First try at adding smoke to a photo Feedback wanted
First Try at adding smoke to a photo would like some feedback anything is appreciated.
the second image is a Before.
shot with a Pentax k-x and a Tamron 90mm f2.8
More Posts in: Compositing and Photo Manipulation Group
Colin Andersson-Hamill
YOUNG MALE MALAYAN TIGER
These are a highly endangered species, and the rescue center has this young male tiger, which they hope will breed with their already existing female Malayan tiger.
Colin Andersson-Hamill
BLACK LEOPARD
A new arrival at the rescue center. She was very friendly and very flirty, rolling about on her back and meowing, then staring at you as if she might be hungry. A magnificently beautiful animal
Colin Andersson-Hamill
RED KITE
A small group of red kites were flying above my head, so I pointed my lens up, took a few shots, and hoped for the best. I got two decent shots out of it.
Don L
Foggy start to a Sunday morning
Down on the waterfront this morning, tide was out, Heron were sitting along the water fishing. There was a boat coming across the water from Bremerton heading into Port Orchard.
6
Last: Sep 22, 2026
Dean Wilson
Too Big: Either the Sculpture or the Lens
Kalama Eagle Sculpture: Kevin Stone
Mr. Stones website: https://www.kevinstonemetalart.com/
12
Last: Sep 21, 2026
7 Comments
I think the main thing I've seen/heard on this is to do it in layers of depth. This feels like mostly a single pass. The smoke is pervasive but flat. Depending on what the smoke is meant to do in the story of your piece should it be denser on the bottom? If there's a lot of it then things in the distance should be more blurred out by it, while things closer to the viewer should have less smoke in front of them. I admit, this is not something I'm great at yet either!
Hello Musing Eye thanks for your feed back I added more smoke in the back ground do you think it looks better
Oh man, it's tough. I'm not sure I have better advice, but keep experimenting!
I actually prefer the first over one. I think what would help is to decide the source of the smoke and then whether any draft might affect it (motion blur filter). Is it the car that's smoking or is it actually dust illuminated by light - a lot of factors to consider.
smoke has depth and light tone.
Start with the back, add light to the smoke from the window and the other light sources.
Good advice here - also keep in mind that the smoke should match the environment. I.E. smoke in a dusty area may require adding a noise mask to the layer and modifying opacity accordingly. Smoke rising from water in sunlight may not need this additional step - just all depends. It should react differently when lit though, to Adam's point.
Thank you, Robert, Adam and Musing eye For your feed back.