Hexagon Bokeh Effect in Photoshop

Final Results Step 1 Open Photoshop and create a new document, I'm using 2560x1440 pixels so I can use it as wallpaper. Fill the background layer with a very dark grey (#181818).  Step 2 Add another layer and fill it with a gradient using dark yellow, red and blue for the colors. Use 30º for the angle. After that change the Blend Mode to Overlay.  Step 3 Add a new layer and go to Filter>Render>Clouds. Make sure you have black and white for the background and foreground colors. After that go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 70 to 100 for the Amount, then change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge. Step 4 Now let's create a hexagon shape to use as brush. Select the Polygon Tool (U) and create an hexagon with black. After that go to Layer>Layer Styles>Strokes. Use 7 pixels for the Size and Inside for the Position. After that go to Blending Options: Custom and change the Fill Opacity to 50%. To create the brush just select the hexagon by holding Command(mac)/Control(pc) and clicking on the thumb of the layer, then go to Edit>Define Brush. Name your brush and get back to the document with the design. Step 5 Go to Windown>Brushes. Select Shape Dynamics and use 40% for the Jitter. Keep the other values the same. Then select Scattering, select Both Axes for the Scatter and use 700% for the value. The last thing here is Transfer. Use 40% for the Opacity Jitter and keep the other values with 0%. Step 6 Add a new layer and group this new layer, it will be inside a folder. Change the Blend Mode of the folder to Color Dodge. With the Brush Tool (B), select the hexagons brush we created in the previous step, then using white paint the layer with some hexagons.   Step 7 Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 2.0 pixels for the Radius. Step 8 Duplicate the layer and then go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur again, this time however use 5 pixels for the Radius. Change the Fill Opacity to 60%. Also with the Eraser Tool(E) delete some areas that might get too bright. Step 9 Select the folder in the Layer Palette and go to Layer>Add Layer Mask>Reveal All. Select the layer mask thumb and go to Filter>Render>Clouds. After that go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 20 pixels for the Radius. Applying the clouds fliter with the mask will hide some areas based on the clouds colors. Step 10 Add a new layer on top of the others and the select the Paint Bucket Tool (G), change the type to Pattern and select a stripped pattern, the one I used you can download it here. After that rotate it 30º. You will have to duplicate the layer and move it the new copy to fill the whole screen. Select both layers and go to Layer>Merge Layers. Change the Blend Mode to Overlay and once again add a layer mask and apply the clouds filter with blur in the layer mask as we did in the previous step. Step 11 Add a new layer and then group this new layer into a folder. Change the Blend Mode of the folder to Color Dodge then select the Brush Tool (B). With a rounded and very soft brush; use white for the color and paint some light flares. Step 12 Add a new layer still inside this folder. Get the Gradient Tool (G) and then click on the gradient to open the Gradient Editor. Change the Type to Noise, the Roughness to 100% and select both Options: Restric Colors and Add Transparency. Fill the layer using this gradient but using an Angle Gradient type. Step 13 With the layer with the Angle gradient selected go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 10 pixels for the Radius. After that with the brush tool, add another light spot exactly in the middle of the angle gradient. Step 14 Add a layer on top of the others, then fill this layer with black. with the Eraser Tool(E) and a big soft and rounded brush, delete the center a few times until you have created a vignette effect. The idea here is to darken the edges of the design. Step 15 Select all layers and duplicate them, after that, with all duplicated layers selected go to Layer>Merge Layers. The next thing to do is to go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 15 pixels for the Radius . Step 16 Duplicate this blurry layer so you will have 2 layers. For the first one change the Blend Mode to Overlay and the Opacity to 40%. For the second one, the one that will be on top of the others, use Screen for the Blend Mode and 30% for the Opacity. Conclusion This is a very simple effect to create in Photoshop, and as you can see we didn't use any special plugin or stock photos, we just used basic filters, the brush engine and some blend modes. There are lots of things we can create in Photoshop and these types of abstract effects are my favorite. Now it's up to you to come up with your own!

Colorful light Effect in Photoshop

Final Results Step 1 Open Photoshop and create a new document, for the size I used 1920x1200 pixels. After that fill the background layer with a very dark grey (121212). Step 2 With the Rectangle Tool (U) create a rectangle in the middle and crossing the canvas, use white for the color. Step 3 If you are using Photoshop CS4, convert the rectangle to Smart Objects so you can apply Smart Fllters. Then go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 10 pixels for the Radius. Step 4 Add another layer and then with the Brush Tool (B), use a very soft brush, with 0 hardness. Select white for the color and then start painting some spots. Use the keyboard shortcuts [ and ] to reduce the opacity of the brush, that way you will be abel to create more variations. After that select the rectangel layer and this layer you have just painted and then go to Layer>Group Layers. The layers will be in an folder on the Layer Panel. Change the folder's Blend Mode to Color Dodge then. Step 5 Add a new layer on top of the backround layer but beneath the other layers including the group with the light effects. Then fill the layer with any color and go to Layer>Layer Style>Gradient Overlay. Use Multiply for the Blend Mode, 90% for the Opacity , 180º for the Style and for the Colors use purple, red, yellow, and green. Also over the Blending Options, change the Fill Opacity to 0, that way the layer will have just the Gradient Overlay. After this step you will be able to see a very nice and colorful background already. Step 6 Add a new layer, on top of the gradient layer but beneath the others. Then go to Filter>Render>Clouds. Make sure you had black and white for the background and foreground colors. After the clouds filter, go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 20 pixels for the Radius. Change the Blend Mode to Soft Light, then with the Eraser Tool (E) using again a very soft brush, delete parts of the layer. The idea is to make the gradient less uniform, like a smoke. Step 7 Create a new document using 100 pixels for the width and 10 pixels for the height. Resize the background layer so it's half of the height, 5 pixels. Select all and go to Edit>Define Pattern. Name the new pattern the way you want it, and you will have a very cool stripe pattern. Back to our design, add a layer on top of the background layer but beneath the others. Then with the Paint Bucket Tool (G), change the type from foreground to pattern. Select the stripped pattern you have just created and fill the layer with it. After that change the Opacity to 2% and go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 2 pixels for the Radius. Conclusion Press Command(mac)/Control (pc) + Alt + Shitf + E, and you will have a new layer with all the layer merged. Then go to Filter>Noise>Add Noise. Use 1.4% for the Amount and Gaussian for the type. Now it's all about adding your brand and you have an awesome wallpaper. Once again we have just played with Blend Modes and basic filters. Most of the light effects use the same process, so it's all about trying and playing with the tool.