Channels, filters and your own keen eye for detail can make this steamy effect very realistic. The Channels contain specific color information. When you create a new channel, Photoshop will assign it the default name Alpha 1. Then, once you make it a selection, you’ll use the RGB Channel so that your photo becomes the subject of filter effects. The Gaussian Blur, Motion Blur, and Artistic/Smudge Stick filters allow you to control the amount of blur applied very precisely.
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Download the shower.tif file, launch Photoshop, open the file, press F7 to show the Layers palette. Choose Window > Channels. Click the Create New Channel button.
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Choose Filter > Texture > Grain. Use the options in the resulting Grain dialog box and click OK.
Choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. In the resulting Gaussian Blur dialog box, set the radius to 1 and click OK.
Choose Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Use the options in the resulting Motion Blur dialog box and click OK.
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Choose Filter > Artistic > Smudge Stick. Use the options in the resulting Smudge Stick dialog box and click OK.
Choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. In the resulting Gaussian Blur dialog box, set the radius to 1 and click OK.
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Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels (Command + L). Use the options in the resulting Levels dialog box and click OK.
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Select the Brush tool (B). In the resulting Options bar, click the Brush button to open the Brush Preset picker. Click the Options arrow, select Calligraphic Brushes from the drop-down menu and click Append. Select the Oval 35 pixel brush. Click the Brush button again to close picker.
Press D to set Mask Default colors, then press X to inverse them so that Black is the foreground color. Paint over the center section of the channel similar to ours.
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Command-click the Alpha 1 channel to make it a selection. Select the RGB channel. Press F7 to show the Layers palette.
Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Use the options in the resulting Brightness/Contrast dialog box and click OK.
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Choose Select > Inverse (Command + Shift + I). Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Use the options in the resulting Brightness/Contrast dialog box and click OK.
Choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. In the resulting Gaussian Blur dialog box, set the radius to 3.5 and click OK.
Choose Select > Deselect (Command + D).
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You're done. The final image is shown at left (click to enlarge).
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