Quick rain effect tutorial
(for Photoshop, I have used Mac quick keys but for PC quick keys, replace apple for control button. I assume the user to have some knowledge of photoshop but have tried to be as discriptive as possible.)
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First of all, start off with your image you want to add rain effect to. Remember to keep your character layer and background layers seperate as you want to add rain behind the character and in front of it. I've just used a simple gradient here for ease. |
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Now make a new layer (apple+shift+n or top toolbar>layer>new or the small right pointing arrow menu on the layer window) |
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Make this layer black by using the paintbucket. |
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Example of background layer and black layer |
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Now make sure your colours are set to black and the colour you want for the rain, i.e light blue/ white. |
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You want to add some 'noise' to the black layer. Basically you want add a speckle effect. There are various ways of doing this, either with a splatter brush or a filter. Im going to use the graphic pen filter (top tool bar>filter>sketch>graphic pen) fiddle with the setting like this. |
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If there is too much noise or its a bit dense at the edges just work into it with a black air brush. |
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When you're happy add a motion blur (top tool bar>filter>blur>motion blur ) fiddle with the settins to get the length and direction of the rain you want. |
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Finished example. |
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Again if there is too much in places or its a bit dense at the edges just work into it with a black air brush. |
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Now go back to your layer window and where it says 'normal' mode, click on the layer mode menu blue button next to the word and change it from 'normal' to 'screen'. |
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Tra-da! The black become invisable leaving the lighter rain effect on top of the background. |
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Now you can fiddle further to get a more natural or special effect. Duplicate the layer. (either drag the layer to the icon next to the bin in the layer window or go top tool bar> layer> duplicate) |
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Place one of the rain layers behind the character and one in front layer. Now try playing with the following stuff You can change the opacity of the rains layers (in the layer window) work into them with either a black brush or the eraser tool put more motion blur on the furthest layer slightly change the direction of the rain or the size of the layer using the transform tool (apple+t or top tool bar>select> all *apple+A* then top tool bar> edit>free transform) Play with adjustments (top tool bar> image> adjustments) |
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Until you're happy with the final effect. |
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Then make the rain interact with the character/ object for realisim.
Done! |
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