The dispersion effect creates the illusion of a subject dissolving into particles or smoke, producing a dramatic visual that suggests movement and transformation. This technique combines the Liquify filter with custom brushes and layer masking to achieve a realistic scattering effect.
By duplicating your subject, distorting one layer, and selectively revealing portions through carefully applied masks, you can control exactly where and how the dispersion occurs while maintaining the integrity of the original image.
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Practical Tips
Master the dispersion effect with these essential techniques for realistic results.
- Use a large brush in the Liquify filter to stretch your subject in the direction you want the dispersion to flow
- Create a black mask by holding Alt and clicking the layer mask icon to completely hide the liquified layer initially
- Vary your smoke brush sizes and rotate them frequently to avoid creating recognizable patterns
- Paint with white on the black mask to reveal the stretched areas, and black on the white mask to hide the original
- Work with 100% opacity when applying brush strokes to maintain clean, defined edges in your dispersion
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