Design Magazine

This two part tutorial will teach you how to create a image of outer space. In this Part 2 (of two) you will add color, stars, dust and everything else that is still missing on our galaxy.

Final Image Preview

Step 1

Open PSD file that was created on Part 1 of this tutorial. Select layers Nebula and Galaxy and merge both layers by going to Layers > Merge Layers (Ctrl+E). We will have now three layers: black, white, and the one with the galaxy. It’s worth noticing that space is very beautiful, all colors can be found in it, so let’s add them into our galaxy. Create a new layer and change the layer Blending Mode to Color. After that select a soft-edged Brush Tool, opacity 10%, 300 pixels in diameter, color #5a78cc and paint it arbitrarily.

Step 2

Keep Brush Tool selected and change color to #ff0000 to add red color.

Step 3

Keep Brush Tool selected and change color to #fff000 to add yellow color.

Step 4

Create a new layer. On this new layer we create the centre of the galaxy. Select a soft-edged brush, 500 pixels in diameter, color #ffffb7, opacity 100%.

Step 5

Change the brush diameter to 300, white color (#ffffff) and apply.

Step 6

Shape the shining to the galaxy outline with the help of Edit > Transform > Scale:

Step 7

Rotate using Edit > Transform > Rotate:

Step 8

Any galaxy needs stars and our galaxy is not an exception. To bring bright stars to the canvas, create a new layer, select a soft-edged Brush Tool, opacity 100%, white color (#ffffff) and open Brush Panel to adjust settings (Windows > Brush or press F5).
Select Shape Dynamics option and change settings.
Select Scattering option and change settings.
And on Transfer option update opacity to 100% and change Control to Pen Pressure.
Important: On older Photoshop versions there isn´t any Transfer option but Other Dynamics option is available and this is where you update settings.
With the help of this brush, change its diameter according to the situation and your taste and we can create stars along the outline of the galaxy and slightly beyond its bounds.

Step 9

It´s worth remembering, that the closer the stars the bigger they appear to be on the picture. So you need to keep changing brush size.

Step 10

There is also its own nebula around the stars. Duplicate the layer (Crtl+J) and blur the layer that is below using Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur:

Step 11

Stars have color too. Select the Gradient Tool and set up following presets:
Go back to original stars layer and select stars. Create new layer and apply gradient.
Move this layer below both layers that contain stars.

Step 12

Apply Soft Light Blending Mode for the layer with the gradient.

Step 13

To be more realistic our galaxy lacks dust. To create dust we select standard Dry Brush, opacity 100%, black color (#000000), change the diameter according to the situation. We apply strokes along the galaxy shape on a new layer.

Step 14

Now we adjust the dust outline using the Eraser Tool, select a soft-edged brush, opacity 50%, diameter according to the situation.

Step 15

Then we remove hard edges of brush strokes and get realistic dust.

Step 16

Now let´s apply color to the dust layer. We treat the dust in the same way as the stars, select the layer with the dust and apply the same gradient.

Step 17

Apply the Multiply Blending Mode for the layer with colored dust.

Step 18

It remains only to add volume to our image, we select a soft-edged brush, 900 pixels in diameter, opacity 30%, black color (#000000) and darken the image above and slightly on the edges on a new layer.

Step 19

We can say the galaxy is ready but we can add some more details. Let it be very big stars or constellations. Create a new layer, select the Brush Tool and brush with 70 pixels in diameter, opacity 100%, color #6191dc.

Step 20

Let´s change brush color to white (#ffffff).

Step 21

Deform slightly using Edit > Transform > Scale and Edit > Transform > Rotate.

Final Image

It´s possible not to deform and so it depends on your taste. Add a few stars on the same principle.

Part 1