The definitive guide to one of the most popular special effects in Photoshop! Follow along as we create a photorealistic dispersion effect from scratch.
And as a bonus, we include over 50 custom-made Photoshop brushes that you can use to make your own dispersion, particle, and splatter effects!
Master one of the most popular special effects in Photoshop! Follow along with the included RAW image and 50+ custom brushes and learn how to create your own dispersion effect.
REALISTIC DISPERSION
ORIGINAL
Special effects are a great way to help tell a story in a photo. Whether you’re just looking for some Photoshop fun or you need a new dynamic look for your professional work, we walk you through the process of creating a realistic dispersion effect.
To create this effect, we photographed rocks and dirt being thrown in the air and then converted those images into unique custom brushes. Follow along and learn how to use photographed assets to create ultra-realistic effects and textures in Photoshop!
Special effects are fun, but it can be tough to get them right. We not only show you how to create one of the most popular effects out there, we show you how to pull it off using techniques that help it look like it was all captured in-camera.
ADD SHAPE & DEFINTION
ORIGINAL
Learn how to use Layer Effects like Bevel and Emboss to add shape and dimension. Create realistic highlight and shadow details to help the dispersion particles look like they were photographed in the same scene as the subject. Then learn even more about Layer Effects in How to Master Layer Styles in Photoshop.
Learn how to use light and color to add realistic depth and dimension to special effects in Photoshop! We show you powerful techniques that will allow you to analyze the light and color in a scene and then apply the same look to any elements you paint in.
When you finish any effect or image composite, the use of noise and grain can help bring all the different elements together into a single, seamless image. Learn how to apply just the right amount of noise and grain for the perfect photorealistic effect.
ADJUST EXPOSURE WITH RAW
ORIGINAL
RAW images give you the most amount of room to work in post-production. Follow along as we show you the flexibility of RAW processing using Adobe Camera RAW in Photoshop. Quickly make adjustments to exposure and color with incredible accuracy and detail.
We break down professional techniques that will help you create ultra-realistic effects in Photoshop. Adding effects to your Photoshop skillset can act as both an inspiration for generating new ideas and help you be more versatile when doing specialized work for clients.
Dispersion effects are great for any scene where you want to emphasize motion, emotion, or energy. Watch as we apply our dispersion effect, paying close attention to the pose and motion of our subject. Then take your storytelling skills to the next level with The Beginner’s Guide to Levitation
50+ CUSTOM BRUSHES INCLUDED!
We designed these brushes to work for a wide variety of special effects. Download and add our brushes to your creative toolkit and then try our PRO tutorial The Amazing Power of the Brush Tool in Photoshop to learn even more!
Not only do we include over 50 custom Photoshop brushes, we also walk you through the process of making them from scratch! So the next time you need a particular style of brush or texture, you’ll know how to make it yourself.
Once you’re done with the tutorial, try creating a dispersion effect on one of your own photos! Use your new set of detailed custom brushes and your fresh new Photoshop skills to create your own unique effect.
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
Josh S. Rose is a professional photographer, photojournalist and creative director, living in Los Angeles. He brings a classical black and white style and applies it to his conceptual, narrative-driven subject matter which has lead to work for some of the hottest new brands, personalities and creative organizations in the country.
This tutorial includes 12 videos, 1 RAW Sample Images, 1 Sample PSD, 49 Dispersion Textures, and 54 Custom Brushes. Download the sample images and assets at the top of the page.
Yes, every tutorial on PHLEARN is included in the PHLEARN PRO Subscription.
Download the course files at the top of this page.
You’ll find answers to some of the most common questions in our Help Center. If what you need isn’t covered, you can submit a question to our all-star customer support team and they’ll get back to you right away!
We suggest using the latest version of Photoshop, but our tutorials are designed to be compatible with CS4, CS5, CS6 & Photoshop CC. Get the latest version of Photoshop from Adobe.
What a fun and informative tutorial! Great step-by-step instruction.
You always explain and do it extremely well …. thanks for all the great information
Such a fun effect! Thanks for being so detailed (and funny) . I think I will need to practice, practice , practice to get this to look as good as your work but I’m looking forward to giving it a go 🙂
Aaron, This tutorial is amazing. You are the best!
Great detail. You really do a super job taking us through all the steps to make a professional creation. I think the little details are the difference between good and great.
This tutorial was fun to watch I have a few ideas I can use this in and can’t wait to do it. I love how easy it was to follow and everything was explained in such detail.
Very creative and thanks for the new brushes
As usual I learn a lot from you and this time wasn’t an exception either. This project, at first looked a bit complicated but then after the first review of the lessons, all parts fall in in place and everything becomes very clear. Keep on presenting these new goodies. we love them. Charles Day
I was learning about Photoshop and came across your website out of the blue. I have read many tutorials, but none of the tutorials was detailed oriented like yours. Easy to pick up and follow. Such a saver of time. Thank your for your effort.
Thank you. Had tried a few of these before but they never looked quite right. Your final steps to add dimension, blur and noise were really helpful.
Brilliant tutorial. Mesmerising technique, which after watching, doesn’t look too difficult. I can’t wait to try it out. As always, Aaron explained everything so clearly. I hope we get some more of these types of tutorials.
amazing tutorial! super useful tips and tricks
More than ever I am convinced that if you want to do it right, you need to do it the Phlearn way. There’s a lot of work in this method but, oh boy, what a great result. Thank you Aaron.