Mini Comets

Create a new canvas of any dimension and a black background. Make a new layer and click on the Brush tool with these settings - Size:25 Hardness:0 Color:white - For advanced versions of Photoshop (6.0 and 7.0) make sure the airbrush icon is active.

Scatter the dots randomly on the canvas.

Now to make the TAILS! For a straight tail, grab the and make a new work path on the same layer by clicking on the center of one dot we just made.

Connect that path by clicking again on any direction outside the dot. Just leave that work path for a minute and choose the Smudge tool .

In the smudge tool, use these settings - Brush size:12 Hardness:0 Pressure:80 and check Finger Painting - Advanced versions of Photoshop should have the airbrush tool active.

Ok, now go back to the and right click over the work path you just left. Choose " stroke subpath " and choose Smudge on the dropdown menu. Click OK.

Right click again and choose Delete Path.

To make a curved tail, use the and click on the center of the dot to make a new work path. Connect that work path by clicking outside of the dot. Instead of releasing the mouse button, try dragging the mouse until you see lines extending from the work path (like the one on the left). Notice that your line is now curved?

Simply adjust the curve till you get it right.

Just the same as the straight tail, leave the work path for a while and adjust the Smudge settings . When you're through, go back to the pen and right click choosing " stroke subpath " and " smudge ."

Right click again and choose Delete Path.

Now its up to you to randomize the tails. You can vary the direction and even the length of each tail. You're basically done at this point, but if you wish to proceed, I'll show you how to add color to them.

In adding color, select the mini comets that you made by holding the CTRL key + the comets layer. Then choose Select > Feather > 3 pixels .

With the selection still active, create a new layer and use the or tool to put in the colors you want. Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color Dodge, Overlay, Screen or Color.

I used the and chose a pink and orange color. I also added in a few dots of smaller diameters and colored them with blue and purple. How about that for a cosmic effect?

Lookie fireflies! I used the tool and colored them with green! Added in a blue water background! Cute ne?