 to download one but you will need a free account)

Copy this image and paste it onto our current document and you have:

Step 5: Change the blend mode of the current layer to Screen to remove its black areas

If you still see its border then use the Eraser Tool (E) with a soft brush to delete it

After this step we will have:

Step 6: Use the Marquee Tool (M) to select each planet and use the Move Tool (V) to move it to a more suitable place

Repeat this step until we have a nice universe filled with nice planets ^_^

Step 7: Press Ctrl-D to make sure we don't select anything. Now click on the Layer 1 in the Layers tab to select it (Layer 1 is the layer contains the universe). Press Ctrl-U to open up the Hue/Saturation dialog box, make sure to click on the Colorize checkbox and use these settings:

See our universe changed to blue, right? Next we will decorate our universe a bit

Step 8: Choose the Brush Tool (B) and click on the Brushes icon on the right, click on the Brush Tip Shape and choose a star shape

Make sure to tick on the Shape Dynamics and Scattering checkboxes as well

Step 9: Create a new layer and use the Pen Tool (P) to make a rough "curve" with some clicks

Right click and choose Stroke Path, a dialog box will appear. Make sure to tick on the Simulate Pressure checkbox

Note: The Simulate Pressure effect will make our line thin at the two ends and thick at the middle

See something beautiful? Something like this:

Repeat this step with other curves to make a wonderful universe. It doesn't take much time to get the result!

You can stop at this step. But we can make our universe more real by adding some stars with just a few simple steps. If you want to know how, continue reading...

Step 10: Create a new layer, notice that this is the top layer. Press Ctrl-Backspace to fill it with black because this is our background color

Step 11: Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise and use these settings:

Change its blending mode to Screen. Go to Image > Adjustments > Threshold and set a Threshold Level of 147 and ...finished! Here is the final result:

Making a Storm Effect

Step 1: Create a new document and press D, X to reset and swap your colors. Fill your document with black by pressing Ctrl-Backspace

Step 2: Go to Filter>Render>Lens Flare and set Brightness 100%, 50-300mm Zoom Lens Type

Step 3: Go to Filter>Sketch>Chrome and use default settings (Detail 4, Smoothness 7)

Step 4: Go to Filter>Distort>Twirl and use these settings:

Step 5: Press Ctrl-J to duplicate this layer and go to Edit>Transform>Rotate 180^o to rotate this layer 180^o

change its blending mode to Screen

Step 6: Go to Layer>Flatten Image to merge all the layers then go to Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation and use below settings to color our image

Step 7: Use the Elliptical Marquee tool with 10 pixels Feather to make a selection area around our "storm"

Then press Ctrl-Shift-I to invert the selection and press Delete to erase it. You can see the result below:

So we completed this tutorial with just some filter tools and common techniques!

Creat a Bubble Text

Step 1: Create a new 800x800 pixels document. In fact, size is not a matter, just make sure it fit your text. Set your foreground to pink (#fc00ff) and your background to black

Step 2: Use the Horizontal Type Tool(T) to type anything you like

Step 3: Now holding down Ctrl button and left click on the "small" layer to select your text

Step 4: Go to Filter > Artistic > Sponge and use these settings:

Step 5: Go to Filter > Stylize > Glowing Edges and use the default settings

Step 6: Go to Select > Invert (or press Ctrl-I) to invert your text

Step 7: Go to Filter > Sketch > Plaster and use these settings

After this step, we get:

Step 8: Now we just need to apply some effects on our text. Double click your text layer to open up the Layer Style dialog box and use these settings:

+ Drop Shadow:

+ Bevel and Emboss:

+ Stroke:

Finished! Here is the final result:

Making a brick text

Step 1: Create a new 800x800 pixels document. Use the Gradient Tool(G) to make a background like this

Step 2: Set your text color to red (#FF0000) and use the Horizontal Type Tool(T) to type anything you like

Step 3: Press Ctrl - left click on your text layer to select the text

Step 4: Go to Filter > Sketch > Note Paper and use the default settings (Image Balance 25, Graininess 10, Relief 11

Step 5: Go to Filter > Stylize > Tiles and use these settings

Press Ctrl-F to repeat this effect. Now press Ctrl-D to deselect the text. After this step, we get

Step 6: Double click on the text layer to open up the Layer Style dialog box.

In this tutorial, we will use the Drop Shadow and Bevel and Emboss effects. Use these settings

+ Drop Shadow:

+ Bevel and Emboss:

Finished! And here is the final result: