How to Paint Clouds

How to paint Clouds in Photoshop – Cloud Painting Tips and Tricks

This page will be the repository for Cloud painting tips it’s brand new as of April 1st so forgive me as it’s a bit bare for now. I will keep adding to this page as the I have new tips tutorials they will appear here.

This is a collection of all my written and Video tutorials about using Photoshop to paint clouds.  The Cloud brushes I refer to are the GrutBrushes Cloud FX Brushes

 

Always start on a new layer

This way you can have complete control over what the clouds look like and reduce the layer opacity to blend them into the image more. Cloud eraser brushes will not work on a flattened background layer

A light touch goes further than a heavy hand

Using a light touch with your stylus will not only give you a ton of flexibility and control over your clouds, it will also produce much more realistic clouds. It’s much better to paint multiple layers of clouds on top of each other than to press hard and create thick overbearing clouds. Subtlety is key and remember what you’re creating after all: clouds are made of water vapour with air in between so give them a lot of air and space to breathe.

Use Layering to Create Texture

When you apply multiple layers of cloud on top of each other, where they overlap can create beautiful rich organic textures, the more layering the more natural it will look. Remember that when you look at clouds you are seeing through multiple layers of water droplets, they way they overlap is what makes the shape.

Erase frequently

Undo to redo. As the clouds are unpredictable, get into the habit of drawing with your fingers on the undo keys, this way you can stroke on a cloud quickly, undo and redo until you like the cloud you’ve put on your canvas

Use your Brush as an eraser

Change the mode from Normal to Clear to instantly and temporarily turn any cloud brush into an eraser.  

Pick from your on-screen palette

Clouds are rarely white in the real world, they are made up of reflected light from their environment. Use option/alt to click and pick your colours from your image, especially when working on a photo. Pick new tones frequently to vary your hues while keeping it integrated with it’s environment.  

 

 

Keep creating!

 

Nicolai

GrutBrushes.com