Abstract Photo Manipulation - Checkered Balls in Space

In this tutorial, we will be doing and abstract Photo Manipulation. We will be using some of the basics techniques in Photoshop.
I hope you will enjoy this tutorial!
Let's start!







1.Start a new file, 850 x 670.

2.Let's add a picture for the background.
I got this from http://www.stockvault.net/.

3.Stretch to occupy our working space.

4.Duplicate background picture.

5.And then let's apply Radial Blur.
Filter >>Blur >>Radial Blur.

Here's the result:

6.Change its Blend Mode to Lighter Color.

It  should look like this:

7.Create a new Layer and name it "Balls":

8.Select Elliptical Marquee Tool, To create a perfect circle for our Selection
just hold Shift key and drag.

9.Go to Edit >Fill >Pattern >Checkered.

Result should look like this:

10.Go to Filter >>Distort >> Spherize.

It should look like this:

11.Duplicate "Balls" a couple of times or as much as you like.

Scatter and resize them randomly as shown below.

12.Select "Balls" copy and merge.

To make it a three-dimensional look:
13.Duplicate merged "Ball" Layer(s).

14.Changed its Blending Mode to Exclusion. (Making it a 3D look)
Reduce its Opacity to 45%.
Apply Layer Mask.

15.Select your Brush Tool according to the size of our balls.
Set its Hardness to 0 and start brushing.
Set Brush color to black to reveal the original image and white to hide.

Brushes Strokes  goes like this:
(click image for FULL SIZE preview)

The result will look like this:

16.Merger "Balls" Layers.

17.Duplicate "Ball" (merged) Layer again.
Let's apply Gaussian Blur(Duplicated Layer).
Filter >>Blur >>Gaussian Blur, for an outer glow effect.

18.Set its Opacity to 75%.
Move Layer down.

The result will look like this:

19.Add some Glitter Effects, objects or anything you like to make it look more Abstract
and we're done!

See related link:
How To Create CHECKERED CHESS Pattern in Photoshop.