A couple of months ago I installed a free email optin plugin called OptinEngine and so far have been impressed with the results. Our Email signups have more than doubled over the standard email optin form that we show on the site. I am so impressed with the results I wanted to share it with you!

Once installed setting up a new optin is as easy as choosing one of the pre-defined templates as a starting point. There are three types of optin available:

• Model: A screen takeover where the user must either enter their email or close the box
• Slider: Similar to modal but allows the user to keep reading the content while keeping the option to subscribe
• Bar: A HelloBar style info bar that stick to either the top or the bottom of the page

Using the template optin as a starting point you can then customise the text, colours, images and fonts, allowing you to match the optin to your website’s look and feel.

Various filters are available that allow you to disable the optin based on device or for certain page types like archive, pages, etc.

Storing Emails

OptinEngine can send your email leads to a third party email provider like MailChimp, Aweber or ConstantContact or it can store the emails internally in it’s own email list that you can export later.

If you own a blog or website running on WordPress I highly recommend that you take a look.

OptinEngine – Email Optins for WordPress

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop CS6 with the size 1000px by 1500px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill with #030221 color the new background layer.

Find a stock photo with a dancer posing on studio, I used this photo from Shutterstock. I would like to thank the author of this photo, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.

Remove the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P), Magic Wand Tool (W), Magnetic Lasso (L) or even a simple Filter>Extract and insert it on a new layer in our main document.

Let’s represent now a layer under the dancer’s one. Take the Brush Tool (B) and select a smooth brush of the color #65b0c9, set and Opacity to 40% in Options bar, and paint the background as it is shown below.
Set the Blending mode for this layer to Linear Dodge.

Next represent a new layer again and apply the same brush to paint the background with same color above it. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Color Dodge.

Open the Adobe Illustrator program and create a new file with the size 1000px by 1500px. Then draw a blue rectangle, applying the Rectangle Tool (M).

Using the Ellipse Too, we’ll draw two ellipses.

The big ellipse should have Stroke – 1pt and the small one – 3pt.

The big ellipse may be adjusted with the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift+C) as it is represented on the next picture.

Select out both ellipses using the Selection Tool (V). Press Shift button.

Apply on the selected ellipses next option: Object > Blend > Blend Options. Set Specified steps to 20.

Press the next combination of buttons Ctrl+Alt+B and we’ll get 20 intermediate elements as it is shown below:

Using the same methods, let’s represent now a circle, having less intermediate copies inside of it, only 10 Specified steps.

Using the Line Segment Tool, represent three lines marked with red color, having Stroke – 3pt and Specified steps – 25. We’ll get the next element:

Select the Rectangle Tool (M).

Let’s represent now two parallel rectangles, applying Specified steps – 12.

Now we’ll select out the figure composed out of triangles’ shape lines, using the Selection Tool (V) and press Ctrl+C to Copy the lines. Open up the Adobe Photoshop and press on our file Ctrl+V to Paste as Smart Object the lines in our main document.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Soft Light.

Double up the layer Ctrl+J and turn over horizontally the duplicate, using the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command (Flip Horizontal). Place this layer under the dancer’s layer, getting the next result.

Make a copy one of the layers now and choose Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to get the same result as on the picture it is shown.

Select now the Eraser Tool (E) and clean out smoothly the edges of the last made layer.

Place below another layer processing it firstly the same way.

Combine in a group all the layers containing the lines (press CTRL button to select the necessary layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create a new group icon from bottom part of the Layers panel).

Apply Vector Mask for the new group and choose the Brush Tool (B) also to hide out the lines on the mask the same way as it is shown next image.

Insert some lines on the top, as on the next image it is demonstrated.

Create a new layer and select Soft Round brush of white color, set Flow to 20% in Options bar to represent the shining effect as it is shown below.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Create another new layer and insert some brushstrokes as shown using the same brush. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Normal.

Select the brush on a new layer and insert the violet shining effects, having this color #9265C9.

Create a new layer and apply the same brush with the same color but this time to get a greater shining effect along the edges, the same way from the next picture. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Soft Light.

Get back to the Illustrator, select the circles and press CTRL+C to Copy. Return to Adobe Photoshop and press CTRL+V to Paste as Smart Object. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Hard Light.

Then make a copy of the big circle:

Hide it out along the edges, using an Eraser Tool.

Insert the made rectangles from Illustrator, distort it the same way from below, applying the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command.

Hide it out, using the Eraser tool.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Outer Glow.

The rectangles layer will shine:

Make a copy of this layer and turn it over by horizontal position.

Let’s represent the shadow on the new layer now, using the Soft Round brush with Flow – 10% and insert an easy luminescence on the model’s shoulder’s zone.

Create a new layer, using the Paint Bucket Tool (G) fill the layer with #5F2D50 color. Set Fill to 60% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Color.

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between new layer with the color on it and the layer containing the model in the Layers panel to create a clipping mask. The color will be applied only on the model’s layer.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

The model’s layer became more contrasting in result.

Now we have to make darker the bottom part of the model’s legs, by creating a new layer and combining it with the model’s one. Apply the Soft Round brush with Flow – 10% and black color. Paint smoothly the legs until the model’s knees’ zone.

Repeat the operations now, selecting this time the blue color #4164AA. We have also to tone the model’s hair, her hand and the her hips.

Now we shall represent the light effect, by creating a new layer and combining it with the model’s one. Select after that the brush of white color and make lighter the contours the same way demonstrated below.

Create a new layer again and fill it with the next shown color #61BFBB. Set Fill to 80% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Soft Light.

… and create another new layer filled with #ff6b00 color. Set Fill to 14% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Color.

Create a new layer, use Soft Round brush to paint the canvas’ edges with black color, Flow – 10%.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections. Add a mask on this layer and press Ctrl+I to inverse the color of the mask.

Choose now the brush of white color and paint in the mask of the adjustment layer. This time we’ll paint the head’s zone, the left top edge and the right lowest one, getting the contrast effect this way.

Next we need a customizez brush, select Hard Round brush, go to Brushes panel (F5), select the Brush Tip Shape. Click and drag any of the sliders to change the Size and brush Spacing as show. The Preview window displays the changed brushstroke.

Go to Shape Dynamics and apply the next settings:

Apply Transfer:

Use this customized brush to represent the circles in an arbitrary mode (brush Flow – 80%) on new layer. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Create a new layer and select Soft Round brush with Flow – 30%, paint the indicated zones lighter as it is represented next image. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Exposure to adjust tonality by performing calculations in a linear color space. Set the next value for Exposure, Offset and Gamma.

Press Ctrl+Shift+E to put together all the layers in a single one. Apply on this layer the next filter: Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.

View full size here.

Download free Layered PSD file.

The Final Image

Required Resources:

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the settings below:

Step 2

Open the forest stock. Drag it into our white canvas using the Move Tool (V) and scale it down it to fit the document:

To add some depth to the scene, go to Filter > Blur > Gassian Blur and set the radius to 6 px:

On the Filter Mask use a basic, soft brush with black color to erase the blur effect on the foreground:

Step 3

Open the gravestones image. I took two gravestones and place them in the ground as shown below:

Apply Gassian Blur with 3 px to the smaller one:

Step 4

Make all the gravestones layers selected and press Cmd/Ctrl+G to create a group for them. Change the mode of this group from Pass Through (default group mode) to Normal 100%. Make a Curves adjustment layer within this group to brighten the gravestones:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the top right of the gravestones as it’s illuminated by the light:

Step 5

Cut out the pumpkin and place it in the middle section of the ground:

Step 6

I used a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer with Clipping Mask to reduce the saturation of the pumpkin a little:

Step 7

I used a Photo Filter adjustment layer with the same purpose:

Step 8

I used Curves to darken the pumpkin:

On this layer mask us a soft black brush to erase the top right to make some light there:

Step 9

Create four new layers on the top. Change the brush color to white and use the different cobweb brushes to paint around the pumpkin as shown below:

Step 10

Click the second button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a mask to two cobweb layers. Use a soft black brush to erase some unwanted details of the cobwebs to get more natural result:

Step 11

Open the smoke image (feel free to use your own photo). Isolate it from the background and put it over the  working document:

Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to reduce  the smoke intensity to get the result below:

Step 12

I used Curves to darken the smoke effect:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush with the  opacity about 20% to erase the foreground to make the effect there more visible:

Step 13

Isolate the crow and place him above the pumpkin:

Step 14

Make a new layer under the crow one. Use a soft black brush with the opacity about 50% to paint the shadow under the crow claws:

Step 15

Make another layer and use the same brush to paint more shadow of the crow on the pumpkin:

Step 16

I used Hue/Saturation for this crow:

Step 17

I used Curves to darken the crow and on this layer mask use a soft black brush to clear the dark effect on the upper right of the crow:

Step 18

Create a new layer and use a hard brush with the size about 8-9 px and with a red color ( I used #ff0000) to paint an evil eye for the crow:

Step 19

Make three layers on the top. Paint with the bat brushes on each layer with black color. I lowered the opacity of these bats to 40 and 50% to fit the foggy background:

Apply Gassian Blur with 3 px to these bat layers:

Step 20

It’s time for coloring the scene. Make a Gradient Map adjustment layer on the top:

Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100%:

Step 21

I used Color Balance to add some cyan-blue to the scene:

Step 22

Create a Photo Filter adjustment layer on the top:

Step 23

On the top of the layer, use the Lasso Tool (L) to make a selection on the ground and set the feather radius for it to 60:

Go to Layer > Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixer:

We have the result below:

You can use a soft black brush to refine the red area to get the desired look.

Step 24

With the same method I used Curves to make the effect more subtle:

 

His process, which became know as the Dragan effect typically involves high micro contrast portraits that emphasize the detail of the human face. Wrinkles, pores, lines and dark eyes are all accentuated  to create a greater of level of depth in the subject.

Achieving this effect in Photoshop is fairly straight forward but with most techniques each photo must be taken on an individual basis.

The Source Image

Source Files

Old Polish father portrait

Step 1: Getting Started

1. Download the image from the link below
2. Open up the source image in Photoshop

Step 2: Levels

1. In the layers panel click on the icon to add a new Levels adjustment layer (alternatively you can click on the half full circle at the bottom of the layers panel and select Levels from the menu
2. Depending on the current contrast of your photo enter a black point value of between 30-50. In this example I used a value of 40
3. Leave the midpoint and white point levels as their default values

Step 3: Hue / Saturation

1. In the layers panel click on the icon to add a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (alternatively you can click on the half full circle at the bottom of the layers panel and select Hue/Saturation from the menu
2. In the adjustment layer’s properties enter a saturation value of -50

Step 4: Curves

1. In the layers panel click on the icon to add a new Curves adjustment layer (alternatively you can click on the half full circle at the bottom of the layers panel and select Curves from the menu
2. Click in the very middle of the graph to create a control point
3. Click again twice on either side of the middle point to create two new control points
4. Drag the first (lowest) control point down slightly. This will add contrast in the dark areas
5. Drag the last (highest) point up slightly. This will add contrast in the lighter areas
6. You should now have a slight S curve in your curves graph and see much more contrast in your image

Step 5: Add Detail (High Pass Filter)

1. In the Layers panel select the main (background) layer and duplicate it (right click Duplicate Layer or Ctrl+J)
2. Drag the new layer copy to the top of the layer stack, above the adjustment layers we added in the previous steps
3. Double click on the new layer to open the Layer Styles
4. Set the Blending mode to Overlay
5. Press OK
6. From the Filter menu choose Other -> High Pass
7. Adjust the radius slider at the bottom of the dialog until you see good amount of detail coming through but not too much. In this example I chose a value of 4.5
8. Press OK

Step 6: Burn the details

We will be using a non-destructive dodge and burn for this tutorial. If you are interested in the details check out the Non-destructive dodge and burn tutorial

1. In the layers panel select the top layer
2. From the Layer menu choose New -> Layer…
3. Enter Dodge and Burn for the name
4. Set it’s blend mode to Overlay
5. Check ‘Fill with Overlay-neutral color (50% gray) at 100% opacity
6. Press OK

1. In the layers panel, select the new (top gray) layer
2. Select the Brush tool (B)
3. Press D to set the default colors (black and white)
4. Use the X key to choose the Black foreground color
5. Paint with a low opacity (5-10%) over the areas you would like to make darker such as the wrinkles, eyes, facial hair etc.

That’s all there is to it, this technique works well with elderly subjects due to the added depth of their appearance but it can also work very well for younger subjects.. why not give it a try and post your results in the comments?

The Final Image

Required Resources:

Deer     http://pixabay.com/en/deer-stag-antler-wildlife-animals-285149/

Abstract shape   http://jennyle88.deviantart.com/art/Abstract-Shapes-1-439476956

Render   http://fmdesigner.deviantart.com/art/Abstract-2-0037-358069033

Circles   http://mediamilitia.com/circular-design-pack-67-free-vectors/

Particles   http://mediamilitia.com/particles-pack-25-free-images/

Nebula 1   http://jennyle88.deviantart.com/art/Nebula-stock-24-466487355

Nebula 2  http://jennyle88.deviantart.com/art/Nebula-stock-11-466482345

Nebula 3   http://jennyle88.deviantart.com/art/Nebula-stock-17-466484004

Clouds brushes   http://webdesignerlab.com/resources/free-clouds-brushes

 

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the settings below:

Step 2

Press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+N to make a new layer. Hit G to active the Gradient Tool and choose Radial Gradient with the colors #a3a3a3 and #f0f0f0. Drag a line from the top center to the bottom:

Click the second button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a mask to this layer. Use a basic, soft brush with black color with the opacity about 20-30% to erase on the parts below:

Step 3

Cut out the deer and choose the head part to place in our main canvas:

Add a mask to this layer and erase some of the hard edges at the lower part of the deer using a black brush:

Step 4

I used an adjustment layer with Clipping Mask to desaturate the deer. Go to Layer > Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation:

Step 5

Open the render image. Use the Move Tool to drag it onto the deer:

I used Hue/Saturation to change the render color:

Step 6

Open up Illustrator. Create a new document with the following settings:

Choose the Spiral Tool from the main menu and paint a spiral on the white canvas:

Go to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel:

We have this result:

 

Step 8

Open the abstract shapes image. Choose the left one and place it in the center of the wireframe:

I used Curves to brighten this shape:

Since the early days of digital post processing Photoshop made these tools available to us without having to leave our computer. The problem with these tools however is that by their nature they destructive i.e. using these tools changes the source pixels so once we save and re-open the document we can no longer go back to how the image was, it has been forever changed.

Luckily for us, as with most things in Photoshop, there are many ways to do a single job and in in tutorial we’ll look at how to achieve dodging and burning using layers, leaving the source image in it’s original state.

Final Image

The Theory

This technique is achieved by taking advantage of Photoshop’s Overlay blend mode to combine two layers together (the original and the Dodge & Burn adjustment). We start by creating a new layer and filling it with 50% gray and setting the blending mode to Overlay. Because the new layer is all 50% gray it will have no effect on the overall image.

The magic happens because of how the Overlay mode works, any color that we paint onto the new layer that is lighter than 50% gray will result in an increase in brightness on the layer below and conversely any color that we paint into the new layer that is darker than 50% gray will decrease the brightness of the layer below.

The advantage with this technique is that it is all done in a new layer without touching the original, so all changes are non-destructive.. if we are not happy we can simply delete the new layer at any time and we get back to the original.

Source Files

Smoking Model

Creating the new layer

• From the Layer menu select New -> Layer
• Enter the name ‘Dodge & Burn‘
• Set the Mode to Overlay
• Check the ‘Fill with Overlay-neutral color (50% gray)‘ option

Paint with Light

• Select the Brush tool (B)
• Open the Brush options dialog and set the hardness to 0%
• Set the brush Opacity to around 10-20%
• Press the D key to reset the color pallet to Black and White
• With the Dodge & Burn layer selected being to paint Black in the areas you’d like to make darker and white in the areas you’d like to make lighter
• You can use the X key to switch between Black and White

Hiding the main photo at this point might look a little strange, but because the layer mode is set to Overlay Photoshop uses this information in its calculations to lighten the areas which are closer to white (above 50%) and darken the areas closer to black (below 50%).

Maintain Full Control

Because the adjustment has been applied to a new layer we have full control over that layer without effecting the original layer, so if we decide that the effect is too strong we can simply reduce the opacity of the Dodge & Burn layer.

Alternatively if we want to make the effect stronger we can duplicate the Dodge & Burn layer to push the contrast even farther.

Final Image

Create new Photoshop Document

Open up Photoshop and create a new document. For this example I used a resolution of 2000×2000 pixels with a resolution of 150 pixels per inch.

Render Clouds

From the Filter menu select Render -> Clouds

Mezzotint

• From the Filter menu select Pixelate -> Mezzotint
• Set the Type to Short Lines
• Press OK

Add Radial Blur

• From the Filter menu select Blur -> Radial Blur
• Enter an amount of 100
• Set the Blur Method to Zoom
• Set the Quality to Best
• Press OK

Extrude 3D Blocks

• From the Filter menu select Stylize -> Extrude
• Set the Type to Blocks
• Choose the Size of the blocks, in this example I chose 30px
• Choose the Depth of the blocks, in this example I chose 60px
• Press OK

Add some color

• Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer
• Click Colorize checkbox
• Choose a Hue that you like (in this case I chose Hue: 214, Saturation: 50, Brightness: -5)
• Press OK

Export your work and save the PSD!

Thank you very much for including me here! I’m a self-taught artist who lives and works in Hanoi city, Vietnam. I didn’t have a remarkable background of art except some pencil drawings from my childhood (every child does!). I discovered Photoshop since January 2010 when I started my personal blog and wanted to add something new and exciting to it. I wrote my first Photoshop tutorial about color blending a month later as I didn’t want to forget what I just learned.

How did you get started?

I continued watching another tutorials on internet, also tried to write my own ones each time I learned a new thing. But you know everything I learned at that time so random, and I even didn’t learn how to use the Pen Tool after 8 months! A turning point came in September 2010 when Rnel (rnel.net) asked me to write some tutorials for his site. I started to think that Photoshop could be something more than a hobby for fun and since that time I tried to learn all the tools and skill I missed before. I want to say thanks to Rnel, he was a very kind person to work with and a great friend who gave me the support in the first time I learned everything to be involved in design community.

I began to learn photo manipulation seriously since the middle of 2011 though I created some of that before, also started to write tutorials for several popular photoshop blogs. I’ve found that writing tutorial is a great way to sharpen my skill and get benefitted from design community. Now I’ve been happy doing it as a freelance job online also with my non-design work offline.

What and who are your main influences?

I’m not really influenced by specific artists but generally I admire the ones who have diversity in their works. I find that no matter how advanced you are, you can always find something worth to learn from everyone, even a beginner. It can be an idea or the color used. Now everything beautiful is my biggest inspiration and influence: a photo, a pose, music, a movie scene, a touching moment in the real life, etc…

What message do you express in your works?

I aspire to discover the beauty of this world and reflect it back on my art. Like many artists I love to depict woman beauty, read her inner thoughts and desires, put her in different situations and let the darkness inside her speak. Many times I let her be in her most freedom, see her happy in a beautiful and colorful world to dream and fly.

How do you see your work developing over the coming year?

I’m planning to learn and develop my digital painting skill . I hope it will bring a new stage in my journey and really hope it will happen the next year.

What tips would you give to new designers starting with Photomanipulations?

Do practice as much as you can and don’t be afraid to try something new. Learning about lighting, shadow, perspective from realistic photos definitely will help you to improve. Take your time to spend on and take care of minor details because they can do a big difference for your work. Find inspirations from other artists by learning the way they use colors, make lighting, add shadow, combine elements…Learn but not copy, practice and find your own way. Dream big and be ambitious in art. If you love something just don’t stop trying!

See more of Jenny’s work at by following her Facebook Page or her DeviantART profile

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop CS5 with the size 1000px by 1500px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Find a stock photo with spectacular deep space like the next one:

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Hue/Saturation. Drag the slider to the right to increase the Hue of the color range, and decrease the Saturation.

We’ve got the next result:

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

We’ve got the next result:

Find a stock photo with a model represented on it, I used this photo from Shutterstock. I would like to thank the author of this photo, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.

Remove the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P), Magic Wand Tool (W), Magnetic Lasso (L) or even a simple Filter>Extract and insert it on a new layer in our main document.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

We’ve got the next result:

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between the layer containing the Curves adjustment layer and the model’s layer in the Layers panel to create a clipping mask.

We’ve got the next result:

Let’s tone the model’s skin now. In this case create a new layer and select the Hard Round brush to paint several zones on the model with the color #F0B2BE.

We’ve got the next result:

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between layers in the Layers panel to create a clipping mask.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Soft Light.

Now we have to paint the model’s lips. Create a new layer and use the brush mentioned above to paint her lips with the color #F0C7D7.

Set Fill to 88% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Vivid Light.

Let’s draw a sphere now. In this case create a new layer, go to 3D > New Shape from Layer > Sphere:

Go to the sphere’s layer in Layers panel and click on Background settings. Change the size for new opened document to 880 x 1244px at a resolution of 300 pixels/inch, using the Paint Bucket Tool (G) fill the new document with black color.

Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), represent several horizontal selections. Fill the selections, applying the Paint Bucket Tool (G).

Save & Close this file extension. Now let’s rotate the sphere now, applying the Object Rotate Tool (K).

Continue representing the spheres, applying the earlier describes method. Their sizes may be changed, using the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command. Their orientation may be changed applying Object Rotate Tool (K). You may see below the sphere’s placement and its texture. If necessary, place the sphere’s layer under the previous one on the Layers panel.

Final Image

Getting Started

Open up Photoshop and create a new document with a size of 2500px by 1600px and resolution of 150 pixels per inch. Set the background to White.

Fill with Black

1. From the Edit menu choose Fill
2. Select Color from the Use combo box
3. Select pure black (html #000000)
4. Press OK

Make some noise!

1. From the Filter menu select Noise -> Add Noise
2. Enter an amount of 100%
3. Select Gaussian
4. Check ‘Monochrome‘
5. Press OK

Duplicate the layer

1. Select the background layer in the layers panel
2. Duplicate the layer (Right click -> Duplicate Layer or Ctrl/Cmd+J)
3. Hide the new layer (click the eye)

Blur the first (background) layer

1. Select the first (background) layer
2. From the Filter menu select Blur -> Gaussian Blur
3. Enter an amount of 0.5 pixels
4. Press OK

Create small stars

1. From the Image menu select Adjustments -> Levels
2. In the Input Levels area enter the values 200, 0.42, 255
3. Press OK

Create large stars

1. Select and enable/show the first (top) layer
2. From the Filter menu select Blur -> Gaussian Blur
3. Enter a value of 2 pixels
4. Press OK

Adjust the levels of the large stars

1. From the Image menu select Adjustments -> Levels
2. In the Input Levels area enter the values 170, 1, 172
3. Press OK

Add some more blur

At this point we will add a little more blur to the large stars

1. From the Filter menu select Blur -> Gaussian Blur
2. Enter an radius of 1px
3. Press OK