Artistic fire forest – With Firefox Logo.

Introduction.

This tutorial will show you how to make an similar photo.

We will work with these tools: Layers and layer styles, masking and brushes.

You don't need to be an expert in Photoshop, but some basic knowledge in how too use layers and masks would be nice.

The tutorial has 11 steps.

1-New.

2-Main background.

3-Background.

4-Shadows.

5-Brush.

6-Foreground.

7-Masking.

8-Drawing.

9-More drawing.

10.-Repeat step 9.

11-some finishing touches.

1-New

Ctrl+n (File->New). Choose the with and height. I always starts with 3000*3000 pixels and then afterwards I can crop it with a screen resolution.

2-Background

I made the background layer dark gray and added some difference, this could be achieved using either dodge and burn tool, or gradient tool, don't tamper with it too much(you can barely see that I've done something too it.

3-Background

Make a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+N, holding the Alt key will jump over the “new layer” window).

In this layer, use the gradient tool and make a colorful background (I've chosen red and orange).

4-Shadows

A little tricky part... Go too Layer ->Layer styles->Drop shadow I've chosen these settings:

Also stop by the Inner Shadow

5-Brush

Also a little tricky part. Go to Window-> Brushes (F5) and apply these settings:

6-Foreground

I've chosen a Firefox logo to have in the foreground, You can choose whatever you want. You can skip this step, or you can choose too wait.

Simply copy a photo and paste it in and remove unwanted area.

7-Masking

Layer->Vector mask->Reveal all. Now you have created a vector mask as seen as a white rectangle next to your layer thumbnail. Mark it and paint it black with the bucket (PS: alt+click on the mask too see it full sized).

8-Drawing

Choose the brush you made earlier and draw with white color on the mask. Start with a huge brush I used 300-400 px as master diameter. Have fun, but don't cross your “trees”.

9-More drawing.

First, duplicate the colorful layer with the mask and make the mask black. Now you change the shadows settings, look at step 4. Make the distance larger. Start drawing again in the new layers mask.

10.-Repeat step 9.

Do this until you are happy with the result, I think that I have a little bit too much trees.

11-some finishing touches.

Add a shadow to the logo and you can also change the contrast and you can blur some parts of the trees, I've chosen to done nothing with my trees afterwards.