Are you one of those people who are fascinated by the mythical effect of a phoenix? What if we help you to play with it and with our expertise and your imagination? With this given tutorial you learn to add that otherworldly effect to a plain, bland and not-so-impressive picture of a phoenix. This will help you add the finesse which is required and make it look like a real deal. So let’s get started.

Here’s your guide to bring alive the mythical fire spirit on your screen.

Step 1

Take a picture of a dragon and open it in Photoshop. Please respect copyright laws.

Step 2

Select Brush Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 125px; Opacity = 91%; and Flow = 100%. Choose Color = # f76234 in Foreground Color.

Step 3

Create a new layer and scribble the brush on it as shown in the screenshot.

Step 4

Select Burn Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 175px; Range= Midtones; and Exposure = 10%, and use it as shown in the screenshot.

Step 5

Repeat the process described in Step 4 and create the texture shown in the screenshot.

Step 6

Select Brush Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 15px; Opacity = 100%; and Flow = 100%. Choose Color = # f8c034 in Foreground Color. Create a new layer and use the brush to draw the dragon’s shape.

Step 7

Select Dodge Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 25px; Range = Midtones; and Exposure = 100%. Now, go to Window > Brushes and check the Shape Dynamics box in the brushes palette.

Step 8

Select Layer 2 and use the Dodge Tool to draw radiating lines as shown in the screenshot.

Step 9

Set Brush Size = 100px and uncheck the Shape Dynamics box in the brushes palette. Use the Dodge Tool around the dragon’s outline as shown in the screenshot.

Step 10

Select Burn Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 70px; Range = Midtones; and Exposure = 5%. Now, select Layer 3 and use Burn Tool near the outline of the dragon.

Step 11

Select Dodge Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 60px; Range = Midtones; and Exposure = 100%, and use it as shown in the screenshot.

Step 12

Select Smudge Tool with Soft Mechanical Brush: Size = 25px; Mode = Normal; and Strength = 100%, and use this tool to create the dragon’s wings as shown in the screenshot.