Creating clouds for backgrounds in CS2

[Spooky]

Hello

I have been told how to use the Filter/Render/Clouds command to create clouds in photoshop, just want to use it on a background for a banner.

When I go to the menu option however it is greyed out. How do I activate it? I have tried selecting the layer, making a selection etc but can't seem to make that command available. Fibres is always available but not clouds.

Thanks

[sheepie]

At a guess, this may not be available to you in your current Colourspace or Bit depth. Many of the filters are only available once you get down to 8-bit

[Steffen]

I have been told how to use the Filter/Render/Clouds command to create clouds in photoshop

It doesn't have to be Photoshop, any CPU intensive app will do. It also help to aggressively overclock. Just keep watching the back of your PC, the clouds will eventually appear...

Cheers
Steffen.

[lostinsydney]

under image menu look for mode and it should be 8bits/channel

for cloud effect select darker blue and lighter blue in foreground and background colour respectively or vice versa.

you can use any of the blur filter to create more smooth and cloud like effect

hope that helps

[Spooky]

Okay, that is it, only available in 8bit. Bummer, I want to keep the image in 16bit because it is a large print and has several images on it.

Anyway you can adjust the cloud affect, all the clouds are sort of very small and patchy? Not very much like clouds.

[hdj80]

Can I suggest downloading the PS Cs2 tut (free) on Smart Objects from here
http://www.radiantvista.com/video_tutorials/

I am sure others have been to Radiant Vista but if you haven't check out the site. For beginners PShoppers there are some easy to learn from tutorials.

Cheers

Craig

[HappyFotographer]

Craig, I hadn't seen this site before, thanks.

[lostinsydney]

i had a look at the video as well. great video clip. however i would use pen tool instead colour range or magic wand. why? to achieve more accurate result but if time is short and you need quick result, go ahead and use either tool. and yes, you can achieve good results. if you do use pen tool to create a mask, some feathering and layer masking (using gradient in mask to achieve blend-in effect) will be required as well.

for a perfect image one thing i’d like to mention which the video clip didn’t really talk about was to distort (under transform) the cloud so as you have same perspective compared to rest of your shot. unless your shot is such that you don't need to do that at all.