Space and Planet Photoshop Tutorials To Create Amazing Space Scenes

There a lot of space tutorials out there some are better than others, i have managed to try and select a few of what I think can allow you to get great effects that look like they belong and don’t look completely Photoshopped.

I tried to be as varied as possible so there are tutorials for creating planets, stars, nebulas and atmospheric type gasses. The great thing is that they lay down the building blocks to experiment and create you own stunning universe.

Gas bursts and Atmosphere

This tutorial shows you how to create some great gas explosions coming from the planets atmosphere with some pretty simple tools, yet looks stunning

space-atmosphere

Realistic Star fields

Create realistic star fields, the trick with this one is to be totally random and keep building up your layers the end result will speak for it self, with an image that looks like its evolving.

realistic-starfield

Simple Star fields

Create simple yet affective star fields in 8 easy steps.

simple-starfield

Realistic Galaxy

I think if you have the time to do this tutorial it would be very worth while, the end result is very realistic and it seems is one of few great galaxy tutorials.

galaxy

Realistic Space Nebula

This is a much simpler way to create a Nebula with different techniques but with a similar stunning result.

realistic-space-nebula

Space Nebula

How to create a space nebula that looks like its bursting at the seems and full of life, you will need to download a brush pack for this tutorial, but the link is broken on the tutorial site to download them, but don’t worry I have managed to find them for you here: Rust-n-Grunge brushes

space-nebula

Make a Planet

One of my favourites as it is relatively easy to accomplish yet the planet can look totally realistic with its surface glow and texture effect.

make-a-planet

Planet Tutorial

This is a similar tutorial to the one above but will show you what other outcomes can be achieved with this method.

planet-tutorial

Create an Asteroid from scratch

A smart and simple way to create a realistic looking asteroids from nothing but photoshop. If you cant view the tutorial you can find it on this tutorial page instead

create-an-asteroid

Creating Planet Rings

An extremly fast and simple way to add rings around your planet like Saturn has.

planet-rings

Vivid Space Nebula

With this Nebula tutorial it shows a different technique using Photoshops preset brushes and filters to create a vivid result.

vivid-space-nebula

End Of The World

I think the end result could be better but i like the way the glowing crater and asteroids were created i think with some more motivation the end result could look truly amazing.

end-of-the-world

Space Explosion

Quite a lengthy tutorial but a few smart ideas as well such as using a garden rock as an asteroid, with a pleasant explosion to great affect

space-explosion

Fiery Photoshop Space Explosion

A very dramatic explosion with terrific light effects.

fiery-explosion

Creating a Brushed Nebula

This one is different again and is created by using a brushing technique which gives it a unique look, i would say this is quite an advanced technique and would take much longer than most of the others listed. If you cant view the tutorial you can find it on this tutorial page instead

brushed-nebula

Light Effects In Space

A modern take on lighting effects to create a spectrum of colour within space.

space-light-effects

Author of this post: Max Stanworth

Iam the creator and editor of Design Shard, I created this blog to post my inspirations, work and free resources that I hope others find interesting too you can also follow me on twitter @designshard. See all posts by:

74 Comments (Leave a Comment)

  1. Stumbled-in… The irony is I was doing a search for tutorials on creating space themed items just like these about a month ago. These are bar far better than any other I found.
    Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  2. SueE

    Fantastic and inspiring resource! Thanks so much. Sue

    Reply
  3. Dude its awesomeeee……

    Reply
  4. Pandula

    It’s cool man.I love ur ts.

    Reply
  5. jackN

    nice share ..Christmas is coming, and i want to share amazing collection of exclusive photoshop brushes that so suitable for the moment of Christmas and new year.

    http://photograpyreview.blogspot.com/2011/12/30-beautiful-christmas-photoshop.html

    Reply
  6. Rebel Angel

    Thank you SO much for compiling this list of tutorials. You have officially saved my life. I have a sci-fi picture I’m working on and I just could NOT figure out how to make a realistic planet. You are awesome.

    Reply
  7. Mirek

    I admire Your work, it’ awesome ! Thank you :)

    Reply
  8. Wrchild

    Thanks for simple list form of the tutorials which are nothing short of fantastic!

    Reply
  9. Gerd

    These tutorials are awesome ;)
    Fantastic work

    Reply
  10. Scott

    These tutorials are really helpful. Awesome work. Thanks for listing them like this

    Reply
  11. This is really nice! Thanks for sharing. I’ll try some of them soon.

    Reply
  12. Rebeca

    You’re tutorials are awesome!!!

    Reply
  13. Awesome tutorial.I like space explosion most

    Reply
  14. Wonderful tutorial.i like Space Explosion most

    Reply
  15. Jon

    Thanks so much for this. I never thought I could accomplish this but your tutorials are easy to follow and are the best I have seen. I made some
    nice stuff using your awesome techniques.
    Thank you!!! :)

    Reply
  16. Abid Ullah

    Wow, some pretty good stuff, can’t wait to go through them all.

    Reply
  17. The realistic starfields by Greg Martin is the best overall in my opinion which influenced me in creating space artworks in Adobe Fireworks.

    Reply
  18. rabbyron

    cool tutorials

    Reply
  19. Noah

    Really great tutorials, could use some clarification fixes (Like in nebula tutorial, for lens flare it says use the paint bucket to make the thing black, but it doesn’t say what needs to be blackened. I eventually just did it on the base color layer.)

    But really, very helpful, made a really great nebula on first try (whereas many other tutorials require a lot of practice before they look as good as they should) Thanks!

    Reply
  20. This is awesome. Thank you for sharing!
    .-= Ibrahim | TwentiesLife.com´s last blog ..Cryonics (freezing humans) Is Real =-.

    Reply
  21. I’m loving it! :)

    Reply
  22. Amazing list, they look so real and authentic, will definitely try them out soon, thanks!
    .-= Keith´s last blog ..I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends =-.

    Reply
  23. Amazing! Thx :* ;]

    Reply
  24. Donald Hall

    I appreciate your sharing. It is inspiring and will encourage others to be inovative. Creative thinking is needed in this country.FRESH IDEAS
    I am a Christian and thank God for the opportunity to partcipate. THANKS

    Reply
  25. Very awesome! Fantastic list you put together here, and I like the others you have on your site. Keep up the good work, I learned a lot.
    .-= Twig´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.

    Reply

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