How to Create a Glitter Effect Photoshop Action

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a glitter effect Photoshop action to add amazing photo effects to your images. I will explain everything in so much detail that everyone can create it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first time.

What You'll Need

To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources:

• 
  Stock Image
  
  


• Texture 1


• 
  Texture 2
  

1. How to Start Creating an Action

Step 1

First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:

1. Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.


2. For best results, your photo size should be 2000–4000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.


3. Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.

Step 2

Now go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions panel click on the menu icon in the top right-hand corner, choose New Set to create a new set, and name it Glitter. Then, click on the same menu icon again, choose New Action to create a new action, and name it Glitter.

2. How to Select the Subject

Step 1

In this section, we are going to make a selection of our subject and then copy the subject to a separate layer. Choose the Quick Selection Tool (W) and select the background of the photo. Use the Shift-Alt buttons on your keyboard to add or subtract areas from the selection. After you've made a perfect selection, press Control-Shift-I on your keyboard to invert the selection.

Step 2

Now go to Select > Modify > Smooth and set the Sample Radius to 5 px. Next, go to Select > Modify > Contract and set Contract By to 2 px. Finally, go to Select > Modify > Feather and set the Feather Radius to 2 px.

Step 3

Press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection, and name this new layer Subject.

3. How to Create the Background

Step 1

In this section, we are going to create the background. Select the Background layer, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it Background Color, and choose the color #e96688.

Step 2

Now Right-click on this layer, choose Blending Options, check Gradient Overlay, and use the settings below:

4. How to Add Glitter Textures

Step 1

In this section we are going to add some glitter textures. Select the Subject layer, go to File > Place Embedded, select the texture from the first texture link, and click Place. Then, set the Width and Height of the texture to 400% and the Angle to -90°, and name this layer Base_Glitter_1.

Step 2

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Screen.

Step 3

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer. Then, set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush as shown below. Feel free to use different settings for the Opacity of the brush.

Step 4

Now press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Then, go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal to flip this layer horizontally. After that, using the Move Tool (V), click and drag anywhere inside the canvas to position the layer as shown below.

Step 5

Name this layer Base_Glitter_2 and drag it just below the Base_Glitter_1 layer in the Layers panel.

Step 6

Now select the Base_Glitter_1 layer, go to File > Place Embedded, select the texture from the second texture link, and click Place. Then, set the Width and Height of the texture to 200% as shown below, and name this layer Add_Glitter_1.

Step 7

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Lighten.

Step 8

Now go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it A_G_1_Color, and choose the color #e96688.

Step 9

Press Control-Alt-G on your keyboard to create a clipping mask. Then, change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color.

Step 10

Now Control-click on the Add_Glitter_1 layer to select both layers at the same time. Then, press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate these layers.

Step 11

Select the Add_Glitter_1_copy layer, and using the Move Tool (V), click and drag anywhere inside the canvas to position this layer as you like.

Step 12

Now press Control-T on your keyboard to transform this layer, and set the Angle to -30°.

Step 13

Control-click on the A_G_1_Color copy layer to select both layers at the same time. Then, drag these layers just below the Add_Glitter_1 layer in the Layers panel. After that, name these two layers according to their sequence number.

Step 14

Now repeat this process to create as many glitter layers as you want. Feel free to use different transform settings for each of the texture layers. Here is my result:

5. How to Make the Final Adjustments

Step 1

In this section we are going to make some final adjustments to the design. Select the Subject layer and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate it. Then, drag this layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.

Step 2

Now press Control-Shift-U on your keyboard to desaturate this layer. Then, change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 73%.

Step 3

Name this layer Subject Details.

Step 4

Now go to Layer > New > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Color Look.

Step 5

Double-click on this layer thumbnail, and then in the Properties panel, click on the gradient to open up the Gradient Editor panel and enter the settings below:

Step 6

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 7

Press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches. Then, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Overall Contrast.

Step 8

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 73%.

Step 9

Select the Base_Glitter_1 layer and click on the link icon between the layer thumbnail and layer mask to unlink them. Then, select the layer thumbnail, and using the Move Tool (V), click and drag anywhere inside the canvas to drag the layer to the left as shown below:

Step 10

Now select the Base_Glitter_2 layer and click on the link
icon between the layer thumbnail and layer mask to unlink them. Then,
select the layer thumbnail, and using the Move Tool (V), click and drag anywhere inside the canvas to drag the layer to the right as shown below:

Step 11

Select the Overall Contrast layer, press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot, and then press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 2 px.

Step 12

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Hard Light and name it Overall Sharpening.

You Made It!

Congratulations, you have
succeeded! You have learned how to create a glitter effect Photoshop action to create amazing effects for pictures. Here is our final result:

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