Mist and Fog effect method

Step 1

I will upload an image that I would like to add mist and fog effect.

Step 2

I will first add a new layer so I can add the mist effect first.

Step 3

I will use a big white soft brush and paint along the bottom of the image.

Step 4

The mist now looks heavy, to soften the mist down, I will go to layers and lower the opacity to around 50% to give a nice transparent look.

Step 5

I’m done with the mist so now I will add the fog which is a bit thicker. I will get a second picture of clouds and upload the image onto Photoshop.

Step 6

I want the clouds to be black and white. Image>desaturate

Step 7

I need the sky that used to be blue to be really dark. Image>adjustments>levels.

Step 8

Now I have black and white clouds. I can drag the image to the lake then I will change the blend mode of the clouds into ‘screen’ which will make anything black transparent.

Step 9

The fog is hanging up in the air,I want it to be hanging over the lake, so we want to squash the clouds. Hold Ctrl-t to free transform the clouds.

Step 10

At the moment it does not look right as the fog is too sharp, whereas in reality fog is much softer and fluffy. Filter>blur>Gaussian blur. I willincrease the blur to make the fog look fluffy and softens the hard edges.

Step 11

At the moment I still have hard edges, so I will use the rubber tool to rub out the edges by using a soft rubber.

Step 12

The fog is a bit heavy so we will go to the layer and lower the opacity to give it more of a translucency.

Step 13 (Optional)

I can happily stop right there. However, if I want to make the image have more texture then I can duplicate the fog by holding Ctrl-j.



Step 14

I can flip the duplicated fog upside-down. Image>transform>flip horizontal, this will avoid repeating pattern.

Step 15

I can give that duplicated fog a little twist by turning it sideward’s. I will also tweak the opacity of the two fogs to get the effect to look exactly I want it to be.

Step 16

Again, I will use the rubber tool to get rid of any hard edges.

Final results