All Topics

Find tutorials, courses, and more...

Design & Illustration

Categories

Learning Guides

BRUSHES

How to Create Custom

Shattered Glass Brushes
in Adobe Photoshop
by Kirk Nelson

125

2 Jan 2015
230

6 Comments
324

This post is part of a series called Photoshop Brushes from Scratch.

How to Create Custom Water Drop Brushes in Adobe Photoshop
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

 How to Create Custom Water Splash Brushes in Adobe Photoshop

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

What You'll Be Creating

Adding shattered glass to a design is a great way to introduce drama and interest.
The visual depiction of broken glass is very evocative and full of energy and conflict.
Creating it is full of technical challenges. Illustrating it is difficult and time
consuming, but photographing it well is no easy task! In this Quick Tip, we will give
you a great technique for safely generating shattered glass brushes in Adobe
Photoshop.

1. Create the Practical Effect

Before we begin, I know what you are thinking. "How hard can this be? Just bust
some glass and take a picture of it!" But this project can actually be a lot more
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

difficult than it looks. The very nature of shattered glass makes it a challenge to
work with. It is sharp and can cut. There's no way to break it in a slow and
controlled manner. It must be shattered violently, and the shards have a tendency
to fly all over the place in a hugely uncooperative, and dangerous, manner.
Once the safety issue is dealt with, the next challenges are backgrounds and
reflections. Either one can drastically increase editing time during the brush
creation, so it's best to eliminate them on the practical side. Yet figuring out a setup
that doesn't show any background or reflection in dozens of shards of tiny glass is
no simple matter.
Fortunately for you, this tutorial walks you through how to conquer both those
challenges and end up with some clean, crisp shattered glass brushes!

Step 1
The materials you will need are fairly simple and common. You will need:
Several small panes of glass. I got mine from cheap picture frames on sale at
my local department store.
Some sturdy card stock.
Spray adhesive. Look for a can that gives a fine mist and dries invisibly.
Clear plastic bags large enough to hold the glass panes.
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

A hammer!

Step 2
I suggest doing this project outside on an overcast day. The heavy cloud cover will
give a soft ambient light and make it easier to keep the reflections clear. The key to
controlling the shards of glass and stopping them from flying away is to glue them to
the card stock. Start by spraying the adhesive on the card stock. Use a very fine
mistyou don't want the drops to be visible through the glass. The glue doesn't
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

need to hold the glass securely, it just needs to help keep it from sliding around.

Step 3
Allow the adhesive a minute to dry, and then gently press the glass pane onto the
card stock. Be careful not to smear fingerprints all over it!
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 4
If necessary, trim the card stock down so that the paper and the glass together can
fit inside one of the plastic bags.
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 5
Break the glass with a quick strike of the hammer to the center of the glass pane.
The adhesive holds the shards in place and the plastic bag prevents them from
flying around.
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 6
Carefully slide the card stock out of the bag without disrupting any of the glass
pieces. Keep the card flat and begin to photograph the broken glass. Shoot from a
slight angle and watch that your own reflection doesn't appear on the glass surface.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 7
Carefully move some of the glass shards and shoot more photos of assorted pieces
of glass, always being aware of your reflection!

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 8
Repeat the process as many times as you'd like, or until you run out of panes of
glass!

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

2. Process the Photos

Now we turn the corner into the digital world, and adapt our shattered glass shots to
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

work as custom brushes in Photoshop.

Step 1
Open one of the shattered glass shots and use theCrop Tool (C) to crop the image
in close to the edges of the glass.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 2
Photoshop brushes ignore color information, so it's best if we see the image as
Photoshop does, in grayscale. Add a Black & White Adjustment Layer and find
the preset that generates the best contrast for your shot. For this image, that was
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

the High Contrast Red Filter.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 3
Add a Curves Adjustment Layer and squeeze the curve horizontally to meet the
histogram edges, which greatly increases the contrast of the image. Then create a
steep arc upwards. The goal is to get the parts between the cracks solid white, and
the cracks as dark as possible without creating distortion.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 4
Add a New Layer to the top and use a soft edgedBrush (B) with foreground color
set to white. Paint completely around the edges and gently fade the radiating cracks
as they approach the edges.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 5
Go to Edit > Define Brush Preset and give the new brush a name. Continue this
same process for the rest of your shattered glass photos until you've built up a
library of custom shattered glass brushes.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

3. Use Our Brushes

While I fully encourage you to follow along and create your own custom shattered
glass brushes, I realize that not everybody has the time or opportunity to break
glass just for photos. So I've provided an assortment of broken glass brushes free
for you to use!

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 1
Download the attached file for this tutorial, ShatteredGlassBrushes.abr. Then go
to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager. In the Brushes section, use the Load button
to navigate to the downloaded file.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

This will add 12 new shattered glass brushes to yourBrush Presets.

Advertisement

Step 2
Go be amazing! Now use your smashing new brushes to produce some digital
artwork with actual glass effects that you didn't have before.

Want More?
Can't get enough custom creative brushes in Photoshop? Check out my previous
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

tutorials on creating custom brushes for Coffee Rings, Smoke Tendrils, or Water
Drops. Hungry to learn more about how to use custom brushes in photo
manipulation projects? Check out my profile of courses and tutorials here at Tuts+
and find all that, and much more!
Creatingyour own library of digital resources pulled from real-world practical effects is
a skill that will pay off exponentially in the future. Instead of searching stock sites for
interesting textures, try creating some for yourself! I'd love to see them in the
comments below.

Advertisement

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Suggested Tuts+ Course

Difficulty:
Beginner
Length:
Quick
Categories:
Brushes

Adobe Photoshop

Brush Tool

Textures
Translations Available:
Tuts+ tutorials are translated by our community

The Fundamentals of Digital Painting

Free

members. If you'd like to translate this post into

another language, let us know!

Related Tutorials
Download Attachment

How to Create Custom Water Splash

Brushes in Adobe Photoshop
Design & Illustration

About Kirk Nelson

I have been working as an all around
graphics geek or Visual Information
Specialist for the past 17 years around the

Harness the Elements: Paint Liquid

Water in All Its Forms
Design & Illustration

Washington DC Metro area. With my career

spanning across almost every aspect of the design
industry, I have worked from web design, to 3d
open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

How to Apply Custom Shattered

Glass Brushes in Adobe Photoshop
pdfcrowd.com

Glass Brushes in Adobe Photoshop

animation, to logo design, to photo retouching.

Design & Illustration

Jobs
WordPress Developer
at WebDevStudios in Philadelphia, PA,
USA

Graphic Design Instructor

at Tuts+ in New York, NY, USA

Advertisement

Envato Market Item

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

6 Comments

Tuts+ Hub

Share

Recommend 1

Join the discussion

Alice Catrinel

3 months ago

Usually these tutorials teach you how to take stock pictures and transform them into custom brushes - we
tutorial breaks the mold and is a breath of fresh air! :) Good work!
6

Reply Share

Sharon Milne

Mod

> Alice Catrinel 3 months ago

I've been enjoying the creating of the effect more than the making it a brush :D
Very inspiring :)
1
ExtremRaym

Reply Share

3 months ago

Excellent !!

open in browser PRO version

Guest

Reply Share

2 months ago

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Nice.

Reply Share

2 months ago

It's really very interesting. I can't wait to try it now.

Reply Share

Moklesur Rahman Robin

2 months ago

these tutorials teach you how to take stock pictures and transform them
into custom brushes - well this tutorial breaks the mold and is a breath
of fresh air!

Subscribe

open in browser PRO version

Reply Share

Add Disqus to your site

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Privacy

pdfcrowd.com

2015 Toyota
Corolla
Super Fun From $335/Mo.
Shop New Corollas Online
Here!

Advertisement

19,297 Tutorials

499 Video Courses

Teaching skills to millions worldwide.

Follow Us

Email Newsletters

Get Tuts+ updates, news, surveys &

offers.
Email Address

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Email Address

Help and Support

FAQ

Subscribe

Terms of Use
Contact Support

Privacy Policy

About Tuts+
Advertise
Teach at Tuts+

Custom digital services like logo design, WordPress installation, video

production and more.
Check out Envato Studio

Choose from over 5 million royalty-free photos and images priced from $1.
No subscription required.
Browse Photos on PhotoDune

2015 Envato Pty Ltd. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

owners.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com