01
MAKE A CIRCULAR
GRADIENT
Start this project by
making a new layer in a
new document, then grab
the Elliptical Marquee tool
and make a circle. Grab
the Gradient Tool from the
Tools Panel. Select Circular
Gradient in the tool options,
then draw a light-to-dark-
coloured gradient in the
circle to make a sphere.
02
SAMPLE
THE SPHERE
Next, grab the Mixer Brush
from the Tools Panel. Choose
a hard circular brush tip,
uncheck Sample All Layers in
the tool options, and make
the brush tip slightly larger
than the sphere. Hold Alt and
click on the sphere to sample
the range of colours. You’ve
essentially turned your
sphere into a brush...03
PAINT
A PIPE
Set ‘Dry, Heavy Load’ in the
Mixer Brush preset options,
then click the Brush Panel
icon and make sure Spacing
is set to 1%. Make a new
layer and paint to create
realistic 3D piping efects.
If you’re using a graphics
tablet, enable its pressure
sensitivity to change the
thickness of the pipe.THE
‘MIXER
BRUSH
PIPE’
TRICK
The Mixer Brush
isn’t just useful for
painterly eects: it can also
sample a range of colours
for a fun pipe eect...TAP HERE TO
SEE VIDEO