How to Add Steam to Coffee in Photoshop
In this video we will be learning how to add steam to coffee in Adobe Photoshop in a very simple way without the need to import third party brushes in Photoshop. Here’s the video:
Video Summary
This video demonstrates a simple technique to add a realistic steam effect to a coffee cup using Adobe Photoshop.
How to Add Steam to Coffee
- Create a New Layer: Start by creating a transparent layer above your image [00:49]. This allows you to adjust the opacity and move the steam independently later.
- Draw Basic Lines: Use a white brush with reduced opacity to draw random, wavy lines that get smaller as they go up [01:21]. These act as the foundation for the steam.
- Apply Difference Clouds: With the steam layer selected, go to Filter > Render > Difference Clouds [02:07]. This instantly transforms your brush strokes into a more natural, cloud-like texture.
- Adjust Opacity: To make the effect realistic, significantly reduce the layer’s opacity [02:35]. Real steam is very subtle and translucent; keeping it too bold can look fake.
- Refine the Shape: Use the Warp Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T > Warp) to manipulate the steam’s shape, making it look more random and dynamic [03:35].
- Selective Masking: If some areas look too uniform, apply a Layer Mask and use a black brush with low opacity to gently dab away parts of the steam, creating a more organic look [05:37].
The instructor notes that while you can use dedicated steam brushes, this method is effective because it uses Photoshop’s built-in tools to create a custom effect from scratch [00:29].
Important Links
Link to download the image used in the video:
This video is from our Food Photography Course, which has 29 videos and 4 hours of content. Use the link below to access the full course on Udemy:
