Hypno Tunnel Effect

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a very hypnotic tunnel effect that can be used in header backgrounds, or even for signatures and desktop wall papers. This tutorial utilizes tools and utilities that come packages with Adobe Photoshop CS, so if you are using an older version of photoshop (such as 7 or older) you may have trouble completing some of the steps within this tutorial.

Here is an example of what we will be making with this tutorial:

Note: This tutorial is for use with Adobe Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS2 software upgrades. If you are using an older version of Photoshop you may not be able to complete a few of the steps.

Step 1.

Create a new document of any size, I'll be using a 400x400 document for this tutorial.

Fill the background with black (#000000).

Step 2.

Get out the Eclipse Shape Tool ( ) and set the tool up as I have done here:

Create an ellipse shape as I have done here:

Step 3.

Enable the "Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas" option form the top tool bar:

Again using the ellipse shape tool with "exclude overlapping" enabled, create a few more ovals over top of our current shape until you get an effect similar to what I have here. This was done by creating four more oval shapes on top of the first:

Step 4.

Double click this layer, and apply the following blending options:

Bevel & Emboss:

Color Overlay:

Color Used: #8AFF00

Stroke:

Color Used: #000000

Result:

Step 5.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N on your keyboard to create a new layer.

Click on this layer in the Layers Pallet, and drag it bellow our shape layer.

Now click on the Shape layer once to select it. And press Ctrl + E on your keyboard to merge. This will rasterize the layer, and it's blending options.

Step 6.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Edit->Transform->Rotate 90 Degree:

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Lighten":

Result:

Step 7.

Repeat this process to create more duplicates. Rotate, place and change the layer mode to "Lighten", just as we did in step #6.

Here is a sequence of the duplicates I have made:

Step 8.

Click on the topmost layer in your layers pallet, and press Ctrl + E 5 times to merge all layers (except the background layer). Your layers pallet should look like this when you are finished:

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard 2 times to create two duplicates of this layer.

Go to Filter->Sketch->Conte Crayon and apply the following settings:

Result:

Step 9.

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Overlay":

Result:

Step 10.

Click on the layer below this one (the first duplicate) we created in step #8.

Go to Filter->Blur->Radial Blur and apply the following settings:

Change the Blending mode of this layer to "Lighten"

Click and drag this layer above all other layers in the layer pallet.

Result:

Step 11.

Press Ctrl + E 3 times on your keyboard to merge all layers together except the background layer.

Press Ctrl + T on your keyboard to get out the Free Transform Tool.

Right click the layer and select 'Warp'. Select inflate from the preset warp shapes and apply the inflate settings as shown:

Result:

Step 12.

Select and merge all the layers except background layer. Press Ctrl+T. Right click the layer and select warp. Select inflate from the preset warp shapes. Apply inflate settings as shown.

Step 13.

Press Ctrl + T to get out the Free Transform Tool.

Place your cursor near the top right corner node (box), hold down the Shift key and click and drag up and outward to enlarge this shape as shown here:

Press Enter on your keyboard to finalize the transformation.

Result:

Step 14.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N on your keyboard to create a new layer.

Get out the Elliptical Marquee Tool ( ).

Create a circle selection while holding down the Shift key on your keyboard.

Fill this select with #BAFFAA with the Flood Fill paint bucket ( ).

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Get out the Move Tool ( ) hold down the Shift key, and move this circle over a little as I have done here:

Repeat this process until you have 6 circles as I've got here:

Click on the topmost layer in the layers pallet, and press Ctrl + E on your keyboard to merge all of the circle layers into one.

Step 15.

Double click this layer, and apply the following blending options:

Outer Glow:

Color Used: #00FF25

Bevel & Emboss:

Note: Color used: #00FF27

Stroke:

Result:

Step 16.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N on your keyboard to create a new layer.

Click this layer, and drag it below the Circles layer we created in step #15 in the layers pallet.

Click on the Circles layer in the layers pallet, and press Ctrl + E to merge it with the layer below it.

(this will rasterize the layer, and it's blending options.)

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Get out the Move Tool ( ) and position it as I have done here:

Repeat this process to create a circle pattern, until your canvas is filled as I have done here:

Click on the topmost circle layer in the layers pallet, and press Ctrl + E repeatedly until all of the circle layers are merged into one.

Step 17.

Press Ctrl + T on your keyboard to activate the Free Transform Tool.

Right click anywhere on the canvas, and choose Distort:

Place your cursor near the Top Right corner node (box), hold down both the Alt + Shift keys on your keyboard, click and drag downward toward the center of the canvas until your shape looks similar to this:

Next place your cursor near the center node (box) on the right side of the shape, click and drag it outward to the left until your shape looks similar to this:

Press ENTER on your keyboard to finalize the transformation.

Step 18.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Edit->Transform->Flip Horizontal:

Get out the Move Tool ( ) and position this duplicate at the opposite end of the canvas as I have done here:

Step 19.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Edit->Transform->Rotate 90 Degrees CW:

Get out the Move Tool ( ) and position this duplicate layer near the bottom of the canvas as I have done here:

Step 20.

Press Ctrl + J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer.

Go to Edit->Transform->Flip Vertical:

Get out the Move Tool ( ) and position it as I have done here at the top of the canvas:

Here is how my polished final result came out, after tweaking the circles a little bit further with the free transform tool:

And this concludes the tutorial. I hope you've enjoyed learning this technique and it has given you some ideas on how to use the various distort and free transform tools available in photoshop to create some very dramatic and elegant effects that have a real sense of depth.