Every aspect of this tutorial can be changed/modified to your taste to create different effects.
1) Open a new image 300x300. I always start with a transparent
background.
Fill the background with a dark blue (I use the dark blue because it lets me better see
when I am working with the grey); you can use black or any dark color,
2) Add a Layer. Keep all of the default settings for the new
layer. We will be working on Layer 2; not the "Layer 1"
(If you don't have a Layer shortcut (icon) on your tool bar, go to "Layers" in the Menu on the top; go to "New" leave all the default settings)
3) Go to the "Spray Can", usually on the lefthand
toolbar. Color=White Setting for "spray"; Shape=round; Opacity=36; Density=100;
Size=55; Hardness=0; Step=70.
Give the image a few sprays here and there; just sort of haphazardly.
4) Now, go the the "Retouch" tool; also on lefthand
toolbar (It looks like a hand/finger). The Tool Control should be "Smudge" and
No Texture -- Brushtip=round; Opacity=55; Density=100; Size=56; Hardness=14; Step=25.
5) Smudge to your liking; left, right, up/down.
6) That is all there is to a basic white cloud, but most clouds
have some gray and other colors so.....
Go to "Spray Can" again, this time choose a medium to dark grey, give your cloud
a whispy stroke of grey, not necessarily all over the white part of the cloud but maybe
towards the bottom or to a side; (My settings for the grey were: Brushshape=round;
Opacity=36; Density=100; Size =30; Hardness=0; Steps=38; Go back to smudge (you can leave
the settings where they are or play around with them)
After Smuding:
7) Delete background layer. The blue will go away and the cloud
will be left.
The Results:
8) To see how the cloud will look open a new image, fill it with a
color of your choice (not white); go to your cloud and make a copy of it then paste it
onto the new image you just opened that has the color background you want to use.
Clouds look more realistic when they are place randomly and sometimes partly ontop
of each other.
If you want to make this cloud into a tube the instructions are here.
QUESTIONS......Just ask (e-mail)
