Creating a realistic eye

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create your own realistic eye with Photoshop 7 and newer. It is recommended that you have a good understanding of the photoshop interface and using brushes for the optional steps.

Step 1:

Create a new document with the dimensions of 100 pixels in width and 100 pixels in height on a transparent background.

Step 2:

Press D then X on the keyboard and select the Elliptical Marquee Tool .

Step 3:

In the options menu, beside "Style:" select Fixed Size and change the width and height to 100 by 100 pixels. Make sure that the Feather is set to 0px and Anti-Aliased is checked.

Step 4:

Place the cursor in the top left corner of the blank image and left click. The circular selection's tips should be against the borders of the image. Now hold Alt and press Backspace to fill the selection with white.

Step 5:

Right click on Layer 1 in the Layers window and click Duplicate Layer...In the window that comes up, type Base as the name of the layer beside "As:" then press Ok.

Step 6:

Press Ctrl and d on the keyboard to deselect and right click on the layer Base in the layers window and select Blending Options...

Step 7:

Add a Bevel and Emboss and use the following settings:

The Highlight Mode's colour should be set to FFFFFF and Shadow Mode's to 585858.

Step 8:

Add a Color Overlay and use the following settings:

Set the colour used for the color overlay to E7E4E4. Click Ok to apply the effects.

Step 9:

Create a new layer and name it Iris by going to Layer->New->Layer while the layer Base is still selected. Click Ok.

Step 10:

Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool if it isn't already selected and set the Feather to 2px, Style to Fixed Size, Height to 50px, Width to 50px and make sure Anti-Aliased is checked.

Step 11:

Set the foreground colour to 008AEC.

Step 12:

Place the cursor more towards the top left corner of the image and left click. Fill the selection with the foreground colour (#008AEC) by pressing Alt and Backspace at the same time on the keyboard.

Step 13:

Select the Move tool and while the Iris layer is selected in the Layers window, go to Select->All in the top menu.

Step 14:

There will be several buttons in the options menu. Click on the 2nd and 5th to center the circle. (the buttons are highlighted in the image above)

Step 15:

Press Ctrl+D on the keyboard to deselect then right click on the Iris layer in the Layers window and click on Blending Options...
Add an outer glow and use the following settings:

Use 012F73 as the colour for the Outer Glow.

Step 16:

Next, add an Inner Glow with the following settings:

Use 012F73 as the colour for the Inner Glow.

Step 17:

Click OK to apply the effects once again and create a new layer by going to Layer->New->Layer... and use Iris2 as the name.

Click OK.

Step 18:

Hold Ctrl and click on the Iris layer in the layers window. Press D on the keyboard. Go to Filter->Render->Clouds. Next, go to Filter->Render->Difference clouds. Now keep pressing Ctrl+F on the keyboard until you have a balance of light and dark.

Step 19:

Go to Filter->Pixelate->Mezzotint and set the type to "Fine dots".

Then go to Filter->Blur->Radial Blur. Set the amount to 100, Blur Method to Zoom and Quality to Best.

Now press Ctrl and F on the keyboard 2 times to further blur the layer.

Step 20:

Lower the opacity of the Iris2 layer to 25%. Right click on the Iris2 layer and select Duplicate Layer. Name the layer Iris3. Then right click on the Iris 3 layer, select Duplicate Layer and name it Iris4.

Step 21:

Select the Iris3 layer in the Layers window. Go to Filter->Distort->Twirl and set the Angle to -100. Click OK. Select the Iris4 layer in the Layers window. Go to Filter->Distort->Twirl, set the Angle to 100 and click OK.

Step 22:

Now select the Iris3 layer once again in the Layers window, set the Blending Mode to Lighten and Opacity to 35%. Do the same for the Iris4 layer.

Step 23:

With the layer Iris4 selected in the Layers window, go to Layer->New->Layer and name it Pupil Glow. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool .
Set the Feather to 2px, Style to Fixed Size, Width to 24px, Height to 24px and make sure that Anti-Aliased is checked.

Step 24:

Left click around the center of the image, then fill the selection with white by pressing Ctrl and Backspace on the keyboard. Press Ctrl+D to deselect. Press Ctrl+A on the keyboard then select the Move tool .

Once again, there will be several buttons in the options menu. Click on the 2nd and 5th to center the circle. (the buttons are highlighted in the image above)
Press Ctrl+D to deselect.

Step 25:

Lower the Opacity of the Pupil Glow layer to 55%. Then create a new layer by pressing Shift+Ctrl+N, name the layer Pupil and press OK.

Step 26:

Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool . Set the Feather to 1px, Style to Fixed Size, Width to 20px, Height to 20px and make sure that Anti-Aliased is checked. Left click at about the center of the image then press Alt+Backspace to fill the selection with black. Press Ctrl+D to deselect. Press Ctrl+A on the keyboard then select the Move tool .

Click on the 2nd and 5th buttons in the Options menu again to center the circle.
Press Ctrl+D to deselect.

Optional:

Create a new layer by pressing Shift+Ctrl+N and name it Light. Select the Polygonal Lasso Tool . Make sure Anti-Aliased is checked and set the feather to 2px. You can draw various small triangles and such in the eye, fill them with white and set the opacity to around 90% to imitate reflections of light.

Optional 2:

You can add Blood vessels to the eye by selecting the Brush Tool and loading a brush pack containing circles such as the Basic Brushes brush pack. Create a new layer just above the "Base" layer. Then slowly draw red blood vessels using the colour of your choice (ex: #D42323) and lower the opacity of the layer to around 25%. You can also try using other brush packs containing various brushes with thin lines to create the vessels.



And you're done! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Try experimenting with different colours and effects. Here's an example of an eye using a bit more of an evil look: