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Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

Posted in Photoshop Tutorials by John Ward on the January 21st, 2008

This tutorial will show how to create a very simple abstract shape using a few brushes and effects. For this tutorial I will be using Adobe Photoshop CS3. If you have an older version of Adobe Photoshop, you may still be able to follow this tutorial.

Keep in mind that it would be nearly impossible to duplicate this exact object, but this tutorial should give a guide to creating your own unique object. You should end up with something like this.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

The first thing we need to do is download the brush set for this tutorial. You can download the free Trance Brushes from Brusheezy.com by clicking here..

After you download the brushes, extract the .abr file from the .zip and save it.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Open Adobe Photoshop and create a new document 700×700.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Fill the background layer with black (#000000) and select the brush tool.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Load the brush set that you just downloaded by clicking the drop down next to the brush > the arrow point right > then the load option.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Select the Trance Brushes and load them. You will see the new brushes appear at the bottom of the brush set.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Reset the color swatches so that white is the foreground color and black is the background color. Create a new layer and use some of the brushes to create an abstract shape. When you are painting with these brushes, do not drag the mouse like you normally would. Instead click once to create the shape. There is really no science to this. First I will use brush 305 to create this.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Next I will add a few more with #213.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Then I will use 215 to make a tail.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

To complete this shape I will dab a couple times with the brushe that is numbered 380 for me.
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Like I said before, there is no set way to do this, just come up with a shape you like. Now to add a little bit of color I will apple a purple glow. Right click on the layer in the layers pallet and select blending options.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

Apply an outer glow using the color #7200ff.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

I also added an inner glow using the same color #7200ff.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

Apply the changes and you should get something like this.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

Now we are going to distort the image using the polar coordinate filter. Click Filter > Distort > Polar coordinates.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

Make sure that Rectangular to Polar is selected and click ok
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

You will get something like this.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

Where the object is located on the canvas will effect how it is distorted. If you do not like the way it came out, undo the filter and move the object. Then try to apply the filter again. Mine looks ok, but I think it is a little blurry.

I am going to apply the Smart Sharpen filter to sharpen up the image. Click Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

You will have to play with the settings to see what looks the best for you, or you could skip this step completely. Here is what I used.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

This is what my image looks like now.
Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

That is all it takes to create a simple abstract shape using brushes. If you do a search online you can some great free brushes to play around with. You could also add some text to this and make into a background or something.
adobe photoshop abstract tutorial

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42 Responses to 'Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial'

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  1. on February 16th, 2008 at 10:21 am

    Great abstract effect! Thanks for submitting it to my site.


  2. on February 17th, 2008 at 4:47 am

    This is nice! A quick guide to show how easy it is to make great abstracts. Thanks.

  3. gamenac said,

    on February 18th, 2008 at 2:39 am

    Wow, I have to say, I’m impressed. Often, short, simple abstracts end up looking like shit, and are just a way of people getting attention, but this is very nice. I love the effect that you end up with, it has a very nice tech feel.


  4. on February 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    [...] I am, or just don’t have anything that I haven’t learned yet.  I finally saw a cool ‘purple abstract’ by John Ward from teamtutorials.com.  So, I got into it, taking loose notes on the tutorial on a [...]

  5. prasanna said,

    on February 29th, 2008 at 10:54 am

    pls ur t

  6. prasanna said,

    on February 29th, 2008 at 10:54 am

    hiiiiiiiii


  7. on March 15th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    [...] SubscribeEasy Abstract Photoshop TutorialTurning a Mannequin Into a Sketched PersonColor a black and white picture!Adding Colors to Black and White PhotosBasic Photoshop Skill: Color ModificationsHow to color a sketchSunset Photoshop TutorialColoring a black and white imageVelvia ColorHand coloring a black and white photograph [...]

  8. sivagami said,

    on March 17th, 2008 at 12:47 am

    Hi,

    I dont have great idea about photoshop, even then this tutorial was interesting.

  9. Pan said,

    on April 3rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    Hi, I have Adobe Photoshop 5.0 I couldn’t open the uploaded brush, can you tell me how for 5.0? thanks

  10. ravi said,

    on April 8th, 2008 at 2:13 am

    hi this is ravi i am very happy on working on photoshop and the other thing is your easy abstract purple tutorials is very good.


  11. on May 10th, 2008 at 10:48 am

    Now this is looking good….There should be more Abstract Design Tutorials for people…

    Altought the purple color doesn’t look so good, maybe a blue color would have looked much better….


  12. on May 16th, 2008 at 3:54 am

    WOW- this is very beautiful… excellent graphics

  13. jasyfriend said,

    on August 19th, 2008 at 2:42 am

    Well done my dear


  14. on September 7th, 2008 at 1:17 am

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial How to create a very simple abstract shape using a few brushes and effects. [...]

  15. Vanessa said,

    on September 7th, 2008 at 6:24 am

    Thanks..
    Excellent tutorial!


  16. on September 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    [...] Легкий туториал создания абстракции в фотошопе Покажет как можно создать простую абстрактную форму при помощи нескольких кистей и эффектов. [...]

  17. MvG_da_best said,

    on October 12th, 2008 at 5:54 am

    This tutorial OWNZ man !
    You really ROCK !

  18. preenita said,

    on October 13th, 2008 at 4:01 am

    its really interesting

  19. marjhun said,

    on October 16th, 2008 at 12:43 am

    great job….contiue for hardworking and sharing knowledge to others..tnx…

  20. gofer1971 said,

    on October 22nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    Excellent tutorial. Made my first ‘abstract’ in only 5 minutes – and I’m a photoshop newbie! Cheers!

  21. joe claessen said,

    on November 2nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    I found That if You flip this on its side, then duplicate and flip that horizontally, move them apart, you can make an amazing pair of fantasy wings with some added brush strokes

  22. Kim Richards said,

    on December 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    this might be a dumb question to post on this tutorial for advanced photoshop,..but how do you get a photoshop program to begin with??
    I make abstract paintings using acrilics, and i have started to make some on my computer using the blah old paint program.
    but this looks so interesting,..i really want to try it!:)

    -♥kimmeh R♥


  23. on December 29th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial [...]

  24. danish said,

    on January 10th, 2009 at 9:02 am

    hiiiiiiiii…….its very helpful for new photoshop users…….thanks

  25. marione matta said,

    on January 21st, 2009 at 6:50 am

    Hello, I was wondering if one of the responsible for these tutorials is Sivagami, a girl who graduated with me at the Academy of Art University in 2000? I would love to reconnect with her. My name is Matta. Please let know.


  26. on February 9th, 2009 at 12:01 am

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial [...]

  27. Julie Jang said,

    on February 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    wow. nice!!!! thaks!!

  28. Giulio said,

    on March 12th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    Hey .. this is a easy but painfull question ( cuz im a bit dumb xD)
    when I do the Outer and Inner glow part .. it glows but in the border of the document ( instead that in the borde of the brush) .. how do i get it right ?? thx and congrats on the tuto xD.

  29. sivas said,

    on March 19th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    very good, thanks


  30. on April 14th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial How to create a very simple abstract shape using a few brushes and effects. [...]

  31. EDUARDO said,

    on June 18th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    Very nice tutorial.
    Thanks


  32. on June 29th, 2009 at 7:13 am

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial How to create a very simple abstract shape using a few brushes and effects. [...]

  33. FOK`S said,

    on July 3rd, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    ESTANCHIDAS PERO QUIERO MAS

  34. andre said,

    on July 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am

    thanks for sharing with us. It’s wonderfull:)


  35. on July 31st, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial | Team Tutorials – This tutorial will show how to create a very simple abstract shape using a few brushes and effects. For this tutorial I will be using Adobe Photoshop [...]

  36. Softloader said,

    on August 4th, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Thx for this very nice tut :D

  37. mb said,

    on August 5th, 2009 at 3:21 am

    I can’t get color to add, tried to redo many times. He must have left step out.


  38. on August 28th, 2009 at 12:59 am

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial How to create a very simple abstract shape using a few brushes and effects. [...]


  39. on October 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial How to create a very simple [...]


  40. on October 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    [...] Easy Abstract Photoshop Tutorial How to create a very simple [...]

  41. PSP Go said,

    on October 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    I have been looking to learn more about Photoshop so this tutorial wasvery helpful. Thanks!

  42. pwnura55 said,

    on October 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am

    this helped me thanks very helpful for a noob like me :)

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