Learn how to create a very cool distorted polar water effect. Category: Filter Effects

Learn how to create a very cool distorted polar water effect.

Step 1: First start off by creating a document 500 by 500 pixels and than go to Filter -> Render -> Clouds, and than go to Filter -> Render -> Difference Clouds. You should now have this.


Step 2: Now go up to Image -> Adjustments -> Levels (Ctrl + L). And tweak it so you get something similar to this.


Step 3: Now go up to Filter -> Sketch -> Water Paper. Use the default settings and hit OK. Now go up to Image -> Adjustments -> Levels (Ctrl + L). And mess with the settings till you get something like this.


Step 4: Now duplicate the layer, and with the new layer selected go up to Filter -> Blur -> Motion Blur. Set the Angle to 0 and the Distance to 60. Hit OK. Set the top layers blending mode to Lighten. And with the top layer selected still go to Layer -> Merge Down (Ctrl + E). So you should now have this all on one layer.


Step 5: Now go to Filter -> Distort -> Polar Coordinates. Select Polar to Rectangular and hit OK. Now go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation. Make sure you check the box that says "Colorize" and set the values to what I have below.


Step 6: Now duplicate the layer again, and with the top layer selected go up to Filter -> Sketch - Chrome and put the Detail to 0 and the Smoothness to 10 and hit OK. Now go up to Filter -> Sketch -> Water Paper, use the default settings and hit OK. Now go up to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, and set the Radius to 5.0 pixels. Now set the layers blending mode to Color Dodge. And with the top layer selected still go to Layer -> Merge Down (Ctrl + E). You should now have the final product which should look like this.

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