How to make a "sky" from scratch in PS CS2

[N1nja]

So, when I was still really into sims, I was playing around with photoshop, and I wanted to come up with something all my own, completely original. I eventually ended up with a sky from scratch:



This is just going to be a simple guide on how to make one yourself.

Step One:

Open photoshop CS2 and press Ctrl+N or File=>New.
You can choose your own dimensions, but for this tutorial, I used 500 width by 400 height.


Step Two:

Choose a nice starting color that looks like the sky to you. I use R:0 B:141 G:215.
Fill the entire space with that color.


Step Three:

Now, take your burn tool, and make sure that the brush is a soft, basic brush.




Step Four:

Run the brush over the whole picture in a "random orderly fashion". Basically, get it pretty much all darkened, darker in some places, (with one stroke, DON'T let go of the right click button!), and make it just random.


It should look something like this:




Step Five:

Ok, now, I want you to get out your dodge tool, the one that lightens. Set it up exactly how you set up the burn tool, 5% exposure and everything.

Run the tool over only a few places on the "burned" blue.

I circled/triangled/arrowed the places I "dodged". (Don't do that to yours though.)




Step Six:

Now that you have that done, it's time to add in the lens flare.

First, go to Filter=>Render=>Lens Flare




Now select 105mm Prime, set to about 135%, (more or less), and then select the location with the crosshair cursor you see. (The pink crosses are about places I recommend.)\




Step Seven:

Now, you should have you final result!

Ta-da!





Play around with it, see what you come up with. ^w^

If this helped, +rep would be nice. ;D