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Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop

by Alex
Posted in Graphic Design, Photoshop, Tutorials on February 12th, 2008

In this tutorial we will create a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop. We’ll use for this an image of a overturned glass and make it look like the contents of the glass is spilled on the surface the glass sits on.

Step 1

Make a photo of an overturned glass on a surface, just like in the image below, or download one from a stock photo website. I am using a free stock photo from stock.xchng. You can download the image here. I flipped horizontally the original image.

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 1

Step 2

Create a new layer (Layer-> New -> Layer or simply Ctrl+Shift+N). We’ll use this layer to create the basic shape of the liquid. This can be a little tricky so take your time with it. Try to imagine how the liquid would pour through the opening of the glass and lie on the table. Use a hard edged brush to create the shape and give it a gray color. The color I am using is #848484.

You can download the PSD file with just the basic liquid shape here.

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 2

Step 3

Use the Dodge Tool to add some random highlights to the Shape. Use these settings for the Dodge Tool as shown in the image below (Soft Edged brush, size 45, Range : shadows, Exposure 20%).

The Dodge / Burn Tool menu :

The Dodge / Burn Tool

Dodge Tool settings :

Dodge Tool settings

The result :

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 3

Step 4

Use the Burn tool to add some shadows to the Shape. Use these settings for the Burn Tool as shown in the image below (Soft Edged brush, size 35, Range : shadows, Exposure 15%).

Burn Tool settings :

Burn Tool settings

The result :

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 4

Step 5

It’s time to create the liquid effect. Goto Filter -> Artistic -> Plastic Wrap. Use the following settings for the Plastic Wrap : Highlight Strength : 13, Detail : 15, Smoothness : 14. You can use other settings. Just slide the values until you think it looks real enough.

Plastic Wrap

The result :

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 5

Step 6

If it doesn’t look right undo and apply the shadows (Burn Tool) and highlights (Dodge Tool) again.

Step 7

Change the mode of the layer from Normal to Hard Light. This removes all the shades of gray leaving only the shadows and highlights.

Change mode from Normal to Hard Light :

Hard Light

The result :

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 7

Step 8

You can add an Inner Bevel effect for a bit of extra realism. I am using the following values :

Inner bevel settings

Play around with these values until you think it looks right. You need to take in consideration the lighting of the original glass object, and modify the Shading Angle so that the shading follows the same direction of the glass lighting.

The result :

Making a flowing liquid effect in Photoshop - Step 8

You can change the color of the liquid with ease. Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Color Balance. Play around with the sliders until you are satisfied with the color.

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  • Tucson Web Design
    February 16, 2008 at 4:01 am

    Great tutorial, thanks!

  • Suminda
    February 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    it’s a cool way to make that fluid kind a thing. i would ike to know wheathre are there any more of that kind things

    thank you

  • Scott Demaret
    February 22, 2008 at 3:39 am

    Followed it right through to the end and it looks a mess, but will keep trying. When I do the shading it does not seem to work.

  • Alex
    February 22, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    The shading and highlights are quite tricky for this tutorial. It took me about 3-4 tries to make it look right. Keep trying. Look at the way I made the shading (Dodge Tool) … followed the contour of the shape. The shadows (Burn Tool) are in the inner space created by te shading (Dodge Tool). Try it like this.

  • computer jobs
    March 16, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    looks really great :)
    What ever i don’t going to use it

  • Paintworkz Web Design
    May 6, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    Well an intresting step by step explanation, but need to work hard on it..

  • Bob Dale
    May 22, 2008 at 5:54 am

    The bevel was definatly the key in making this effect look realistic.

  • Deon West
    June 29, 2008 at 1:08 am

    Thank you very much for this info. as it is very informative, I’ve always wanted to know how to create this liquid effect. Now I do.
    Thanks again, keep posting your tutorials it helps me to learn more about computer graphics.

  • Warez master
    September 10, 2008 at 1:09 am

    Great tutorial

    My last blog post : Platelets in Cardiovascular Disease

  • Zee
    December 24, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Awesome, this is the tutor i’ve been looking for… thank you so much?? ^_^ it’s really helpfull

  • AdDesigner Angie
    February 6, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    Thank you for this tutorial, but, will it work if i try to put the liquid in a perfume bottle? i am doing an Ad for a perfume line based on the 7 deadly sins.

    :]

  • Bobby
    April 26, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    this is a great tutorial, this is the tutor I’ve been looking for my study work…thanx a lot man…

  • Alex
    April 26, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    Glad you found it useful.

  • Kalani
    May 6, 2009 at 6:35 am

    NICE!
    it has really helped put me into the direction of using similar effects to create Paint Puddles/Blotches and what not.

  • gangatharan
    August 13, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    it is very usefully to me .simple greate

  • Anita Dahal
    January 8, 2010 at 11:46 am

    Nice one, looking for more thing

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