1. Create a new image any size with a transparent background. These water drops are going to be heavily based on blending modes.
Change the blending mode to “screen”
2. Right click the layer in the layer palette and go “Blending Options.” A window should open named “Layer Styles” Check mark the “Drop shadow” “Inner shadow” and “Inner glow.”
3. Click on the “Drop Shadow” tab and put the following settings in:
Blending Mode: Normal
Color: Black
Angle: 120
Use Global Light: unchecked
Distance: 4px
Spread: 0%
Size: 6px
Click Image to Enlarge
4. Now click on the “Inner Shadow” tab and put the following settings in:
Blending Mode: Overlay
Color: white
Angle: -55
Use Global light: unchecked
Distance: 11px
Spread: 0%
Size: 7px
Click Image to Enlarge
5. Now, click on the “Inner Glow” tab and put in the following settings:
Blending Mode: Normal
Opacity: 40%
Noise: 0%
Color: flat black
Technique: Softer
Source: Edge
Choke: 0%
Size: 8px
Contour: default
Anti-aliased: unchecked
Range: 50%
Jitter: 0%
Click Image to Enlarge
6. Now, look on the left of the window. On the very top of the menu, there should be a tab that says “Styles.” Click on it and press the button “New Style.” Press “Ok.”
Press “Ok” to close the window.
Part II – Applying the drops
1. Open the image that you wish to add the water drops to. I will be using a white background with a pattern on it.
Create a new layer
2. Now, using the brush tool with the color “black,” (It must be black!) draw what you want your water drop to look like. I will be using:
Brush Size: 13px
Mode: Normal
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
3. Look at your Styles tab, you should see the style you just made! If you cannot see your Styles tab, go Windows > Style. Click on the style.
The image is finally looking like water!
4. Now, while pressing [Ctrl], click on the layer with the water on it. It should make a selection around the water.
Choose the background layer from the layer palette. Go Filter > Distort > Sphearize with the following settings:
Amount: 100%
Mode: Normal
You’re done with your water drop!
Tips: I would recommend not making the water drops too big. Also, if you have multiple water drops on one layer, I would recommend sphearizing each drop individually.
Part III (OPTIONAL) – Ice chunks
So, you want to make the second stage of H2O. All you have to do is add one thing to the blending options!
1. Open the “Blending Options" for the water drops again and activate and click “Bevel and Emboss.” Also click "Texture". Add the following settings for both:
Click Images to Enlarge
2. Now, look on the left of the window. On the very top of the menu, there should be a tab that says “Styles.” Click on it and press the button “New Style.” Press “Ok.”
Press “Ok” to close the window.
