Phil Sutters' photos with the keyword: Photoshop Elements 6

The title gives clues to how the image was put together - but I bet I couldn't repeat it exactly, let alone tell someone else how it was done! Basically I used fractal 'brushes' from Photoshop Creative magazine's disc and, using a large brush size, painted a single brush stroke - using it like a stamp - onto a new layer in a neutral colour - probably white in this case - and then stretched it across the background and applied a gradient to get the colours. This was repeated with a different fractal brush on a new layer. The two were then moved about until the layout worked. Then a glowing edge filter was applied. The words were typed separately and curved using the 'warp text' button before 'simplifying' the text layer, which was then treated with the glowing edges filter. The eye was made by using a 'glass button' effect - although it is probably the weakest part of the image. The software was Photoshop Elements 6.

I suppose this illustrates the point that brushes like these smoke patterns are not limited to smoke effects as can be seen on the lettering, but can be the basis of effects like ice or larva - anything that needs an irregular surface to start with.

Half-tone and and paint spatter brushes from PC93 - used with glass buttons from PSE6 Photoshop Creative is a monthly magazine which comes with a CD of tuition, creative resources, including Photoshop brushes, and sample photos from camera and equipment reviews.