Photoshop a quick swimming pool effect

As you can read in my profile I work closely with Rudi who also has a blog on design tips, but in Dutch. Not only is he an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) and a brilliant teacher, his blog is really good too, but … in Dutch.
We decided that I will translate certain articles which are not specific to the Dutch market, so as not to deprive the non Dutch readers, (which are a lot of you), of his tips and tricks.
For those interested he also teaches in English. See www.opatel.nl … in Dutch, but there is an email address and phone number for info in English.

This is one of Rudi's
A quick swimming pool effect

During the summer vacation, while lying by the pool I remembered a quick and easy Photoshop effect of water. This is not mine but Peter Kentie's who wrote monthly tips in MacWorld. So the honours go to him. If I am not mistaken, he is now manager marketing and media for PSV in Eindhoven and has a blog about WiFi.

Here's how you do it.

Open a New Photoshop document, max. 150 ppi (It doesn't seem to work at a higher ppi, so won't do for offset printing).

Choose the Gradient Tool.

Click on the gradient preview to open up the Gradient Editor window.


Make your pool water, a gradient of lighter blue to a darker one.


Fill your document with this gradient.



Add a new layer and draw various white crosses with a soft paintbrush.


Go to the Filter menu to Distort, Ripple. Set the Size to large and the Amount high (900%). Click OK.



The squiggly lines will now have to be rotated to get the effect you want. (Command/Control T).

The effect is very simple and easy to apply your own variations.

Comments

Mgiu5 said…
more help please my crosses didnt even come like waves
April 12, 2009 at 9:38 PM
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