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+--- Thread: Help with making this effect look more realistic (/Thread-Help-with-making-this-effect-look-more-realistic)
Help with making this effect look more realistic - Tygra - 01-09-2026
Hi guys,
I am trying create a similar effect on my predator image (the first image) as it is in the photograph from the movie (the second image), where there are link blue sparks of electricity. I know it looks very different at the moment, but I am trying to make it look more realistic. At the moment the blue sparks on the first image looks like it is just pasted over the top of predator, as opposed to making it look like it is actually on his body.
Do you guys know what technique I could use to make it look like the blue sparks are actually on his body?
Many thanks.
RE: Help with making this effect look more realistic - sallyanne - 01-10-2026
[attachment=14174]
What I did was open a picture of the predator. Make a selection around it (background was easier for me as it was one colour) then invert that selection. Add a transparent layer and use the sparks brush to draw your sparks where you want them. The brush is yellow so you will have to change the colour in colourize to the colour you want your sparks to be. Then while the top layer is selected change the layer mode to 'grain merge' This should give you the expected result.
RE: Help with making this effect look more realistic - denzjos - 01-10-2026
I tried this. Create a new transparent layer. Use the "Sparks" brush (a round yellow-orange dot). Set the brush settings to your liking: aspect ratio 10, distance 100, etc.
Draw on the transparent layer. Change the color to blue using "Colors / Hue-Chroma." Filters / Distortions / Offset / Vertical. Then use "Filters / Blur / Gaussian Blur." Set the layer mode of the transparent layer to "Merge." Duplicate the transparent layer and set its layer mode to "Overlay."
[attachment=14175]
RE: Help with making this effect look more realistic - rich2005 - 01-10-2026
(Yesterday, 09:57 PM)Tygra Wrote: Hi guys,
I am trying create a similar effect on my predator image (the first image) as it is in the photograph from the movie (the second
Maybe experiment something like this:
(1) New transparent layer and paint in some selections using the quickmask. (Shift-Q toggle)
(2) Fill the selections with a gradient - white/cyan - with Shape = dimpled.
(3) Apply a displacement map on the layer using the bg image as the map. Break the link between horizontal and vertical.
[attachment=14176]
RE: Help with making this effect look more realistic - Tygra - 01-10-2026
Hi guys, thank you for your time and effort. I am just practising with your methods now.