Sunburst guide

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

I've seen a lot of people ask how to get the sunburst effects and I've seen a few tutorials on how to get the effect, but the method I like the most is a really simple way of getting a great two-tone sunburst effect. I haven't seen anybody post about it yet and I hope this small guide is helpful!

Translatability: This guide was made for PS CS2. I'm not so sure if it would work with other versions of Photoshop (except maybe CS3) and it most probably won't work for other programs since it uses a preset tool that comes with PS CS2.

How to get from to in a couple seconds!



Okay, first, you start out with your image against a background. I'll be using a simple elephant shape against a solid background but you can always mix it up by having a person against texture or anything else.



Then, you click on the Custom Shape Tool (which you can find in the same menu as the Rectangle Tool on the Tools bar) and load the shapes that fall under the "Symbols" category. Find the shape named Registration Target 2. It will look a bit like a wheel with many spokes. This is the handy-dandy tool that you can use to create sunbursts in about a second. :D



Then, you create a new layer between your background and your object and pick the color that you want this layer to be. In my case, I chose a light blue color. Click at a corner outside of your picture and drag the shape's outline like shown below. Make sure that the thick outline of the circle is outside of the area of your icon/image (if it makes it easier for you, you can zoom out a bit to do so). Also, make sure that the small, inner circle of the spokes is fully covered by your top image. As you can see from the example below, the inner circle is inside the body of the elephant.



When you release your mouse, you should get something like what I got below. And you're pretty much done! :)



Of course, for different effects, you can play around where you have the small circle.

<-- for this one, I put the circle a little bit below the center of the image.

<-- for this one, I put the circle in the upper right corner so it was just outside the image.

I'm sure there are other ways to use this and it's a fun tool to experiment with. Since the middle layer with the sun burst is separate from the background, you can even fiddle with the blending options to achieve cool effects. I hope you found this tip helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions or confusions... and happy iconmaking!

Comments

[jackie.livejournal.com]

Very cool, thank you! :)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. :D

[sugah66.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! I was actually hoping to make a header or something with this effect, so thanks!

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Glad it helped you out. :D

[dinosaur.livejournal.com]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :)

[dx-chick1992.livejournal.com]

it sorta kinda works in PSP...at least X2.
(http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t212/dx_chick1992/?action=view&current=heart.png)
that's what I got...not quite as cool, cause the sections are bigger but its close! :)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

That looks cute... and it is close! Have you tried to see if you can get it in a graphic that's larger than an icon? Maybe it will work even better. :D

[lil-lovestoned.livejournal.com]

this is a hot tut love so memm'd :D

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot! :D

[kaiweasley.livejournal.com]

That's pretty fun and easy ^^
Thanks!

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it pretty much is. You're welcome! :D

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :D

[shuichified.livejournal.com]

ooooooooooooooooh

i didnt know we could do that 8D lol thanks

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :D

[bentfire.livejournal.com]

You = amazing.

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

:D Thanks! I love your icon, by the way.

[chiclets72.livejournal.com]

xD ive been wanting to know how to do this. THANKS! xDD

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful. :D

[imported.livejournal.com]

:O
Thank you!
I had been wondering how to do that!

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

:D You're welcome!

[reina-jpn.livejournal.com]

+meming!
thanks ;)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :D

[lonelytourist.livejournal.com]

hmm wonder if you could help me with this after I've picked my color and then put the shaped but it doesn't change colors like yours. Am I forgeting to do something?

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Are you sure that your background color is different from the color that you want your shape to be? If they are the same color, you won't see anything. Otherwise, do you have any sort of Mask on? If not, I'm not sure, but if you can get give my a screenshot of your Photoshop, maybe I can try to figure out if there's a problem in your layers or something else.

[sushikabob89.livejournal.com]

ROFLMAO that was so easy ♥ ty~

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're weclcome! :D

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Haha, well, to be honest, the first time I tried to get the effect, I did draw lines and then fill them in with alternating colors. :P

[briar.livejournal.com]

cool, it's such an colourful and interesting picture

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[moira-fae11.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you rock! *goes to twiddle*

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Thanks... and have fun! :D

[cosmo-mouse.livejournal.com]

Oh, I never realised it was that easy to get the effect. Thanks for posting how to do it :)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :D

[bobbylyn-n.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Will try, thanks!

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :D

[mscam.livejournal.com]

awesome ♥ super easy effect.

btw, you've now made the elephant cool! there'll be elephants as far as the eye can see. *giggle*

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Well, elephants have always been cool to me, but I just hope nobody decides to put one on top of somebody's head! :D

[ch4ndler.livejournal.com]

Wow, it's pretty simple, but very useful! And the final effects are great!! Thanks

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

It is a fun, simple effect! You're welcome! :D

[xqueen-mab.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love you!
Thank you :)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Hehe thanks! :D

[mars]

Woah. Thank you :D

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :D

[music-fun.livejournal.com]

it os more than great that somebody finaly decited to write a simple tutorial about these textures, thank you very much :)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Glad you found it helpful! :D

[avenuecafe.livejournal.com]

:D good job!

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D