So, I picked up on the fact that you guys appreciate my small tutorials so here’s yet another one! Almost everything I know from Photoshop is self-learnt. I mean, we had a mandatory course in it last year in Uni, but I didn’t learn anything. Hehe.
Anyway, today I’m going to show you how to get a blue mist filter look to your images. It’s a cool effect that can spice up almost any picture. For this example, I borrowed a photo of a penguin (I like penguins) from Barcelona Zoo which my good friend Johanna took, and we will go from this:
to this:
Ready? OK!
Step 1: Use curves to create contrast. Go to Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves and create an S-shape similar to this or until you see the contrast fit:
Step 2: Create a blue color spot. Go to Layer – New Fill Layer – Gradient.
In the first box that pops up you change Mode to Screen and Opacity to 60%.
In the next dialogue box you need to choose your gradient. Click on the Gradient box to get there, and to create your own gradient.
Set the lower left color box to the blue color #31c2ff and the lower right to a slightly lighter one #a0e1fc. The upper right box needs to have Opacity 0% in order for the gradient to fade from blue to nothing.
Give your gradient a name and click New. You’ll use it again in the next step. Click OK.
Set style to Radial to get a round gradient and set the Angle to around 40°. Click OK.
Step 3: Get a deeper blue tone. Create another Gradient Fill the same way as in Step 2.
Set Mode to Screen again but drag Opacity down to 30%.
In the next dialogue box you choose the gradient you just saved (if you didn’t save it you need to create it again). Leave Style setting at Linear and Angle 90°. Change Scale to 150% and click OK.
Step 4: Last color adjustments. If you’re satisfied you can skip this step, but if you want some last adjustments create a new Adjustment Layer at Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance.
Only adjust the Midtones. Get more red and blue into the image, around 20% on both colors should do it.
And then you’re done!
