September 27, 2018

How to create Photoshop Infrared Effect (Easy)

Here is the easy way to create an Infrared Effect in Photoshop.

In this Photoshop tutorial we'll work with Hue/Saturation and Curves Adjustment Layer to recreate the infrared look, use the Motion blur filter to the clouds and add a slight vignette using Lens Corrections filter.

Let's get started!
How to create Photoshop Infrared Effect
Final result.


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1. Open an Image File
Choose File>Open or else just press Ctrl+O to Open up your base image in Adobe Photoshop.

The standard Open dialog box appears.

Navigate to the folder that contains your file then select the name of the file you want to open.

If your file does not appear, try to view all files by selecting All Formats from the Files of type list.

Click the Open button.
The Open dialog box.
The Open dialog box.

For this Photoshop tutorial, I'll use this image, 3628390, that downloaded from Pixabay. 
Image used in this tutorial.
Image used in this tutorial.

2. Duplicate Layer
Duplicate the Background in this original image by going to the top menu and choose Layer>Duplicate layer or else just press Ctrl+J.

In the Layers panel, a duplicate layer with the default name of Background copy or Layer 1 appears above the Background layer.
Duplicate the image on a new layer.
Duplicate the image on a new layer.

3. Invert the Duplicate Layer
Choose Image>Adjustments>Invert or else just press Ctrl+I. Photoshop permanently inverts the colors in your image.
Invert the Duplicate Layer.
Invert the Duplicate Layer.

4. Change the Blend Mode to Color
Change the Blend Mode from Normal to Color by going to the drop down menu in the options bar.
Change the Blend Mode to Color.
Change the Blend Mode to Color.

5. Create a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer
Create a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer. Choose Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Hue/Saturation.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

In the New Layer dialog box, name the layer if you want, leave the other options at their defaults, and click OK.

The Hue/Saturation controls display on the Properties panel.

Click the clipping mask icon to clip the Hue/Saturation adjustment to the layer below.
The New Layer dialog box appears.
The New Layer dialog box appears.

Click the clipping mask icon to clip the Hue/Saturation adjustment to the layer below.
Click the clipping mask icon to clip the Hue/Saturation adjustment to the layer below.

6. Adjust The Green Color into Red
Drag the Hue and the Saturation slider to change the Grass color into Red.
Drag the Hue and the Saturation slider to change the Grass color into Red.
Drag the Hue and the Saturation slider to change the Grass color into Red.

7. Choose Yellows To Adjust the Sky color
Choose Yellows from the drop-down menu to Adjust the Sky color.

Drag the Hue, the Saturation and the Lightness slider to darken the sky.
Choose Yellows To Adjust the Sky color.
Choose Yellows To Adjust the Sky color.

Drag the Hue, the Saturation and the Lightness slider to darken the sky.
Drag the Hue, the Saturation and the Lightness slider to darken the sky.

8. Choose Cyan To Adjust the Rocks Color
Choose Cyan To Adjust the Rocks Color. Remove the color from the Rocks by adjusting the Hue and the Saturation slider.
Choose Cyan To Adjust the Rocks Color.
Choose Cyan To Adjust the Rocks Color.

Remove the color from the Rocks by adjusting the Hue and the Saturation slider.
Remove the color from the Rocks by adjusting the Hue and the Saturation slider.

9. Boost Tone And Contrast Using a Curves Adjustment Layer
Create a Curves Adjustment Layer. Choose Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Curves.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

In the New Layer dialog box, name the layer if you want, leave the other options at their defaults, and click OK.

The Curves controls display on the Properties panel.

Adjust the curve to make a subtle “S” curve.

Click the clipping mask icon to clip the Curves adjustment to the layer below.
The New Layer dialog box appears.
The New Layer dialog box appears.

Click the clipping mask icon to clip the Curves adjustment to the layer below.
Click the clipping mask icon to clip the Curves adjustment to the layer below.

Boost Tone And Contrast Using a Curves Adjustment Layer.
Boost Tone And Contrast Using a Curves Adjustment Layer.

10. Group All Layers (Optional)
Select the layers that you want to be in a group by clicking on all layer, while holding-down the Ctrl key.

Choose Layer>New>Group from Layers or select New Group from Layers from the Layers panel menu.

The New Group from layers dialog box appears.

Name the group and click OK.
Select the layers that you want to be in a group by clicking on all layer, while holding-down the Ctrl key.
Select the layers that you want to be in a group by clicking on all layer, while holding-down the Ctrl key.

The New Group from layers dialog box appears.
The New Group from layers dialog box appears.

Group All Layers.
Group All Layers.

11. Duplicate Group Layer (Optional for backup)
With the Layer Group selected in the layers panel, choose Layer>Duplicate Group.
Duplicate Group Layer.
Duplicate Group Layer.

12. Merge All Layers
Click the eye icon layer group to turn off its visibility.

Select the duplicate layer group then choose Layer>Merge Group.
Click the eye icon layer group to turn off its visibility.
Click the eye icon layer group to turn off its visibility.

Select the duplicate layer group then choose Layer>Merge Group.
Select the duplicate layer group then choose Layer>Merge Group.

13. Convert the Merged Layer To Smart Object
Convert the merged Layer To Smart Object by choosing Filter>Convert for smart filters.
Convert Layer To Smart Object.
Convert Layer To Smart Object.

14. Apply the Radial Blur Filter
Apply Radial Blur filter for our infrared effect.

Now go to Filter>Blur>Radial Blur to give a moving and blurry effect.

The Radial Blur dialog box appears.

Set Amount to 20, Set Blur Method to Zoom to blur along radial lines and mimic the effect of zooming in to your image,  specify Quality level to Best, and indicate where you want the center of your blur by clicking and dragging inside the Blur Center box.

Click OK when you're done.
The Radial Blur dialog box.
The Radial Blur dialog box.

The Radial Blur filter applied.
The Radial Blur filter applied.

15. Select The Brush Tool
Select the Brush Tool from the Tools panel, or press B.

There are four available brush tools to choose from, Brush Tool, Pencil Tool, Color Replacement Tool, and Mixer Brush Tool.

Press Shift+B to cycle through the four available brush tools until the one you want is active. 

Choose a large, Soft Round brush, Normal mode, and an Opacity 100% on the Options bar.

Press D to make sure that the Foreground color is black.
Select The Brush Tool.
Select The Brush Tool.

Large, soft round brush, Normal mode, and Opacity 100%.
Large, soft round brush, Normal mode, and Opacity 100%.

Press D to make sure the Foreground color is black.
Press D to make sure the Foreground color is black.

16. Apply Brush Strokes to Reveal Foreground
Click on the Smart Filters mask.

Using your mouse, apply brush strokes to the image (except the sky) to reveal some of the underlying image.
Click on the Smart Filters mask.
Click on the Smart Filters mask.

Apply Brush Strokes to Reveal Foreground.
Apply Brush Strokes to Reveal Foreground.

17. Apply Noise Filter
Now add noise to the smart object layer.

Make sure the smart object layer is selected.

Choose Filter>Noise>Add Noise.

The Add Noise dialog box appears.

Adjust the Amount to 5%-10% by typing in a number or just drag along the slider right below.

Next, set Distribution to Gaussian. It's a bit more sporadic when "Gaussian" is selected.

Tick "Monochromatic" at the bottom to make the noise just black and white.

You can zoom out using the minus sign on the left side below the image preview or zoom in with the plus sign on the right.

Click OK when you're done.
Make sure the smart object layer is selected.
Make sure the smart object layer is selected.

The Add Noise dialog box.
The Add Noise dialog box.

18. Add Vignette
Now apply vignette or darkening in the corners, to the image.

Select the merged layer.

Go to Filter>Lens Correction or else just press Shift+Ctrl+R.

The Lens Correction dialog box appears.

Click the Custom tab.

Drag the Vignette Amount slider to the left and the Vignette Midpoint slider to the left or right.

Click OK when you're happy with the result.
Add Vignette.
Add Vignette.

19. Save the Document
Choose File>Save or else just press Ctrl+S to save your project file.

The Save As dialog box appears.

Navigate to the folder where you want to store the file.

Type a name in the File Name text box and leave the default Photoshop (*.PSD;*.PDD) format.

Click Save to store the image.

Once you have finished, you will probably also want to use File>Save As (Shift+Ctrl+S) to export the image in a more widely used format, such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.

Here is the result:
How to create Photoshop Infrared Effect.
How to create Photoshop Infrared Effect.

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