Fire Orb in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial you will learn how to create a simple but cool looking fire orb by using some basic filters and layer styles. The time required to complete it is approximately 5 minutes. This is a beginner level Photoshop tutorial. Have fun!
Please note that you will need to install SS-glitter-smoke brush to Adobe Photoshop Folder / Presets / Brushes.


1) Create a new document having 1000x1000 pixels

fire orb photoshop tutorial

2) Fill the Background layer with Black

fire orb photoshop tutorial

3) Create a new layer on top and rename it "orb"

fire orb photoshop tutorial

4) Select the Ellipse Tool with Fill pixels activated then by holding Shift drag a big circle into the "orb" layer

fire orb photoshop tutorial 

You should end up with a circle about this size

fire orb photoshop tutorial

5) Change the "orb" layer’s Fill to 0%

fire orb photoshop tutorial

6) Right click the "orb" layer, select Blending Options and modify the following settings

fire orb photoshop tutorial

fire orb photoshop tutorial

So far you should have something similar to this

fire orb photoshop tutorial

7) Create a new layer on top and rename it "swirls"

fire orb photoshop tutorial

8) Select a 28px soft brush (Hardness 0%) and start adding some small circles on the "orb’s" outline

fire orb photoshop tutorial

9) Go to Filter > Distort > Twirl and change the Angle to about 330°

fire orb photoshop tutorial

You should have something like this

fire orb photoshop tutorial

10) Change the "swirls" layer type to Overlay

fire orb photoshop tutorial

11) Create a new layer and rename it "glitter"

fire orb photoshop tutorial

12) Select the glittersmoke10 brush from the list and change its size to 900px then click once inside the circle

fire orb photoshop tutorial

13) Add a Color Balance Adjustment Layer on top and change the Midtones and Highlights values to the following

fire orb photoshop tutorial

fire orb photoshop tutorial

14) Next add a Brightness/Contrast layer on top and change the following values

fire orb photoshop tutorial

15) Add a new layer on top of the Background layer and rename it "vortex"

fire orb photoshop tutorial

16) Go to Filter > Render > Clouds and then apply a Filter > Render > Twirl (having the same values that you used for the swirls), then Ctrl+Click on the "orb" layer and then press Ctrl+Shift+I to select inverse and hit Delete on your keyboard

fire orb photoshop tutorial

17) You should end up with the vortex inside the circle but it looks too bright. Press  Ctrl+L to bring up the levels and drag the middle slider to about 0.2 to reduce the brightness

fire orb photoshop tutorial