Step 1
Create a new document with a size of 1920x1200 pixels. Insert an image of a starry sky into it. Name this layer “Stars Layer”.
Step 2
Copy the landscape image into our document. Reduce it to 50%. Then increase the height to 70%.
You will see an unpleasant junction between two images (the sky and the landscape). To fix this, create a new layer (
",this,event,"320px");">Create New Layer) and name it “Mask Layer”. Select the Brush Tool (",this,event,"320px");">Brush Tool) with a size of 200 pixels and soft edges. Draw the border of the two layers as shown below.
Make a selection of the “Mask Layer” layer (
",this,event,"320px");">Ctrl+Click), go back to the “Landscape” layer and press Delete.
Step 3
Insert an image of a nebula and name the layer “Nebula Layer”. Reduce it to 50%. Make a copy of this layer and position the two nebula layers as shown below. Set the Blending Mode to Lighten (
Step 4
Create a new layer “Planet Texture”. Copy the planet texture into our document and reduce it to 50%. Using the Oval Area Tool (
Go to the Hue/Saturation menu (
",this,event,"320px");">Hue/Saturation) and configure as shown below.
Make a selection of the “Planet Texture” layer and apply the Spherization filter (
",this,event,"320px");">Spherize Filter) with a value of 100%. Then go to the Brightness/Contrast menu (",this,event,"320px");">Brightness/Contrast) and adjust as shown below to make the planet darker.
Make a selection of the planet shape and fill it with white on a new layer. Name this layer “Highlight Layer”. Move the selection and press Delete.
Make a copy of the white layer, go to Free Transform mode (
",this,event,"320px");">Free Transform) to reflect it. The settings at the top should be: W: 100% and H: 100%. Position the layer as shown below. Merge both white layers (Ctrl+E). Make a selection in the middle of the “Highlight Layer” layer and create a new layer ( ",this,event,"320px");">Create New Layer), fill the selection with black. Name this layer “Shadow Layer”.
Apply the Gaussian Blur filter (
",this,event,"320px");">Gaussian Blur Filter) with a radius value of 42 pixels. This filter must be applied to the “Shadow Layer” and “Highlight Layer” layers. Set the Blending Mode of both layers to Overlay (",this,event,"320px");">Blending Mode to Overlay). The opacity of one layer is 100%, and the other is 80%.
The changes will not be very noticeable. I made a copy of the “Highlight Layer” to enhance the effect. I repeated the process of creating the “Highlight Layer” but created smaller glows. In the picture below you can see where I placed the light sources. I got two light sources from opposite sides.
Step 5
Make a copy of all the planet layers and group them (Ctrl+G). Name the group “Planet Group”. Place the original layers in another group and hide it. This is the best way to insure yourself in case of mistakes.
Change the Planet Group size to 40%. Now we will add lighting effects, stars and other space elements. To do this, we will need all three sets of brushes that you downloaded at the beginning of the tutorial.
Let's start with the stars. Select the “Stars7” brush with a size of 200 px and white color. Create a new layer under the “Planet Group” and name it “Planet Light”. Work with the brush to get something like this:
Select the Eraser tool (
",this,event,"320px");">Eraser Tool) at 100px and gently erase the edges to make the light look softer.
Create another layer like this and add a little more glow.
Create a new layer on top of the others and name it “Light Edge Layer”. Using a 20 px white brush, paint lines along the edges of the planet. Use the Blur tool (
",this,event,"320px");">Blur Tool) and Eraser (",this,event,"320px");">Eraser Tool) to make the light realistic.
Step 6
Select all the planet layers and glow layers and group them. Name the group “Planet+Light Group”. Make a copy of the group and rotate it 180 degrees. Place as shown below.
Step 7
It's time to return to the landscape. Using the Eraser tool (
Photoshop is an editor of unlimited possibilities that allows you to safely experiment and end up with unusual effects. For example, such as creating your own planet. This unusual effect can be achieved using both a panoramic image and a regular photograph. The result will surprise not only you, but also your friends.
This technique allows you to obtain a spherical image resembling a planet.
So let me explain to you how such a planet is created. When I say planet, I mean a round image. And sometimes such an image really resembles a planet. The idea, I must admit, is not mine. In fact, it rather belongs to the artist Roger Dean, who illustrated the cover for the album of the rock group Yes.
This cover was so unusual that its image stuck with me. I drew it on scraps of paper when I was in college. With the advent of Photoshop, it became possible to create your own planets from photographs.
I use this technique from time to time. It's not complicated, so you can use it too. However, I must warn you that not all photographs are suitable for “planets”. But the result is worth a try.
Choosing the right image
Sometimes choosing an image takes more time than the technique of creating the planet itself.
The first thing you do is select an image. The ideal option would be a photo with clean, uniform edges that can be easily retouched at the end of the work to create a smooth transition from one edge to the other. Once you have mastered the entire process of creating a planet, the best option when selecting an image is to quickly preview the resulting “planet”.
Next, you will need to decide which part of the image should be used in your work. Generally, panoramic images work best. However, I have found that sometimes an image needs to be cropped to get rid of troublesome details.
In this example, I used a panoramic image, cropping it in such a way as to get the trees at the same height along the edges. This will allow me to get the best result after joining the edges.
Perfect square
If you want to create a planet, you must remember that the image must be square.
After I've cropped the image, I need to make it square. To do this I go to the menu Image - Image Size(Image - Image Size). I uncheck the function Constrain Proportions(Keep proportions) and change the size of one of the sides. After making sure that the sides are the same size, I press Ok. Now we have a perfect square in front of us.
Turning it upside down
The next step is to rotate our image. To do this, go to the menu again Image - Rotate Canvas(Image - Image Rotation) and rotate it 180 degrees.
Polar coordinates
The filter has a preview that allows you to see the final result.
After you have turned the image upside down, go back to the menu and select a filter Distort - Polar Coordinates(Distortion - Polar coordinates). Place a check mark next to it Rectangle to Polar(Rectangular to polar). In the filter preview you will see the result. If you are satisfied with the result, then click OK. A couple of moments and the result is obvious!
Your first planet
Sometimes it takes some time to make a planet look attractive.
The joy of receiving your first planet is an incomparable feeling.
True, the first time things may not be as smooth as we would like. But if you look closely at your final image, you will find problem areas that you can fix with a little retouching. Alternatively, at the very beginning, using Photoshop tools, you will need to ensure that both edges look as similar as possible. Sometimes this is a better option than cropping the image. Simply put, you will have to go through trial and error to figure out which option works best.
In my example, I chose to crop the image to ensure that the edges of the trees were the same height.
After working with the filter I used the tool Healing brush(healing brush) for lawn retouching. To retouch the line connecting the edges, I used the tools Clone Stamp(Stamp) and Healing Brush(Healing brush). I think I also rotated the image so that the castle was on top.
Works not only with landscapes!
Use different photos to try out this technique. This will give you an idea of its capabilities.
"Planets" work quite well with natural landscapes. But nothing stops you from using other types of photos. I used this technique with photographs of flowers and loved the results. Photos that work especially well are those that have one element or group of elements in focus with the background well blurred.
Ideal for buildings and architectural monuments
Photographs of architectural monuments are also suitable for creating “planets”, but provided that there is sufficient space around the structures.
The above photograph captures one of the most emblematic monuments of the ancient Portuguese city of Sintra. Additionally, this photograph is an example of the open possibilities for a photographer.
Other options
The technique is the same, but the results are different.
The trick to this trick is to not rotate the image 180 degrees before using the filter. Polar coordinates. Here is another opportunity to use the technique of creating “planets”.
As you'll notice, the image above resembles a photo taken with a fisheye lens. So if you can't afford to shell out for a lens, use this technique.
Just select your subject and location. Take photos to cover the circle around you. Then assemble your photos into a panorama and apply the trick described above. Don't forget to retouch the junction of the edges on your planet inside out) Of course, this will take some time, but it will be something to surprise your friends.
Unusual approach
To experiment, you can choose any image.
In fact, you don't have to take a full panorama to get a unique image. Sometimes one simple photo is enough.
This photograph was taken several years ago in the nature reserve and shows a man walking along a wooden bridge deep into the reserve. Looking at this photo, I always imagined a person heading into a “black hole” and disappearing into another dimension.
creative image
This is a good example of how to get something extraordinary from a simple photograph that doesn't have much potential.
While preparing this article for publication, I decided to choose this particular image and apply the Polar Coordinates filter effect to it. And as you can see, the trick with the filter worked.
This is a good example of how completely different images can be used with this technique. Just try it. Spend a little time and the result will not be long in coming.
Please be aware that different cropping/crop options may produce different results. Try, try and try. Only through trial and error will you discover the possibilities of using this technique and expand your own horizons of knowledge.
Advice: A final and important note. Although in this article I rely on the use of Adobe Photoshop, you can try this technique in other editors, for example, GIMP, which is a free editor. Thus, I left you no escape route. Forward, towards experiments!
Turn panoramas into breathtaking miniature planets in minutes using Photoshop or your favorite graphics editor.
Panoramas are one of the most beautiful ways to photograph the cityscape. There are so many interesting little things in panoramas that you just want to study them. By adding a little creativity to the panorama, we can turn it from an ordinary photo into a miniature planet, and it will look really unusual.
Technically, this technique is called "stereographic projection", but don't let the scary name scare you away - it won't take you more than 5 minutes to make this panorama. Our article shows how to do this in Photoshop, but almost any graphics editor will work, including the free GIMP.
Choosing a suitable photo
Almost any panorama can be turned into a small planet, but some photos are better suited to this than others. Here are a few points to consider:
Viewing angle– 360-degree panoramas are best because their edges blend perfectly, allowing the transition to be seamless. A smaller viewing angle can also be used, but you may have to work on lining up the colors and textures to get the edges of the panorama to fit together. Image width– The aspect ratio (width divided by height) of a photo affects the smoothness of the result. Wide photographs make the surface of the planet appear smoother with a smooth transition, while narrow panoramas allow you to experiment with height. Both options look great. Sky– The sky in your panorama will be greatly distorted in the final image. Therefore, the best result will be obtained if the sky is clear, although with clouds you can get an interesting stretched effect. Surface– the lower part of the photo will be compressed and the center of the planet will appear from it, the distortion will be quite strong. Therefore, as with the sky, a simple, uniform texture such as grass, sand or water will work best. Skyline– it must be perfectly flat so that the edges of the photo coincide clearly. If your photo is not ideal in this regard, it can be easily rotated and recropped in Photoshop.
At first glance it may seem like there are too many criteria, but you will find that most panoramas are quite suitable. If you still have any doubts, just try it, after all, breaking the above “rules” can sometimes lead to unusual and interesting effects that you would not get if you were afraid to experiment.
If you don't know where to find a suitable photo, use free collections, such as this one. For our example, we will take this photo. You can download it if you want to repeat the described method step by step.
Is the photo ready? Fine. Then it's time to turn it into a planet.
Step 1: Make the photo square.
Due to the nature of stereographic projections, we first need to obtain a square image. Select the menu item Image > Image Size. Uncheck “Maintain proportions” and set the height equal to the width.
The photo will shrink and appear distorted. Don't worry, this is normal.
2. Add a sky gradient
This is an optional step, but it will prevent the edges of the final image from looking stretched and warped.
Select the gradient tool and set the color for the left and right sliders to the dominant colors of the sky. Set the opacity of the left slider to 100% and the right slider to 0%.
Extend the gradient a short distance from the top edge down to create a smooth transition to the solid color.
3. Turn the photo upside down And
Select Image > Rotate Canvas > 180°. The photo will now be converted correctly when you turn the panorama into a planet.
4. Apply the Polar Coordinates filter
Select the menu item Filter> Distortion> Polar Coordinates (Filter> Distort> Polar Coordinates). Check the Rectangular to Polar radio button and click OK.
Voila! Your panorama has now been converted to a circle and looks like a small planet photographed through a fisheye lens.
5. Finishing touches
Check the top of the photo to make sure the transition is smooth. If there are any problems, use the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush.
If you want to turn the planet in the other direction, now is the time to do it. There will be white areas around the edges, but you can fill them with the same color you used for the gradient. When finished, crop the photo to the desired result.
Creating images of small planets from panoramas is very simple, with just a little practice. If you experiment, you can achieve different interesting effects.
A few examples below:
Use a photo with an uneven surface to create the effect of a crooked asteroid.
If the panorama has buildings in the foreground, the effect will be of a densely populated planet.
Take a night panorama and you get the effect of a planet floating in space.
Skip step 3 to get an inside-out planet, as if you were lying on the ground looking up at the sky.
Easily and quickly turn your panoramas into attractive, miniature planets using Photoshop or your favorite graphics editor.
Panoramas are one of my favorite ways to show a scene. They are so interesting and detailed that I advise you to pay attention to them. This little tip adds an extra pinch of creativity, turning standard panoramas into miniature planets that really have a "wow" factor.
The technical name for this technique is "stereographic projection", but don't be intimidated by this complicated word, it's actually much simpler. In this example I'll use Photoshop, but you can use any other editor, including GIMP which is free.
Selecting a suitable photo.
Almost any panorama will suit us, but there are moments that will improve the final result.
- Viewing angle- 360 degree panoramas are best because their edges merge together. Narrower angles will also work, but you may need to do some extra work to ensure the colors and textures are consistent across the edges of the panorama and match each other.
- Image width- The aspect ratio (width divided by height) of your photo affects the smoothness of your planet. Wider images tend to produce smoother planetary surfaces, while narrower panoramas can produce larger changes in elevation. Both options look great.
- Sky- the panorama sky will be seriously distorted in the final image. Clear skies tend to produce the best results, although clouds can give an interesting stretched effect.
- On the first - the bottom of your photo will be squished into a bunch to form the center of the planet, and this may cause some distortion. As with the sky, smooth textures such as grass or sand look better.
- Horizon - must be perfectly aligned so that the edges meet neatly at the base of the steps. If your photo does not meet this parameter, then it can be corrected in a photo editor.
It may seem to you that there are many criteria in our business, but after trying, you will understand that almost any panoramas will do. If you still have doubts, take any panorama that does not fall under the above-mentioned “rules” and try what happens. The result may be interesting and unusual, and under normal conditions this would not happen. So don't be afraid to experiment.
Transformation of the planet.
Found a suitable image? Fine. Time to turn it into a planet.
1.
Making a square image.
First, let's move on to the image sizes. Go to the >image “image” tab. Select the image size. In the window that appears, uncheck “maintain proportions” and set the height to match the width.
This procedure will distort your panorama a little, but don't worry that's how it should be.
2.
Apply a gradient to the sky.
This step is optional, but without it, the final image may look warped and pulled at the corners. Select the gradient tool and set the edges to colors that match the prevailing colors of the sky. Set the opacity slider on the left side to 100%, and on the right side to 0%.
Drag the gradient from the top of the photo down as far as possible to create a smooth transition to a solid color.
3.
Turn the photo upside down
Go to the Image tab > Rotate Image 180° to flip your image upside down. This ensures that the twisting happens correctly when we turn our panorama into a planet.
4.
Applyfilter, polar coordinates
Go to Filters > Distort > Polar Coordinates. In the window that appears, select the “Rectangular to Polar” option and click “ok”.
Voila! Your panorama is now folded into a circle and looks like a small planet photographed from above using a fisheye lens.
5.
The finishing touch
Check the top center of your photo, it should be smooth and the joint should not be visible. A stamp or healing brush will help here.
If you prefer your own planet, now is the time to create it. You may still have white corners, but you can fill them with the same color you used in the gradient. Re-crop your image and you're done.
Creating small planets is extremely easy, you will understand it as soon as you try. In the future, you can experiment and get unusual, interesting effects. Therefore, do not think that you need to be rigidly attached to the above rules. If you come up with something unusual and interesting, be sure to share it in the comments.
Examples for inspiration.
Here are some examples to show what's possible when you add a little creativity and imagination to this technique.
Use a photograph of different terrain to create the jagged effect of the asteroids.
