Find out the real might of Photoshop filters and the techniques used to create abstract images. This section contains the most unexpected graphic results.  Home Photoshop Special Effects Fairy Light

Fairy Light


This effect works well with mystical themed wallpapers! 

1: Create a new black (or dark colored) 1024x768 image. Create a new layer. On this second layer, use the line tool set at 4px and hold down the shift key to draw a straight, white line. Duplicate this layer 3 times. On the lowest line layer, Filter > Blur > Guassian Blur 8px. On the other layer, Filter > Blur > Guassian Blur 3px. 

2: Select the top-most solid line layer and then Filter > Distort > Shear. Just randomly click in the Shear selection screen to create a curvy line. Right now, the line has some jagged edges. To get rid of those, Layer > Layer Style > Outer glow. Set the Outer glow to Opacity: 75%; Noise: 0; Color: White; Size: 1; Spread: 100; Range: 100 Jitter 100 and make sure Anti-aliased is checked. Duplicate your curvy line layer, remove glow effect and then Filter > Blur > Guassian Blur 9px.

3: Now, this next part, you can either choose to make your own brush, or download the one I've provided here. With the brush I've provided, in a new layer, trace over the lines so that it looks like it does in the picture.    

4: Now duplicate the layer with the sparkles three times. On the bottom-most layer, Filter > Blur > Motion Blur: 90º, 40px. On the next layer, Filter > Blur > Motion Blur: 30º, 40px. On the one above that, Filter > Blur > Motion Blur: -30º, 40px. Duplicate your Motion Blur: 90º, 40px layer one time. Now it looks like a fountain of glitter. 

5: Now, to fancy-up the effect a little more, duplicate your curvy line layer and Filter > Blur > Motion Blur: 30º, 200px. Duplicate the motion blurred layer again, and Edit > Free Transform and rotate this other layer in a creative way. I suggest that you also try Filter > Distort > Pinch: 100% for more fluid motion blur effects. 

6: From this point on, just use your creativity and finish it however you like! I added a couple additional layers of motion blurs, and finished it by adding a new layer and setting the layer properties to color! Click the image for a larger view! Have fun with it!

Fairy Light Tutorial: Final Result
Click to enlarge


Author's URL: Natalie
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Reader's comments
comments Wolftrot December 14, 2007 says:
Fairy Light
I wasn't able to get the effect as well as it's done in the tutorial, but it's workable. I really like the brush for the fairy dust, it's really good for sprinkling little photoshop glitter on your immages.
comments Reiven February 15, 2005 says:
Fairy Light
I have changed few instructions in the tutorial. Try to complete it now.