Aurora Borealis - North-South Polar Lights

August 25th, 2008 by ART-D Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Designing

Learn in this tutorial how to make a nice looking aurora borealis.

For the beginning let’s create a new file (File>New) of 1600×1200 px and 72 dpi. Using the Paint Bucket Tool (G), fill the new file with black color.

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

Next we need to select the Gradients Tool (G) and fill the new file from its top to the bottom with a transparent gradient.

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

Choose on the top panel the same option, demonstrated below:

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

After that enter the filters’ palette Filter>Distort>Wave… and set the next indicated parameters:

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

We’ll get the next result…

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

Using the Rectangle Tool (U), try to stretch out the rectangle on the whole canvas. Next select on this layer Blending Options>Gradient Overlay, by making a click on this layer on the layer’s palette and choose the appropriate selections.

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3 

Gradient Editor are also indicated there.

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

You need to get the same thing from below:

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

On the same layer we must set the next shown option, chosen out of the layers’ palette.

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

On this stage, we have to press Alt button while making a mouse click between the gradient’s layers and the layer containing the rays. In this case the layers should be put over.
After that, mark out both layers on the layers’ palette and press Ctrl+E to Merge Down.
Then make a copy of the new layer we’ve got (Ctrl+J) and stretch out the copy up to the lowest edge of the canvas, applying the Free Transform option.
This option may be selected, by pressing Ctrl+T.
Set the Blending mode-Screen for the stretched copy on the layers’ palette

Create Aurora Borealis - North South Polar Lights Wallpaper in Photoshop CS3

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  • Smashing Themes

    18/08/2009

    This is exactly the tutorial I was searching for, thanks a lot man.

  • spr0sse

    22/08/2009

    omg…the result looks brilliant!
    thank you so much for sharing!

  • Vikas Kadam

    28/08/2009

    I want the tutorial cds or books where can i get it

  • Benyamin

    21/10/2009

    why the scrren wont work? from what i know from PS screen wont work on white or did i do something wrong

  • Jules.p

    12/11/2009

    For me, the Screen doesn’t work, i don’t know if it’s me but it’s really frustrated.

    Anyway, amazing result! Good job!

  • Jules.p

    12/11/2009

    I mean “frustrating”, sorry…

  • vistor

    18/11/2009

    the screen doesnt work

  • Vicky

    29/01/2010

    I do not get the last bit at all. I’m a bit confused.

  • Bdube30

    08/02/2010

    for the gradient, dont use the gradient overlay option, take the gradient tool, and on a new layer, make your gradient, and put the layer in screen mode.

    With this way to do, i sucess to finish the tutorial.