How To Create Ripple Effect In Photoshop

In this tutorial, you will master a very clever technique of drawing water ripples effect from scratch in Photoshop 2020. This tutorial is perfect for beginners, have a try!

With this technique, you do not need to use another water ripple stock image as texture, to add onto the original photo. Everything is done through clever use of gradients & filters in Photoshop.

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Please note you can click the screenshot images to enlarge them, so it's easier to see the commands.

Why Learning to Create Water Ripples Effect is Important

Sometimes, you need to create ripples and apply this to reflection from water. However, suitable images can be hard to find. With Photoshop, you can simply add water ripples to any lake or still water photos and make it look realistic.

Final Result Preview

This is a preview of the final result (click to enlarge):

What You'll be Creating in This Tutorial

First, we will create the base for reflection – a texture. For this, I will use a radial gradient. To make the work piece from the gradient more realistic, we will use filters. Next, create a surface and simulate behavior, like in nature.

After that, we will apply the texture to the water surface and try to make it realistic. Note that this work created by preserving the non-destructive workflow.

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Tutorial Resources

Stone Scene (3333×2221) – Pixabay

Step 1

Open the image for which you want to add water ripples in Photoshop. Go to File > Open or use shortcut Cmd/Ctrl + O. Create a new layer (use icon at the bottom of the Layers panel or use shortcut Cmd/Ctrl + Opt/Alt + Shift + N). Take the Gradient Tool and set it up. First, change preset by clicking on the gradient preview at the top bar. There can be any preset, we modify it to produce a color noise.

In the dialog box that appears, set Gradient Type: Noise. Press the "Random" button until a uniform and interesting gradient appears, with the least number of other colors. If other colors interfere too much, try moving the white slider to the left of any channel, for example, red. The color does not matter, the main thing is that the stripes arranged interestingly. Set the radial shape of the gradient.

Step 2

Draw a gradient around the center of the working field, that the full circle is slightly smaller than the working area, without cropped edges. Take the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and make the selection a little less than the circle itself, starting from the center. Go to Select > Modify > Feather or or use shortcut Shift + F6.

Apply the command with value Feather Radius of 20px to selection to make the edge smoother. Duplicate the content to a new layer. I use duplication command shortcut (Cmd/Ctrl + J) or copy/paste that into a new layer. You should get a circle with blurry edges on a transparent background.

Step 3

Now, the resulting base must transform into realistic round ripples as after a drop. For this, we will use filters. Go to Filter > Distort > ZigZag and in the window that appears, you need to change Style to Pond Ripples. Play around with the settings to find the right texture and scale for your image. I use the settings: Amount: 70, Ridges: 10.

Then, apply another filter to create an imitation of a shiny surface. Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Plastic Wrap with suitable settings. Settings, that I used, in the image below.

Step 4

Our ripples are ready. Now you need to place this or create a pattern in the place where you want to apply it. Use Free Transform Tool (Cmd/Ctrl + T or Edit > Free Transform) or Edit > Transform > Distort/Skew to distort the texture so that it matches the perspective of the image, to which you want to apply it. I will create many drops, scattered them all over the surface, and overlap layers as it happens in nature. I use a small trick for faster duplication – drag and drop with holding Opt/Alt while in Move Tool (V) mode.

Now, I duplicate this layer until I create an interesting texture that covers almost all the water surface. Cross, overlap, resize, and flip horizontally to create variety. Start large and develop the composition by adding smaller sizes.

Step 5

You can return to the previously created work piece and apply filters with other settings to get a different look at the ripples. Repetitions may be noticeable, keep that in mind.

Group all layers (Cmd/Ctrl + G) and duplicate it (Cmd/Ctrl + J). Now, for each layer, apply the Black and White adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Black and White or Cmd/Ctrl + Opt/Alt + Shift + B).

Each layer should become black background and white edges of the ripples. Play with sliders that represent colors from ripples to make each layer even more unique and contrast.

Step 6

When everything is in place, merge all the layers with texture (highlight the layers > Cmd/Ctrl + E) and duplicate the resulting layer (Cmd/Ctrl + J). Hide (click on eye icon near the layer) the remaining layers so that the background becomes transparent.

Save it as a new .psd document (File > Save As or Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S). This will become the texture for the filter. Show the background layer and duplicate it (Cmd/Ctrl + J), also hide all the other layers. Apply the Displace filter (Filter > Distort > Displace) with the settings from the image below. In the dialog box after clicking OK will ask you to specify the texture. Select the file that you created. A slight distortion should appear in place. If you want to enhance the effect, repeat the filter (Filter > Repeat Last Filter/Distort or Cmd/Ctrl + Opt/Alt + F).

Step 7

After applying the filter, the edges of the document distorted. To remove this, load the ripples selection from the top layer by holding Cmd/Ctrl and clicking on the layer thumbnail. With active selection hold Opt/Alt and click on the "Add layer mask" icon at the bottom of Layers panel or go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide Selection.

This will clean everything except created ripples. That's all. Your ripples are ready. You can improve them by using the blending modes of the original layer. For example, I change the Blending Mode of the black and white texture layer to "Lighten" and reduce Opacity to 50%. This created a beautiful glare on the ripples that mimic the reflection of light.

Summary

At any stage, ripples can be improved to make it even more realistic. I leave for you as a reason for creative discoveries. The water shines very much and reflects everything around itself and it is transparent. While work with such visual effects, do not forget about their properties in the real world.

Do not be afraid to go beyond software, style, and genre. But, most importantly – do not hesitate to create and experiment! Thank you for your attention and good luck to you in your creative projects! Have something to add or ask? Use the comment section below!