In this tutorial, we are going to recreate the northern lights effect, otherwise known as “Aurora Borealis”. Using a combination of filters such as Render Clouds and Motion Blur, we then transform the combined effect to form the shape of an aurora, with a touch of perspective.

Before & After:

For starts, let’s use this image: 1858344  © riekephoto 123RF.com. Re-name it as “landscape”.

Preparing the night sky.
We are going to mask the sky as we will be creating our own sky. You may use the Magic Wand Tool. Otherwise, apply the Pen Tool and create vector paths along the landscape. Once complete, click on the Create Mask icon.

Create a new layer. Using the Gradient Tool, drag and create a gradient with these two colors - #003445, #000b2e. To set the colors, look for the color palettes at the Tools bar or the Color box. Click on the first palette (Foreground) and the Color Picker settings will appear and key in the first color code. Then do the same with the second palette (Background) for the second color.

Create another layer and fill it with black. Then, go to Filter > Render > Noise (Amount: 5%; Gaussian; Monochromatic). Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels to adjust the levels of this layer. Adjust to Input Levels: 0, 0.65, 255 - to reduce the amount of white dots. Set the Blend mode as “Screen”. This acts as stars in the sky.

We can also add in different star sizes simply by duplicating this layer, and then scaling it bigger. Further adjust the levels to reduce the amount of bigger stars.

Changing the landscape's color and brightness.

Having prepped the sky, the mountain landscape now looks a bit too bright for night. So, we are going to reduce brightness by adjusting the curves (Go to Image > Adjustments > Curves). Do this whilst the “landscape” layer is selected.

Notice that there are still some sunset hues on the mountain? Select those areas, and then feather the selections at Select > Feather. Proceed to change the Hue/Saturation (Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation). Here’s my choice of settings. 

The color of the lake doesn't really reflect the color of the sky. So I created a new layer, and then from the base of the layer, click and drag a soft gradient using the same colors of the sky. Change the Blend mode to “Color” and set layer opacity to 50%.

Planning the aurora's pattern and perspective.

Draw guidelines on how you want to pan out the aurora effect. I'm going to create separate layers for each of the lines - naming it “left”, “middle” and “right”.

We shall start with “right” first. Hide the other 2 lines. Go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Settings may defer slightly but here’s mine - Angle: 80°; Distance: 50 pixels.

Create duplicate copies of “right” (about two or three layers) and merge them together. This will increase its opacity after being blurred.

Click on the masking icon, and mask the top off using a soft black Brush.

Reset the color palette (D), and create a new layer as “right-rays”.
Fill in White, and then go to Filter > Render > Fibers. Apply these settings - Variance: 15; Strength: 4.

Next, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set Radius at 5 pixels.

Then, go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Set Distance at 235 pixels.

Change Blend mode to “Screen”.

Transform this layer so effect fits the image’s perspective. 

Adjust the levels.

Merge “right” and “right-rays” together. When merged, the Blend mode of the new layer will return to “Normal” resulting in the reappearance of the dark, black areas. Just set the Blend mode back to “Screen”.

Draw a rough selection on how you envisioned the aurora's shape, feather it…

… and mask it away.

Moving on to “middle”.

Apply Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Here are my Motion Blur settings...

When complete, duplicate the layer a few times and merge them together for increased opacity.

Mask off the excessive areas. Try to mold it into similar shape, as below:

For “left”, I applied the methods similar to “right, but created larger gaps on my Filter layer (see below steps 3 to 5). Once I’ve merged my “left” and “left-rays” layers, I further tweaked my settings at “Levels” for a softer look (see step 6). 

Once done, we can merge all 3 layers “left”, “middle”, and “right” together. Rename it as “aurora”. Again, set the Blend mode back to “Screen”.

Next up, applying colors to the aurora.

Create a new layer as “color”. Using a soft Brush, draw streams of lines like this:

Next, apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. 

Then, change its Blend mode to “Overlay”, and set opacity to 80%.

Create reflections on the lake.

Duplicate “aurora”, flip it, and give it a little perspective. Set opacity to 40%.

Duplicate “color”, flip it. Erase those areas that touched the mountains. Set opacity to 65%.

We can further reduce the brightness and introduce some more blue to the image:

In my final image, I've altered the contrasts and hues of the image, and strengthened the shine of the stars. For an extra touch, I’ve added some clouds at the center to enhance the overall look and feel of the image.

Credit Pricing

Click below for more amazing high quality tutorials. If you have missed out on the previous months, you might have missed out on some gems!

	123RF January 2010 Tutorial #1: Recreating The Aurora Borealis Recreate the northern lights effect, otherwise known as “Aurora Borealis”. Using a combination of filters such as Render Clouds and Motion Blur, we then transform the combined effect to form the shape of an aurora, with a touch of perspective...

	123RF January 2010 Tutorial #2: Recolor Black & White Photographs Fancy an effect like the ones you watch in movies such as 'Pleasantville'... where classic black & white turns into color? Find out how the Brush Tool, Adjustment layers and a little patience can help bring out the colors...

	123RF January 2010 Tutorial #3: Creating A Tilt-shift Photo In this tutorial, let's observe how Tilt-shift lens help create an illusion of depth and scope by focusing on a part of the image, and then blurring out its surroundings.

	123RF November Tutorial #1: Create Custom Shape Brush, Pattern and Wrapping Text Brushes and patterns can be used to make many cool effects. You can customize practically any shapes that you want easily. Once created, it will be saved and stored in your presets, ready to be used in your design.
	123RF November Tutorial #2: Creating a Space Scene In this tutorial, we're going to see how we can use textures to create planets and also build an awesome space scene in Photoshop.
	123RF October Tutorial #1: How to make use of the Background Eraser tool? This tutorial will help refresh our memory as to how one can best extract/merge objects together within the shortest period of time using the Background Eraser tool!
	123RF October Tutorial #2: Photo Montaging – Halloween theme Photo montaging is all about combining a set of photos into one image while applying your creative ideas and graphics along the way to make the end effect more interesting.
	123RF September Tutorial #1: Create Lomography effect using Photoshop In this tutorial, we'll show you how to manipulate your images to make them adopt the effects of Lomographs.
	123RF September Tutorial #2: Mystic Ocean of Sunken Galleon and City Create an underwater seascape using a combination of filters and blend modes.
	123RF August Tutorial #1: Transforming Pictures into Illustration Have you encountered a time where you wish to change a picture into illustration? That's what we are going to show you in this tutorial.
	123RF August Tutorial #2: Frozen and Burnt Face By adding minor details like Iciles and Melting Plastics, we are able to portray an extreme freezing effect on one side, and give a blazing hot effect to the other.
	123RF July Tutorial #1: Creating Glow Effects and Light Streaks Using the blending option, path tool and a little imagination, we'll show you how to add mood to an image by creating stunning glow effects and light streaks.
	123RF July Tutorial #2: Creating a Digital CD Cover Design This is a simple way of creating a CD cover design with digitized background and neon lights text.
	123RF June Tutorial #1: Creating a Glowing Sphere in An Inverted Image Learn how you can create an interesting image by adding in some simple Photoshop effects and by inverting its colors!
	123RF June Tutorial #2: Lens Blur Filter This is an advanced blur filter that simulates a camera's lens blur effect.
	123RF May Tutorial #1: Bringing a Static Car to Life Learn how to manipulate a static car image to become one that looks like it is realistically speeding...
	123RF May Tutorial #2: Free-transforming Rasterized Text to Wrap Around an Object Utilizing a few transform tools such as free transform, object warping, and/or shear tool to create smooth twist-and-turn effects of text that wraps around objects...
	123RF April Tutorial #1: Creating Dynamic Dispersions Travel back to the basic technique of Stamp Tool (S) and Brush Tool (B) to create dynamic and effective particles on the red cloth as shown below...
	123RF April Tutorial #2: Photo Montaging - Blending a Human Head to a Tree This tutorial shows how to montage  human heads to a tree and to add in a dramatized effect...
	123RF January Tutorial #2: Creating Smoke-like Effects Create subtle smoke-like effect. Whether you want to add steam, mist or vapor to your photos, you'll definitely be putting this tutorial to good use!
	123RF November Tutorial #1: Storm Effect Transform this cloudy country side picture into a stormy and dramatic evening by adding simple lightning effects