Make liquid metal so cool, you'd think it came from a Terminator movie.liquid, metal, photoshop, tutorialLiquid MetalMake liquid metal so cool, you'll think it came from a Terminator movie.1.gif250266Step 11
Create a new document. Create a new alpha channel in the Channels Palette. Go Filter>Render>Clouds. Then go Filter>Render>Difference Clouds. Once you've done that,
apply a Filter>Blur>Guassian Blur the channel, I used a radius of about 20. Than hit Ctrl+L (Mac: Command+L) to
bring up the Layers menu and adjust the sliders to the center so that you get a good
solid shape like on the left
2.gif250250Step 22
Create a selection from the channel by holding Ctrl (Command) and clicking it in the Channels Palette. Go back to the Layers Palette and create new layer and fill the selection
with gray. I also added a drop shadow by right-clicking the layer and going to the Blending Options menu, but that's optional.
3.jpg151140Step 33
Go back to the channel and duplicate it. Create a selection from the channel.
Now, Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur the channel, using a radius of 16. Then Gaussian Blur it again with
a radius of 8 and once again with a radius of 4. Then it Ctrl+D (Command+D) to deselect your selection and
Gaussian Blur the channel with a radius of 2. You should have something like this.
4.jpg250250Step 44
Now, go back to the layer with your blobs. Go Filters>Render>Lighting
Effects and use these liquidmetallightefx.zippreset settings
I have provided for you. Now, the outcome will be a little rough, so click on
Preserve Transperency(for PS 5.x users) or Lock(for 6+ users) in the layer window.
Now apply a Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur with a radius of 2. The next thing you need to do
is hit Ctrl+M (Command+M) to mess around with the curves, I have provided these liquidcurve.zippreset
curve settings for you to download, if you'd like.
5.jpg250250Step 55
Now for the final stage. Hit 'D' to reset your colors. Go Filter>Sketch>Chrome. Play around with the settings, I used 10, and 10 for my settings.
Once applied you will have white marks all over your metal blobs, to finish
off the effect go Filter>Fade Chrome (for PS 5.x users) or Edit>Fade
Chrome (for 6+ users) and set the opacity to 40% in the upper right of the Layers Palette. Finished.