Learning Planet Effects

Begin by creating a new file (File>New) with 1024x768 px and 72 dpi.

Take after that the Rectangle Tool (U) and represent the primary layer, reserved for the background of the picture to be.

Make a double click on the layer on the layers' panel and set the next demonstrated parameters:

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient's parameters:

Now we have to picture a starry sky. In this case it's necessary to create a new layer firstly (Create new layer) and select the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to paint the layer in black. Apply for it also the next filter's option: Filter>Noise>Add noise

Make a click on the same layer on Add a Mask option, situated on the layers' panel. Choose a standard brush, Opacity of 20%, black color and 200 in diameter to clean out a little the starry sky, as it is demonstrated below.

Create a new layer and select for it a standard brush of white color with blurred edges to represent a white patch. It may be processed with the Smudge Tool (R) to get after all a bright star. The instrument's direction should be from the patch's middle to outside, as you may see on the next picture.

Find in Internet a picture, having represented on it a planet.

Cut out the planet and erase its lowest corner. Insert it after that on our picture. The planet's placement may be corrected with the Free Transform option.

Create one more new layer (Create new layer) and choose once again the Brush Tool (B) of black color, Opacity of 10% to dark out the planet.

Press Alt button and make a mouse click between the planet's layers and the brush's layer for the darkening to be applied in the limits of the planet.

Combine in a group all the layers composing the big planet and its darkening (hold on Ctrl button to mark out the appropriate layers and then hold on the left mouse's button while taking down the marked layers on Create a new group selection). Make a copy of this group, press again Ctrl button, mark out both layers of the planet on the copied group, press on Ctrl+E, combining these two layers into one. The Free Transform option may help us to turn over the copy and place it the way it is represented below.

Apply the next parameters for the copy: Fill 20%

Find in Internet now a picture of the sky.

Insert it on our basic picture.

Make a click on the lowest part of the layers' panel on Add a Mask option. Select the Brush Tool (B) of black color and try to clean out that part of the sky situated on the bottom and on the top.

Find in Internet a picture of Mars planet and downloaded it out.

Cut out the planet itself and introduce it on our picture.

Apply the same method and the same operation we did with the big planet. We have to dark out the planet the same way we did before.

Make a copy of the planet and turn it over for getting its reflection.

The layer in reflection should have the next parameters: Fill 20%

Create now a new layer (Create new layer) and select a standard brush with blurred edges, Brush Tool (B), and the color #5F9BB8. The Opacity in this case is of 10% and we have also to picture a highlight above the upper parts of the clouds.

Find in Internet a picture, having represented on it the mountains.

Cut out the shown fragments of the mountains.

Insert the mountains' fragments on our picture, correcting their placement with Free Transform option. Press Ctrl button to mark out both mountains' fragments. Cut them out, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and press Delete button.

Select the Burn Tool (O) to dark out the mountains' tops on each layer, containing the mountains' fragments.

Make copies of the layers containing the mountains' fragments and choose the Free Transform option to turn over the copies as it is done on the next picture.

The next filter's option, Filter>Blur>Motion Blur, should be applied on each layer in reflection, having on them the mountains' fragments.

Apply for each layer of the reflected mountains' fragments the next parameter: Fill 70%

Create now a new layer (Create new layer) and select on it the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to paint it in black color and select for the layer this option: Filter>Render>Clouds

Set the next layer's parameters: Blending mode-Soft Light

Make a mouse click on the same layer on Add a Mask option on the layers' panel and choose a standard brush of black color, erase the unnecessary part of the recently made clouds. Keep only their upper part, as it is shown next picture.

Click to enlarge

The picture is finished!