Hopefully you'll have already read the Simple Glass Still Life post on the blog. If you haven't, you might want to, or this one will make very little sense. Following that post there were several requests for a more detailed step-by-step description of the Photoshop process used to create the digitally manipulated images, so that's what this is. Don't say we never listen!
Details of how the original image was created are in the initial blog post so won't be repeated here. Also bear in mind that this walkthrough describes how I created the final image - you may choose to vary elements of the process to better suit your own image and tastes. All digital manipulation was carried out using Adobe Photoshop Elements. Click on any of the images/screenshots in this walkthrough for a larger view.
Be warned, though, this one's a long'un...
Original image
Potion bottle
Step 1
Step 2
Click Image (Alt+I), Resize (Alt+R) and Canvas Size...
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Fit canvas to screen (Ctrl+0).
Step 6
Create new layer from background (Alt+L, Alt+N, Alt+B).
Step 7
Duplicate layer (Ctrl+J).
Step 8
Repeat duplicate layer (Ctrl+J).
Step 9
Click Image (Alt+I), Resize (Alt+R) and Canvas Size...
Step 10
Step 11
Step 12
Bring up the Hue/Saturation window (Ctrl+U). Set Hue to -120 and click OK.
Step 13
Step 14
Bring up the Hue/Saturation window (Ctrl+U). Set Hue to 120 and click OK.
Step 15
Open green smoke image. Tile windows to view both images (Alt+W, Alt+I, Alt+T).
Step 16
Step 17
Change layer blending mode to Screen (or press Shift and + or - keys to cycle through modes).
Step 18
Step 19
Zoom in (Ctrl++) and user Eraser (E) with a mid-size soft brush to edit smoke around bottle.
Step 20
Fit canvas to screen (Ctrl+0).
Step 21
Open red smoke image. Tile windows to view both images (Alt+W, Alt+I, Alt+T).
Step 22
Step 23
Change layer blending mode to Screen (or press Shift and + or - keys to cycle through modes).
Step 24
Step 25
Zoom in (Ctrl++) and user Eraser (E) with a mid-size soft brush to edit smoke around bottle.
Step 26
Fit canvas to screen (Ctrl+0).
Step 27
Open blue smoke image. Tile windows to view both images (Alt+W, Alt+I, Alt+T).
Step 28
Step 29
Change layer blending mode to Screen (or press Shift and + or - keys to cycle through modes).
Step 30
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Step 39
[caption id="attachment_9497" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="Click on green bottle and smoke layer and bring to front of layers (Shift+Ctrl+])."][/caption]
Step 40
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Step 43
[caption id="attachment_9520" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="Click on blue bottle and smoke layer. Reduce size to 85%."][/caption]
Step 44
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Step 48
[caption id="attachment_9536" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="Send new black layer to back (Shift+Ctrl+[)."][/caption]
Step 49
Step 50
Final image
Smoking Potion Bottles