How to create cloud effects in Photoshop SUPER EASY with SaDesign

1. Create a background for the cloud effect in Photoshop

Step 1: First you need to create a document with the appropriate size. 

Step 2: Create a new layer and add the sky image. You should choose a blue sky background image with a little cloud in the center because we will create a cloud effect in Photoshop in the center. Name this layer Clouds Background.

Step 3: Double click on Clouds Background to open Layer Style. Select Color Overlay. Set Opacity to 70% and select the color code #3dacfa.

Step 4: We need to make the cloud background look a little brighter. Select Create new fill or Adjustment layer (the bisected circle at the bottom of the layers panel). Then select Level.

In the Level panel, adjust the midtone and shadow parameters in the output a bit to brighten the image.

Now we will get a cloud background as shown.

2. Create cloud brush for cloud effect in Photoshop

One of the important steps to create a cloud effect in Photoshop is to create a cloud brush. We can create a cloud brush using a Soft Round Brush through the following steps:

Step 1: On the toolbar, select Brush Tool. Open the Brush panel and then select Soft Round Brush from the list of brushes. On the Brush panel that appears, click on Brush Tip Shape and set the parameters as shown.

On the Brush panel that appears, click on Shape Dynamics, then set the parameters Size Jitter, Angle Jitter, Roundness Jitter and Minimin Roundness as shown in the image below.

Still in the Brush panel that appears, click on Scattering and set the parameters Scatter, Count Jitter and check Both Axes as shown in the image below.

Step 2: To save the brush, click on the menu in the top right corner of the brush panel and then select New Brush Preset.

Name this new brush Clouds brush then press OK.

3. Create cloud effects in Photoshop 

Here I want to create a unique cloud with the shape of writing. To create a cloud effect in Photoshop in the form of writing, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add a new layer then write the text you want to create a cloud effect in Photoshop. Here I want the cloud to have the word Clouds. Then fill the color of the word Clouds with black with the color code #000000.

Step 2: Right click on the Clouds Text layer and select Rasterize Type . 

Step 3: On the menu bar, select Filter => Blur => Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 3.6 pixels.

Step 2: On the toolbar, select Filter => Distort => Ripple. In the Ripple panel, set Amount to about 55% and then click OK. 

Step 3: Press Shift+Ctrl+N to create a new layer. Name this new layer Clouds Effect. 

On the toolbar, select Brush, then select the Clouds brush to add a cloud effect in Photoshop around the text. Choose a color for this brush with the color code #000000, set different Opacities (around 30%) and then paint over the same area multiple times. Here I set the Opacity to 28%.

Step 4: Select the Clouds text layer and the Clouds Effect layer. Then right-click and select Convert to Smart Object.

Step 5: Set the blend mode for this Clouds Effect smart object to Overlay with Opacity to 90%.

Next, double-click on the Clouds Effect smart object to open its Layer Style. Then add the parameters for the effect: Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Outer Glow, Inner Glow, Bevel and Emboss and Satin with the parameters as shown below.

Drop Shadow:

Inner Shadow:

Outer Glow:

Inner Glow:

Bevel and Emboss: 

Satin:

Note, you can adjust the Layer Style to your liking. It also depends on the size of your text. 

4. Create cloud texture for cloud effect in Photoshop

In this part we need to create a cloud texture for our effect. You can do it by following these steps:

Step 1: Create a new layer and name it Clouds texture. Fill its background color with white with the color code #ffffff.

Set Foreground Color to white with color code #ffffff and Background Color to black with color code #000000. 

On the menu bar, select Filter => Render => Clouds.

Step 3: Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the Clouds texture layer, name it Clouds Overlay and hide the newly copied layer.

Step 4: Right-click on the Clouds text layer and select Create Clipping Mask. Set the blend mode of the Clouds texture to Lighter Color. 

Step 5: On the menu bar, select Image => Adjustments => Levels, then customize the anchor point to your liking until you are satisfied, then press OK.

Step 6: Open the Clouds Overlay layer and set its blend mode to Screen. The result is as shown.

Step 6: To adjust the contrast of the Clouds Overlay layer. On the menu bar, go to Image => Adjustments => Levels. Then adjust the appropriate parameters.

So we have basically created a cloud effect in Photoshop. You can also resize and move the Clouds Overlay layer to your liking. 

5. Adjust contrast and sharpness for cloud effect in Photoshop

Adjusting the contrast and sharpness a bit will make your cloud effect more realistic and beautiful. We can do it by following these steps:

Step 1: At the bottom corner of the layer palette, select Create new fill or Adjustment layer (the split circle icon). Then select Solid Color… In the Color Picker that appears, select the color #0096ec. Set its blend mode to Color, and set the Opacity to 48%.

Step 2: Continue to select Create new fill or Adjustment layer, select Hue/Saturation if you want to change the blue tone, reduce color saturation,... Adjust the slider as desired until you see fit.

Step 3: If you want to increase the contrast, continue to select Create new fill or Adjustment layer then select Level, adjust the appropriate parameters.

Step 4: To complete the cloud effect photo, you can add a sharpening effect. Press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+E to create a copy of all the merged visible layers. In this newly created layer, on the menu bar, select Filter => Other => High Pass.

In the High Pass dialog box, set Radius to 2 pixels and click OK.

Step 5: Set the blend mode of this new layer to Overlay. Now we will get the result as shown.

So you have completed the steps to create a cloud effect in Photoshop. The photo has added unique white clouds. Instead of creating clouds with text, you can transform clouds with different shapes, the steps are similar to the text part.

Above is a summary of the steps to create cloud effects in Photoshop. In fact, it requires a combination of many tools together. So try many times to get the best results. You can customize the parameters to best suit your image. Hopefully, our sharing above can help you create photos with unique effects.