40 Killer Photoshop Effects

Since blogging became a popular method of self-promotion for designers, there has been a virtual “Cambrian explosion” with regards to the number of Photoshop tutorials online. Nowadays, you can find high quality design tutorials that show off Photoshop effects that even exceed many of the effects shown in paid tutorial DVDs, all for free at the push of a button.

However, a quality tutorial requires not only a great finished result, but quality explanation on how to achieve Photoshop effects so that you can follow along and also learn how to apply it to your own images. In this post, you’ll find 40 of the best tutorials that do just that.

If you liked our selection, perhaps these other posts will interest you too, Photoshop CS5 Tutorials, Photoshop Web Design Tutorials, Photoshop CS5 Video Tutorials, and Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials.

Face Effect

Creating a Vector Composite Effect from a Photo.

Face Effect

Create cool neon effects

ony Ariawan shows you how to use warping, layer masks and simple colour tweaking for an incredible high-tech look that’s out of this world.

Create cool neon effects

Paint a multilayered surreal portrait

Here Rob takes us through how he composited The Rose, his contribution to the Restoration phase, using a mixture of photographic and painted elements.

Paint a multilayered surreal portrait

How to Create a Stunning Fire Effect In Photoshop

Showing a realistic, fire effect in photoshop is a bit tough, but in this tutorial we will learn how to use photoshop to render realistic flames and create a dramatic artwork in few simple and easy steps.

How to Create a Stunning Fire Effect In Photoshop

Use lighting effects to make a beautiful artwork in Photoshop CS5

Today, I’m going to show you how to create a variety of light effects in Photoshop CS5 that can be applied to photography or illustration. Layered PSD file included. Let’s get started!

Use lighting effects to make a beautiful artwork in Photoshop CS5

Create Awesome Abstract Nebula Circle Shape in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show the steps I took to create this Create Awesome Abstract Nebula Circle Shape in Photoshop.

Create Awesome Abstract Nebula Circle Shape in Photoshop

Create A Speeding Car Scene With Light Effects In Photoshop

Today we will be creating a composition that blends together various stock images to create a cohesive scene. In addition, we will be using some cool Photoshop tricks to add light effects to the design.

Create A Speeding Car Scene With Light Effects In Photoshop

Create a Crystallized Water Girl Figure with Disintegration Effect in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to Create a Crystallized Water Girl Figure with Disintegration Effect in Photoshop. I will introduce a few tricks with quickly combine texture with stock image to create great looking effect, plus a few lighting techniques to give your work a great finishing touch.

Create a Crystallized Water Girl Figure with Disintegration Effect in Photoshop

Create A Futuristic Photo Illustration With Photoshop

Today I will be showing you how to take an image of a model and turn it into a futuristic composition that uses various Photoshop techniques.

Create A Futuristic Photo Illustration With Photoshop

Fire Lines Photoshop Tutorial

This tutorial will teach you how to create creative and stylish fire lines in 10 easy steps!

Fire Lines Photoshop Tutorial

Alien Photo Manipulation

Turn a woman into an alien by combining two photos. This tutorial will teach you several photo manipulation techniques for creating scary photo manipulations.

Alien Photo Manipulation

How to Create an “Alice in Wonderland” Inspired Artwork with Photoshop

Alice in Wonderland is one of the most popular fantasy stories told all over the world! In this tutorial you will learn how to create a Wonderland inspired photomanipulation using masks, blending modes and adjustments.

How to Create an “Alice in Wonderland” Inspired Artwork with Photoshop

How to Mold Paint Splatter to a Face in Photoshop

In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to take splattered paint Photoshop brushes and apply them to the contours of a model’s face. This is a relatively simple technique, which yields excellent artistic results. Let’s get to it!

How to Mold Paint Splatter to a Face in Photoshop

Water effect photo montage

I have seen something really interesting on the net a few days that was made by Nik Ainley but I found the tutorial too small. So here is a more detailed one for those who think of using this great technique.

Water effect photo montage

Making of the Imaginary Paint Dancers

I came across the amazing set of Paint Tossing freebies from Media Militia the other day and thought that I must create some artwork with them. So I visited my favorite Mjranum’s stock gallery again and done up this tutorial. Hope you will like it.

Making of the Imaginary Paint Dancers

Create a Lost Fantasy Micro World with Powerful Photo Manipulation Techniques in Photoshop

Today we will take a break from the ordinary stuff and go into a fantasy world. Learn how to build up your own micro society using many different pictures and some cool photo manipulation techniques.

Create a Lost Fantasy Micro World with Powerful Photo Manipulation Techniques in Photoshop

Create Beautiful Mystery Grunge Effect in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial, I would like to tell how to make a beautiful mystery grunge artwork using some stock images and brushes.

Create Beautiful Mystery Grunge Effect in Photoshop

Advanced tutorial – Making of Hydra

This is the most advanced tutorial I ever written and also the longest. Since there are many important things to show, I will not entertain myself on showing how to crate a mask or how to make a clipping layer, I assume you already have a medium-advanced skill with photoshop.

Advanced tutorial – Making of Hydra

Apply a Fantastic Lighting and Coloring Effect on Images with Photoshop CS5

Today I will be showing you how to take a stock image and turn it into a futuristic composition that uses various Photoshop techniques.

Apply a Fantastic Lighting and Coloring Effect on Images with Photoshop CS5

The Creation of “Immerse in Universe” Abstract Artwork in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the processes I used to create this really cool, “Immerse in Universe” Abstract Artwork in Photoshop. This is an intermediate level tutorial and some steps can be tricky for beginners, but why not have a try.

The Creation of “Immerse in Universe” Abstract Artwork in Photoshop

Show me the light – digital art tutorial

In this photoshop tutorial I will show you how to use stock images to make a beautiful digital artwork with nicely colored lights. All you need for this tutorial is my Colors in Motion textures pack and a model.

Show me the light – digital art tutorial

Create a Surreal Turtle Image

This tutorial shows the creation of one of my images. It shows how I adjust lighting and colours in my images to create this surrealistic turtle. Hopefully, you’ll be able to transfer these methods to your own work.

Create a Surreal Turtle Image

Create a Realistic Break-Apart Effect with Debris Brushset in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you an interesting technique I use to produce realistic break-apart/disintegration effect in Photoshop by using debris brushes, with a watercolour background attached.

Create a Realistic Break-Apart Effect with Debris Brushset in Photoshop

Combine Photo Elements to Create a Surreal Photo Manipulation

This Photoshop tutorial, you will learn how to use a variety of color, lighting, and cut and paste techniques to create a surreal photo manipulation. Combine your creativity with these Photoshop techniques to create your own photo manipulation artworks.

Combine Photo Elements to Create a Surreal Photo Manipulation

Use lighting effects to make photos sparkle

In this tutorial, Photoshop maestro Pete Harrison — aka Aeiko — shows how to create a variety of light effects that can be applied to photography or illustration with equal impact.

Use lighting effects to make photos sparkle

How to make a Typographic, Retro, Space Face

n this tutorial, I will show you how to make a typographic face by using simple techniques. Using the Brush Tool and experimenting with light, you will get this amazing Typographic Space Face that looks like it’s created by letters and an amazing explosion. Let’s get started!

How to make a Typographic, Retro, Space Face

How To Create A Vibrant Image Using Photoshop

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to add more energy and dynamism to a photo. The effects can be extended and used on a multitude of photos to create a feeling of motion and vibrancy to a static image.

How To Create A Vibrant Image Using Photoshop

Fly High – Light Effects Tutorial + Video

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a beautiful abstract artwork using light effects, a few fractal images, a custom brush and some cool post editing techniques. Enjoy.

Fly High – Light Effects Tutorial + Video

AfterLife – Abstract Tutorial

In this digital art tutorial I will show you how to create a nice abstract artwork using a few stock images and how to create your own custom elements using the Lasso Tool. I will also show you the “post editing” process where you enhance your final artwork and give it the final punch. Hope you enjoy this.

AfterLife – Abstract Tutorial

Create Awesome Abstract Illustrations Using Stock Art From Visual Freaks

In today’s tutorial we will demonstrate how to create an abstract illustration using a few pieces of stock art from Visual Freaks’ Organic CG Art Pack and just some basic knowledge of Photoshop. Let’s get started!

Create Awesome Abstract Illustrations Using Stock Art From Visual Freaks

How to create Colorful Valentine’s Day card with shining heart in Photoshop CS5

We have another great tutorial available for our readers today. If you want to learn how to create Colorful Valentine’s Day card with shining heart, using simple shapes and gradients in Adobe Photoshop CS5, then this tutorial is for you.

How to create Colorful Valentine’s Day card with shining heart in Photoshop CS5

Create a Mixed Media Masterpiece in Photoshop – Tutorial

Phil Dunne shows us how to create a fresh Mixed Media Masterpiece with drawn Elements in Photoshop.

Create a Mixed Media Masterpiece in Photoshop – Tutorial

Making a Color Wizard in Photoshop

This tutorial is maybe another proof that I’m a light and color effects freak, I like them very much. So, In this tutorial I’ll show you more light and layer styles effects.

Making a Color Wizard in Photoshop

Create an Awesome 3D Text Effect with Abstract Brush Decoration in Photoshop

In the tutorial, I will show you the processes I used to Create an Awesome 3D Text Effect with Abstract Brush Decoration in Photoshop. This is an intermediate tutorial so some steps can be tricky, but why not have a try.

Create an Awesome 3D Text Effect with Abstract Brush Decoration in Photoshop

How to create abstract colorful rainbow background

In this tutorial, you’ll go through easy steps for creating a nice abstract rainbow background in Photoshop. We’ll use Photoshop’s simple shapes, layer styles and gradients to create a colorful background. Let’s get started!

How to create abstract colorful rainbow background

Design a Mystical Golden Sphere in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to create this really cool, Mystical Golden Sphere in Photoshop. The steps are in fact pretty simple and the outcome looks great in my opinion, have a try.

Design a Mystical Golden Sphere in Photoshop

Design an Intense Particle Illustration using Photoshop

In this tutorial, I thought I would show you a simple process of manipulating a image with lighting effects and incorporating brushes too. This tutorial will bid you a step by step guide on how to achieve the illustrated outcome.

Design an Intense Particle Illustration using Photoshop

Abstract Glowing Background

Following this tutorial, you will learn how to draw different shapes, apply gradient, blend different shapes in the background, and more – all to create an abstract glowing background. So, let’s start!

Abstract Glowing Background

Create Fantasy Wallpaper in Photoshop

This tutorial will give you an idea to create magical fantasy wallpaper.

Create Fantasy Wallpaper in Photoshop

Manipulate Smoke to Create Hyper-Real Images

Learn to apply the Warp Tool effectively and a few other tricks to make smoke look like a skull. This technique has a variety of outcomes and works well with water, clouds and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Manipulate Smoke to Create Hyper-Real Images