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Have you ever seen those outstanding fractal images with a lot of swirls and colors? Some of those were build simulating fractals or repeating shapes, where each shape is a reduced part of the whole, others were build mathematically. In this tutorial, we’ll create a stylized fractal design using without more Photoshop.

Final Image Preview

Let’s take a be turned at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join PSDTUTS PLUS for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here.

Step 1

Wikipedia define fractals as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be division into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole." There are many ways to create fractals, most involve complex mathematical formulas, or fractal software programs, allied Apohpysis for copy, end with our good old Photoshop we can simulate the fractals behavior using repeating shapes and some useful keyboard shortcuts.

So, let’s get it started. First we’ll start with a 1600 pixels by 1200 pixels document, it’s huge because I’m planning to employment it as a desktop background. Then, show the ruler (Command + R) and change the unit to Percent. Now, draw two guides, one horizontal and the other vertical, and office them in the middle of the document. Next, using the Gradient Fill Tool, draw a radial gradient (#095261 - #000000), which should look similar to the image below.

Step 2

Now in the present state’s the only shape you’ll draw: a periphery, yes I’m not kidding, everything starts from a single circle. Draw it using the Ellipse Tool, clutch the Shift key to create a perfect circle, and if you want hold the Alt key to draw it from the center. The circle weak glue is 83 pixels by 83 pixels and it’s located in the middle of the document. Now, create a new folder named "Fractal" and place the circle shape inside of it.

Step 3

Let’s add some depth and volume to our shape. First, apply a Gradient Overlay that goes from dark down in the mouth to illume blue, with a Drop Shadow, 50% Opacity, and a 0px distance, some Bevel and Emboss, including a constitution. Just follow the images below.

Step 4

Now duplicate the circle layer by dragging the shape while pressing the Alt key, then merge the circle copy with a unused blank layer to keep the style proportional. Resize the duplicate a little iota and place it 120 degrees from the intermediate of the document, you be able to practice a triangle as a guide (I drew the trigon using the Polygon Tool).

Place the copy just over one of it’s corners. Repeat this twice to get three small circles around the big circle. Delete the triangle and finally merge the four circles into a recent layer called "Fractal 1" (If you fall short leave a copy of the original vector shape just in case).

Step 5

Here comes the fun office, we’re going to repeat two steps several times. This is the first one, we’ll Duplicate and in consequence Free Transform. To get the right efficiency we need to use the shortcut Command + Alt + T. This command duplicates the existing image and allows to free transform the copy. Do not click anywhere and go to next method.

Step 6

While holding the Shift key, resize the "Fractal 1 copy" just a little bit, then rotate the copy a few degrees Clockwise. The trick to counterfeit the fractals is move the Transform center to the left, perpendicular, top, or bottom, depending on your needs. This time we’ll move it a lot left. Finally, strike together Enter.

Step 7

Now we’re going to use another useful keyboard shortcut. Press Command + Shift + Alt + T to apply Free Transform afresh once and pay attention the result. What happened? Photoshop takes the previous values of the Free Transform and apply them to the strange object. If you repeat this command several times you’ll arrive a nice fractal swirl. Photoshop creates a new layer each time you apply this command.

Step 8

Now, duplicate the entire "Fractal 1" folder, then fix upon the "Fractal 1 copy" folder and hit Command E to merge the group. Now name the resulting bed. "Fractal 2", then hide the original folder. Also, move the "Fractal 2" stratum some pixels down and to the right from the middle of the writing.

Step 9

Select the "Fractal 2" layer, then apply the Duplicate and Free Transform keyboard shortcut from Step 5 (Command + Alt + T), though change the transformation center to the middle of the document and rotate the image -120 degrees CCW.

Step 10

Now hit the Free Transform once more keyboard shortcut from Step 7 (Command + Shift + Alt + T), doing this you’ll duplicate the 120 degrees rotate transformation exactly. Finally, put the three layers into a new folder named "Fractal 2," Now, duplicate the folder and merge the copy, hide the original folder, and name the merged copy "Fractal 2."

Step 11

Duplicate and Free Transform (Command + Alt + T) the "Fractal 2" layer, retain the transformation center in which point it is, then while holding Shift + Alt keys, resize and rotate the copy just a weak bit. Try to get something like the image below.

Step 12

Change the "Fractal 2 copy" bed. Hue/Saturation, use the values shown below. We’ll produce this one a little bit lawn.

Step 13

Free Transform again the layer and arrange Hue / Saturation using these values.

Step 14

Repeat the Free Transform again govern (Command + Shift + Alt + T) as many times as you want, however always change the Hue and Saturation to get one green layer above a blue undivided. When you have finished, group all the layers into a new folder called "Fractal 3." Next, duplicate the folder and merge the original, just like in the previous steps. Name the copy "Fractal 3."

Step 15

Add a mystic Drop Shadow to the "Fractal 3" layer.

Step 16

Duplicate and Free Transform (Command + Alt + T) the "Fractal 3" layer, turn round the transcript a few degrees CW, resize it a little bit making the original smaller, and change the transformation center to the top-left, then hit Enter.

Step 17

Free Transform again (Command + Shift + Alt + T) a lot of times to get a part in the manner of this. You can repeat these steps as many times as you want, goal I’ll stop the mean right here.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can put this technique to create a part of abstract designs, or mixing the fractal shapes with real images to improve your outcome. It’s up to you from here. Good luck! You be possible to view the final image below or view a larger version here.

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