May.12.2008

Create a new image. For this tutorial, I used 500x500. Fill the background with a dark color. I used #1b1b32.

Create a new layer then double click on that layer, and name it blast.

Create a vertical line on the blast layer by using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (shown right) (M or SHIFT + M).
My line was 50x500.

Fill the selection by setting your forground color to white (you can press D to reset to default colors).
Then press ALT + BACKSPACE

Deselect by pressing CTRL + D

Now we add the spikes.

Filter » Stylize » Wind » [ Method: wind Direction: From the Left ]

Repeat the last filter 2 more times by pressing CTRL + F twice.

Spikes on the other side.

Filter » Stylize » Wind » [ Method: wind Direction: From the Right ]

Repeat the last filter 2 more times by pressing CTRL + F twice.

Add a little blur.

Filter » Blur » Motion Blur [ Angle: 0° Distance: 20 pixels ]

Play with the # of pixels to get different effects

Rotate the Blast Layer by pressing CTRL + A to select all, then CTRL + T to enter transform mode, then right click on the layer, and select Rotate 90° Clockwise, then press ENTER to apply the transform.

Now would be a good time to copy the blast layer if you want more then one blast ring. You can do this by pressing CTRL + J to duplicate the current layer, then click the eye icon next to the dup layer to turn it off for now.

Now we need to bend this into a curve. Make sure you have the blast layer selected,
Filter » Distort » Polar Coordinates [ Rectangle to Polar ]

Next set the fill mode to Color Dodge and the fill to 80%.

You should have a nice little blast ring now, and just need something to put below it and then just tweak the fill percent on the layer to get exactly what you want.

Well this in its self, is not all that impressive, so lets go on to the next section where I will show you how to spice it up a bit.

Continue to Part 2 »