How To Apply Shattering Effect

1. Finding a source image.

First start off by downloading the beginning image, you can basically use any image you’d like, for this effect I’ll be using Lebron James dunking.

2. Tracing, copying and pasting subject.

Simply just trace the subject with your preferred method then copy and paste the subject into a new layer.

3. Selecting the parts you want to shatter.

Now with that new layer you’ve just pasted, select the parts you want to shatter, use the polygonal lasso tool to do this. Once selected, do not copy but instead cut this part and paste it into a new layer.

4. Alien skin xenofex 2 shattering.

Actually its kind of plug-in you have to download it.
Using Alein skin xenofex, choose the shattering filter and you can basically play around with it, I choose the settings below.

5. Re-sizing the shatter.

Once the shatter is finished, you’ll notice it’s very expansive and all over the place, use crt+t to re-size it so that it matches the length where the body part you choose to shattered.

6. Duplicating shatter.

Now copy the shatter layer and move it to the right to create even more of a shattered effect. You can duplicate it more to add onto other areas you want this effect to be seen.

7. Clone tool to erase.

Now we need to create the illusion that his arms and feet are disappearing. Simply use the clone tool and get rid of some of his hands and feet like the example below, do this while hiding the shattered layers.

8. Image should look like this.

Your image should now look similar to the image below.

9. Flaming ball.

Find an image of a fireball or flaming ball, cut it out and use the blend mode of “screen” onto the ball.

Your image should now look like this.

10. Touches and finishes.

To finish the image, I liquify the trails of the flaming ball, added some smoke brushes onto the shatter and used an Instagram filter on the whole image, and we’re done!