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Here’s the spin on a very popular effect in Photoshop that adds perceived motion light to images. You’ll begin by using one of the extremely effective Distort filters—Polar Coordinates. This filter converts a selection from its rectangular to polar coordinates, or from its polar to rectangular coordinates. To create perceived motion, you’ll use both options. You’ll also use one of Photoshop’s Stylize filters—Wind. This filter creates tiny horizontal lines that simulate wind. Upon completion, you’ll add an Inner Shadow to the object and also make adjustments to color and intensity using the Hue/Saturation command. The end result takes a colorless, flat image and turns it into a special effect.


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http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_1.gif To work through this tutorial using the sample image, download motion.psd from the liquidlibrary collection and open it in Photoshop. Press D to set Default colors (black foreground, white background). Press F7 to show the Layers palette. Drag Layer 1 to the Create New Layer button to duplicate it.

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_2.gif Choose Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates. Use the options in the resulting Polar Coordinates dialog box and click OK.

Choose Image > Rotate Canvas > 90º CW. Choose Filter > Stylize > Wind. Use the options in the resulting Wind dialog box (below, far left) and click OK. Choose Filter > Wind (Command + F).

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_3.gif Choose Filter > Stylize > Wind. Use the options in the resulting Wind dialog box (left) and click OK. Choose Filter > Wind (Command + F).

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_4.gif Choose Image > Rotate Canvas > 90º CCW. Choose Filter > Stylize > Wind. Use the options in the resulting Wind dialog box (below, far left) and click OK. Choose Filter > Wind (Command + F).

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_4.gif Choose Filter > Stylize > Wind. Use the options in the resulting Wind dialog box (left) and click OK. Choose Filter > Wind (Command + F).

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_5.gif Choose Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates. Use the options in the resulting Polar Coordinates dialog box and click OK.

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_6.gif Drag Layer 1 to the top of the Layers palette. Press Option (Alt) + Shift + Delete to fill the image with Black.

Click the Add Layer Style button and select Inner Shadow from the drop-down menu. In the resulting Inner Shadow dialog box, use the options shown (left) and click the Color Swatch. In the resulting Color Picker dialog box, enter C:0; M:0; Y:0; K:0, and click OK. Click OK again to exit the Layer Style dialog box.

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_7.gif Click the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button and select Hue/Saturation from the drop-down menu. In the resulting Hue/Saturation dialog box, click the Colorize button, use the options shown (below, left) and click OK.

http://www.graphics.com/sections/LL/08/oct/20/howto2_8small.gif Our finished effect is shown at left (click to enlarge).