-This is a fairly advanced tutorial. I show how to make a planet in the first part, and in the second part how to make rings like on Saturn. It's complicated but if you follow along carefully you should be able to get some great results.

 

1

a. Start with a file thats 432 px by 432 px (6in by 6in)

b. Go to Edit>Preferences>Guides, Grid and Slices... or Ctrl + K then Ctrl + 6

c. Set the grid to 1 every inch with 2 subdivisions.

d. It should look like this.

 

2

a. Make a new layer by hitting the new layer button.

b. Then double click on the layer and rename it "Planet".

c. Select the Gradient Tool (G), then click on the area on the gradient bar that says "Click Here to Edit the Gradient"

d. A window like this should come up, change the settings like this. The colors don't matter.

 

 

3

a. With the gradient tool click on the top of your image and drag it to the bottom of the image. You should get something like this.

Click for fullsize Image

4

a. Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation... or Ctrl + U.

Hue: 209

Saturation: 30

Lightness: 40

Adjust the settings like this. You can make it a different color if you want to change the color the planet will be later.

b. Next go to Filter>Distort>Glass

-Distortion: 8

-Smoothness: 6

-Texture: Canvas

-Scaling: 77%

6

a. Use the move tool and shrink the "Planet" layer to about this size. Make sure you hold shift so it stays square.

 

7

a. Now we will use the grid we set up earlier.

b. To turn the grid on go to View>Show>Grid or Ctrl + '

c. Line the "Planet" layer up to the grid.

d. Next use a circular marquee and make a selection like this.

8

a. Filter>Distort>Spherize...

b. To these settings.

c. Then invert the selection. Select>Inverse

d. and hit delete leaving a circular sphere.

-Like this.

9

a. Apply these layer styles. Layer>Layer Style

b. Your planet should now look like this.

c. On to Page 2 to make it rings.

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