Create a surreal ink in water portrait effect in Photoshop

Create a surreal ink in water portrait effect in Photoshop

Ink and smoke effects transform ordinary portraits into striking artistic compositions. This technique blends human features with flowing ink textures to create dramatic, ethereal imagery.

The tutorial demonstrates how to seamlessly merge portrait elements with ink stock images using masking, blending modes, and highlight techniques for a professional result.

Watch the Tutorial

Video by Photoshop Tutorials. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Key Techniques for Ink Portrait Effects

Master these essential steps to achieve smooth blending between portrait and ink elements:

  • Use Color Range selection to isolate ink from white backgrounds with fuzziness around 124 for clean edges
  • Create layer masks on both model and ink layers to control which parts remain visible
  • Paint with soft brushes at 50% opacity on masks for gradual, natural blending transitions
  • Apply Color Dodge blending mode with pink highlights at 15% opacity for ethereal glow effects
  • Use Reduce Noise filter to soften skin texture and create a more cohesive final result

More Tutorials About Smoke and Ink Effects

Explore additional techniques for creating atmospheric portrait effects:

Making a smoke dispersion effect in photoshop
The author provides a straightforward tutorial on creating a smoke dispersion effect in Photoshop. The user is guided through the process of generating a face that appears to be made from smoke and enhancing it with vibrant colors to achieve a more professional-looking result. This tutorial is suitable for beginners, making it accessible to a wide range of Photoshop users. The author suggests that the tutorial is quite basic, indicating that even novice users will find it helpful. By following
Create a smoke effect in Photoshop
This step-by-step tutorial by RetutPro shows you how to produce a realistic plume of smoke emerging from a pipe. The tutorial walks you through the entire process, from setting up the initial layers to adding the finishing touches. You'll learn useful techniques like using brushes to shape the smoke, adjusting the opacity and blending modes, and incorporating lighting effects. By following along, you'll be able to create a visually striking smoke effect that can be used in a variety of design
Smoke text effect with skulls in Photoshop
In this Photoshop tutorial, you'll learn how to create a smoke text effect where smoke appears to be released over the letters. Using free brushes and other resources, the tutorial guides you through the steps to achieve this dynamic and ethereal effect. Additionally, the author includes a hidden or disguised skull within the design, subtly making a statement about the dangers of smoking. This tutorial not only teaches you how to create visually striking smoke effects but also incorporates a m
How to Add Steam or Smoke in Photoshop
In this engaging tutorial by Aaron Nace from Phlearn, you'll discover how to introduce realistic steam or smoke effects into your images. This technique is perfect for adding atmospheric elements that can enhance the mood and mystery of any scene. Nace walks you through the process in a few simple steps, ensuring that even beginners can follow along and achieve professional results. The tutorial covers essential methods for creating and blending steam or smoke effects seamlessly into your photo

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

How to Create Circle Cropped Photos with Transparent Backgrounds in Photoshop

Circular cropping transforms standard photographs into clean, professional profile images perfect for websites, social media, and presentations. The frame tool method creates non-destructive crops with transparent backgrounds that export seamlessly across different platforms. This streamlined workflow eliminates the need for complex selections or masks while maintaining full control over image...

How to Use Generative Upscale to Restore and Enhance Low-Resolution Images in Photoshop

Low-resolution images often limit your creative projects, especially when you need sharp prints or high-quality displays. Photoshop's Generative Upscale feature transforms small, pixelated photos into crisp, detailed images using AI-powered enhancement. This tool offers three distinct AI models, each designed for specific image types—from landscapes and portraits...

How to Use Harmonize to Automatically Match Lighting in Photoshop Composites

Creating seamless composites traditionally requires hours of manual color correction and lighting adjustments. The new Harmonize tool changes this by automatically analyzing your background and matching your subject's lighting, shadows, and color tones with a single click. This AI-powered feature eliminates the need for complex adjustment layers and...

How to Use Adobe Photoshop in ChatGPT for Photo Editing

Adobe Photoshop is now integrated directly into ChatGPT, allowing you to edit photos using simple text descriptions. This new feature lets you enhance images, apply creative effects, and make targeted adjustments without needing a Photoshop subscription. You can describe what you want to change and fine-tune adjustments using familiar Photoshop...

How to Fix Skin Tones in Photoshop - Complete Guide

Skin tones can make or break a portrait, yet color casts and uneven lighting often leave subjects looking unnatural or flat. Whether dealing with mixed lighting conditions, camera white balance issues, or post-processing mishaps, getting skin colors right requires a systematic approach that works consistently across different scenarios. This comprehensive...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.