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How one can create a damaged glass impact in Photoshop

March 7, 2025 6:50 pm   Graphic Designing   Poetic   Comments

In in the present day’s tutorial, we will likely be masking find out how to create a damaged glass impact in Adobe Photoshop. We’ll be recreating an impact that was used on the Black Mirror brand for a promo poster, however utilizing our personal shapes and design. One of the best half about this impact is that it is so easy and versatile! You may apply it to any easy form, brand, or textual content.

Let’s have a look!

What you will study on this Photoshop impact tutorial 

What you will want 

1. How one can create a damaged glass background in Photoshop 

Step 1

Create a layer full of very darkish blue. Above that layer, create a New Layer set to Overlay. Paint mild and shadow on this layer utilizing a really massive default spherical Brush set to black and white. This may give the background behind the glass a small quantity of sunshine and shadow.

This step is non-compulsory. It’s also possible to use a texture or one other background of your selection.  

paint a background gradient paint a background gradient

Step 2 

Place your glass texture onto the canvas. Press Management/Command-T to enter Rework mode, then within the higher left Possibility bar select Warp Rework mode. 

Pull and drag on the glass texture to kind the tough form you need. On this case we’ll use a circle, which we’ll be turning right into a triangle momentarily. 

I extremely counsel utilizing Good Objects so you possibly can return to this and all future filters and picture changes and alter their settings.

warp your glass texture warp your glass texture warp your glass texture

Step 3

Subsequent, go to Filter > Liquefy to refine your form by pushing and pulling the glass texture. 

Attempt to push and pull the feel in a method that minimizes smeared or stretched-looking pixels. 

liquefy and shape the glass texture liquefy and shape the glass texture liquefy and shape the glass texture

Step 4

Change the glass texture layer’s mode to Display screen. 

Change the glass texture layers' layer mode to ScreenChange the glass texture layers' layer mode to ScreenChange the glass texture layers' layer mode to Screen

Step 5

Now, we’ll make changes that may make the glass seem clearer and crisper. First, add a Filter > Good Sharpen set to Quantity 500 and Radius 0.3.

Second, use Picture > Changes > Curves to convey down the darks of the picture. Do that by bringing the underside anchor level in in the direction of the appropriate. This may make the glass seem clearer. 

We will likely be repeating this step in future steps to regulate how clear or foggy/strong the glass items seem.

Lastly, if you wish to take away the colour out of your glass, add an Picture > Changes > Hue/Saturation bringing the Saturation to -100.

sharpen and color adjust the glass texture sharpen and color adjust the glass texture sharpen and color adjust the glass texture

Step 6

Now, add a Layer Masks to the glass texture. 

Use a big, tender Brush set to black to masks away any harsh edges on the sides of the feel.

Use a small, onerous, spherical brush to additional refine and take away the internal portion of your glass form. You may create new cracks, lower out bigger chunks of glass, and go away behind small shards. 

Do not overthink this step. The glass is damaged, jagged, and messy, so that you need the sides to look imperfect. 

mask cracks into the glass texture mask cracks into the glass texture mask cracks into the glass texture

Step 7

Clip a New Layer into the glass texture. 

Use a tough spherical brush to color white on a number of the edges of the glass. Don’t make the white too strong or good. Maintain it messy. It’s also possible to use totally different grungy textured brushes for extra texture.

These are the essential steps you will take for all glass textures. Set the feel to Display screen, regulate the readability and coloration, masks away components of the glass, after which paint the sides again in with a tough Brush. 

paint white on the edges of the glass texture paint white on the edges of the glass texture paint white on the edges of the glass texture

2. How one can create damaged glass results in Photoshop 

Step 1

First, place your form design within the middle of your glass. I will be utilizing an eye fixed form from this icon pack. 

You should use any easy form, and even phrases or logos. 

paste your logo or shape design paste your logo or shape design paste your logo or shape design

Step 2 

Subsequent, Cover the form design. 

Place a second glass texture onto the canvas. You should use the identical glass texture as earlier than, however the selection will enable you to keep away from repeating particulars/cracks in your design. 

As soon as once more, set the brand new glass texture to Display screen and use Curve and Hue/Saturation changes to regulate the look of the glass. 

To make the glass seem extra strong, I lifted the lights utilizing Picture > Adjustment > Curves. You may see the settings under. These settings will change relying on the glass texture you utilize and the impact you need.   

curves settings curves settings curves settings
place glass texture place glass texture place glass texture

Step 3

Now, create a Layer Masks within the form of your design by holding Management/Command and clicking your design to create a collection of it. Add a Layer Masks to the glass texture. The masks will likely be within the form of your design. 

mask glass shaped into your design mask glass shaped into your design mask glass shaped into your design

Step 4

Create a brand new Group named “Design” and convey your form design into it. 

Add a Stroke layer impact to the group utilizing the settings under. 

stroke settings stroke settings stroke settings
Add a Stroke layer effect to the glass design groupAdd a Stroke layer effect to the glass design groupAdd a Stroke layer effect to the glass design group

Step 5

Add a Layer Masks to the “Design” group. 

Use a small onerous Brush set to black to masks away cracks, edges, and damaged bits of glass in your design. 

We’re utilizing a bunch with a layer masks to guard the unique form design. This fashion, if we need to masks a part of the cracked glass again in, or redo the masks utterly, we cannot have to fret in regards to the authentic form.  

mask cracks into the gass design mask cracks into the gass design mask cracks into the gass design

Step 6

Clip and New Layer into the “Design” group, setting it to Delicate Gentle. Use a tough spherical Brush to color white highlights on the sides of the glass. 

paint reflections on to the glass paint reflections on to the glass paint reflections on to the glass

Step 7

Repeat the above step with a New Layer set to Regular.

paint white edges on the glass design paint white edges on the glass design paint white edges on the glass design

Step 8

Now for a simple solution to learn to draw damaged glass: create a New Layer under the “Design” group. Use this layer to color onerous, strong, white bits of glass and shards across the design. Use very small white marks, factors, and edges. 

Once more, do not overthink this step. You need the white traces to be messy, sharp, and jagged in order that they appear like small bits of glass. It’s also possible to add a Filter > Sharpen if they give the impression of being too tender. 

paint white shards of glass paint white shards of glass paint white shards of glass

3. How one can create glass shards in Photoshop 

Step 1

Place one other copy of a glass texture onto your canvas, setting it to Display screen. 

Alter the glass’s readability utilizing Curves as you see match. 

paste a new glass texture paste a new glass texture paste a new glass texture

Step 2 

Add a Layer Masks to the glass texture, filling it with black, which is able to quickly cover it. Use a tough spherical Brush set to black to masks in components of the glass shards. 

mask in glass pieces around the glass design mask in glass pieces around the glass design mask in glass pieces around the glass design

Step 3

Create and Clip a New Layer into the glass texture, and paint harsh white on the sides of the shards. 

Don’t make the white look too strong or good. It’s also possible to skip a number of the glass to provide it extra dimension.

paint white edges on the broken shards of glass paint white edges on the broken shards of glass paint white edges on the broken shards of glass

Step 4

You may both repeat the above step a number of instances, masking new glass shards each time, or Copy and Paste the unique shards and place them across the canvas. 

In case you use the copy and paste methodology, ensure to flip, rotate, and resize the shards of glass utilizing the Rework controls in order that they don’t look repetitive. 

copy and paste the broken shards of glass around the canvas copy and paste the broken shards of glass around the canvas copy and paste the broken shards of glass around the canvas

4. How one can create a shattered glass textual content impact in Photoshop 

Step 1

Sort or paste in your textual content graphic. Add an Outer Glow layer model with the under settings. 

outer glow settings outer glow settings outer glow settings
type or paste your text design type or paste your text design type or paste your text design

Step 2 

For the textual content impact, we’ll begin by utilizing the Magnetic Lasso software to seize a collection of every bit of glass wherein our textual content will seem.  

Right here is the collection of my first piece of glass. 

make a selection of a broken glass piece make a selection of a broken glass piece make a selection of a broken glass piece

Step 3 

Subsequent, create a Stable Colour fill layer, set to any coloration, below your background glass texture. 

The Stable Colour layer will mechanically be created with a Layer Masks within the form of the choice. 

The colour is barely there that can assist you see the form. 

make a solid color layer in the shape of the selection make a solid color layer in the shape of the selection make a solid color layer in the shape of the selection

Step 4

Repeat the above step, creating a distinct coloured form for every particular person piece of glass your textual content will likely be showing in.

repeat the above step with each piece of glass repeat the above step with each piece of glass repeat the above step with each piece of glass

Step 5

Duplicate your textual content as soon as for each piece of glass.  

Drag and drop the layer masks from the Stable Colour layers onto the textual content layers. Every masks ought to correspond with the a part of the textual content that overlaps the form. The textual content will look unchanged.

Cover the Stable Colour fill layers as soon as performed. Under is what your textual content layers will appear like. 

tis is how your text layers will look tis is how your text layers will look tis is how your text layers will look

Step 6

Click on the Hyperlink icon between the layer icon and Layer Masks. This may Unlink the layer from its masks, making them transfer independently.

Transfer every bit of textual content round, making them look offset and unaligned with the opposite components of the textual content. 

It’s also possible to attempt resizing components of the textual content for a enlarge impact.  

move your text around to make it look shatters and distorted move your text around to make it look shatters and distorted move your text around to make it look shatters and distorted

That is find out how to create a damaged glass impact in Photoshop

That’s find out how to create a damaged glass impact in Photoshop! Now you possibly can create a putting damaged glass impact on any form, brand, or textual content. Attempt experimenting with totally different designs and backgrounds to make much more complicated visuals. You may take this impact a good distance, so actually go for it! 

how to create a broken glass effect in Photoshophow to create a broken glass effect in Photoshophow to create a broken glass effect in Photoshop

Wish to study extra? Attempt one in every of these different Photoshop tutorials:

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