Smudge Tool

Fake Latte Art in Photoshop Is Easier Than Making an Actual Latte
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Fake Latte Art in Photoshop Is Easier Than Making an Actual Latte

I spend an embarrassing portion of my working life in coffee shops, which means I’ve stared at a lot of latte art. Rosettes, hearts, little fern fronds that the barista clearly spent four seconds on but somehow looks incredible. It never occurred to me that recreating that effect in Photoshop would be this achievable until I stumbled across Aaron Nace’s tutorial over at PHLEARN. Watch the full tutorial on YouTube before or after reading this breakdown.

Smudge Tool Redemption: How to Add Moody Atmosphere to a Portrait in Photoshop
Video Tutorials

Smudge Tool Redemption: How to Add Moody Atmosphere to a Portrait in Photoshop

There’s a particular kind of client image that sits in my queue and stresses me out: the one that’s technically perfect but feels weirdly flat. Sharp, well-exposed, good composition. And yet something about it just doesn’t breathe. I’ve wasted more hours than I’d like to admit throwing adjustment layers at that problem, hoping a curves tweak or a color grade would somehow inject life into a photograph that needs something more textural.