This tutorial explains how to create and apply sensational, three-dimensional water drops in an image.

Click here to open a sample image.

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Apply the Add Noise filter, the Gaussian Blur filter, and invert the image.

  1. Click Effects menu, Noise, Add Noise.
  2. In the Add Noise dialog box, set the Level slider and the Density slider to 90.
  3. In the Noise Type section, click the Gaussian button, and click OK.
  4. Click Effects menu, Blur, Gaussian Blur.
  5. In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, type 5 in the Radius box, and click OK.
  6. Click Image menu, Transform, Invert.

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Apply the Threshold filter and the Gaussian Blur filter.

  1. Click Image menu, Transform, Threshold.
  2. In the Color section of the Threshold dialog box, click the To White button.
  3. Type 75 in the Threshold box, and 255 in the High Level box, and click OK.
  4. Click Effects menu, Blur, Gaussian Blur.
  5. In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, type 5 in the Radius box, and click OK.
  6. Click Image menu, Transform, Threshold.
  7. In the Threshold dialog box, type 225 in the Threshold box.
  8. In the Color section, click the To Black button, and click OK.

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Create a mask selection that allows only the black areas of the image to be edited. Then apply a Gaussian Blur, copy the image to the Clipboard, and paste it into the image.

  1. Click Mask menu, Color Mask.
  2. Click the Eyedropper tool, click a black area of the image, and click OK.
  3. Click Effects menu, Blur, Gaussian Blur.
  4. In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, type 1 in the Radius box, and click OK.
  5. Click Edit menu, Copy, and then click Edit menu, Paste, As New Object.
  6. In the Property Bar, click If Lighter from the Merge Mode list box.
  7. Click Effects menu, Blur, Gaussian Blur.
  8. In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, type 5 in the Radius box, and click OK.
  9. Click Image menu, Transform, Invert.

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Add a three-dimensional look to the drops with the Lighting Effects filter.

  1. Click Effects menu, Render, Lighting Effects.
  2. In the Lighting Effects dialog box, drag the light source selector off the top left of the image.
  3. On the Light Source tab, click the Directional button, and type 175 in the Brightness box.
  4. Click the Atmosphere tab, and select RGB Channels from the Channel list box.
  5. Type -59 in the Relief box, and 42 in the Contrast box.
  6. Type 26 in the Ambient Brightness box, and click OK.
  7. Click Effects menu, Blur, Directional Smooth.
  8. In the Directional Smooth dialog box, set the Percentage slider to 50, and click OK.

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You have now created water drop effects. You can add these drops to another image with a colored background for an even more spectacular effect.

Create a new image with a colored background, and paste the water drops into it.

  1. Click Edit menu, Copy.
  2. Click File menu, New.
  3. In the Create A New Image dialog box, click a blue color from the Paper Color color picker.
  4. Type 5 in the Width and Height boxes, click Inches from the Units box, type 72 in the Resolution box, and click OK.
  5. Click Edit menu, Paste, As New Object, and move the Object Opacity slider on the Property Bar to 60.
  6. Click Window menu, PTTIP3OPEN.CPT, to make the original image the active window, and click Object menu, Combine, Combine Objects With Background.
  7. Click Edit menu, Copy, and then choose the name of the new image from the Window menu to make it the active window.
  8. Click Edit menu, Paste, As New Object, choose Multiply from the Merge Mode list box on the Property Bar, and move the Object Opacity slider on the Property Bar to 60.
  9. Click Object menu, Combine, Combine All Objects With Background.

Now you have learned how to create amazing water drop effects. Here's an example of what your image might look like.


Click here for more cool effects.