In this tutorial we'll be creating abstract planetary rings on Earth to give it a supernatural feel. It is also a good tutorial in using Filter effects...
Before we begin, let's take a look at the image we're creating
Step 1
First of all create a new square document and fill it with black. Reset your background and foregrounds colors by pressing D. Go to Filter > Render > Lens Flare. Use the settings in the image below
Step 2
Go to Filter > Distort > Twirl and set a big angle
Step 3
Go to Filter > Sketch > Chrome and use these settings
Step 4
Now we will add color to our image. Press Ctrl-U to open the Hue/Saturation box, adjust its color as you like
Step 5
We will make its color more vivid. Press Ctrl-J to duplicate the current layer and change its blending mode to Screen
Press Ctrl-E to merge down this layer
Step 6
Go to Filter > Distort > Twirl and use the settings in the image (same as step 2)
Step 7
We need a planet image. You can use the image below
Cut it out and paste on our document, resize it to a smaller size
Step 8
Choose the Background layer and press Ctrl-J to duplicate it. Go to Edit > Transform > Perspective and scale it down
(Leave this mode by selecting Move Tool and click Apply when the dialog box appears)
Step 9
With the Move Tool selected, click on the Show Transform Controls checkbox to turn it on. Rotate the image a bit
Leave this mode, hide the Background layer by clicking on the Eye icon near it. Your image will look like this
Step 10
Move Layer 2 (the Earth layer) under Background copy layer
Step 11
Change the Blending Mode of the Background copy Layer to Screen and move the Earth to the center
Step 12
Create a new layer (Layer 3) under Layer 2 and fill it with black
Now we have a broader outer space!
Step 13
Make a selection on the planet. The easiest way to do it is press Ctrl and left click on Layer 2
Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool and set a big feather with Subtract from Selection option and make a big selection area to exclude it out
Press Delete to clear it. Here is our image after this step
Now the main idea is finished. Next we will decorate the image with a starry sky!
Step 14
Select the Brush Tool and set a Brush size of 3 pixels
Select the Brushes on the right toolbar and click on Scattering checkbox, use the settings below
Now create a new layer and draw as you like. We will have a nice background soon!
Step 15
Double click on the current layer to open up the Layer Style box, we just need to use Outer Glow effect
That's it! This tutorial produces a stunning effect when coupled with a starry background. However the best thing is that it shows a few things we can do with Filters - and in my opinion one of the best features in Photoshop!