I'm working with a small canvas (300 by 350 pixels) but I recommend creating your starfield image at least twice as big as the image you're aiming to use it in-or even larger, if you want to reuse your stars in a variety of pieces (like I do). A good star field takes a lot of work to create, but can be used repeatedly depending on your level of customization, so you can get away with using it repeatedly.
 
 
1.To start, first create a new document of your preferred size with a black background. Its important to make sure it's a BLACK background; otherwise, you could possible get undesirable color effects later.
 
Next, create a new layer, name it "small stars," and make it completely black as well. We're doing this because later we'll be erasing, and we want a pure black background to show through the holes we create in this new layer.
 
Now add noise to the picture. To do this, go to Filters > Noise > Add Noise and generate a noise field using the following settings: Amount: 10%, Gaussian, Monochromatic. This will make a very subdued but detailed noise field. It may look dim, hard to see, and unlike stars, but keep it like that for now. Once the image gets brighter, it's hard to go back to dimmer stars (trust me on this).

 
2. The next step is to "diversify" the star field by bringing out the brighter stars and getting rid of the dimmer, almost invisible stars so they don't clutter up our space scene later.
 
Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness & Contrast and run Brightness: -30 Contrast: 75. You'll notice some appreciable (but still subtle) results right away.
 
In these beginning steps, keep things low-key and subtle. Right now, we're just laying the groundwork. Brighter stars come later.  

 
3. We're not done yet not by a long shot. Duplicate your small stars layer and name the duplicate "large stars."
 
Run Brightness & Contrast again, this time with Brightness: -100, Contrast: 50. This thins out the stars even more to leave only a few fairly bright ones.
 
Then scale the large stars layer by hitting ctrl + T and dragging while holding the shift and alt keys to keep the proportions of the layer consistent.
 
Scale the large stars layer to approximately twice the size of the original. You'll need to zoom out a decent amount to do this, and don't worry about the fact that most of your new layer is outside the image boundaries what we're about to do will apply itself to the whole layer regardless.
 
 
Invert (ctrl + I) your large stars layer. We're doing this because it's easier to see the results of the next step with black specks on white. You should now have a whole bunch of fuzzy grey specks.
 
Hit ctrl + L to bring up the Levels dialogue box and enter the following settings into the top where it says "Input Levels." In the three boxes from left to right, enter the values 230, 1.00, and 250.

This increases the contrast of the image with a fine control, giving us specks that are nicely defined and ready to become our larger stars.
 
Hit OK.
 
Invert the layer again, bringing it back to the normal white stars on black look.
   
 
Hit ctrl + T again and scale that puppy back down so that it's just a little bit larger than the image you're working with.
 
Hit Enter.  
 
4. At this point you can change the layer mode of the large stars layer to "screen." You'll notice a sort of tacky "echo" effect going on. We will fix that right away by rotating the layer 180 degrees.

Hit ctrl + T one more time and move your cursor to a corner of the large stars layer so you get the rotate arrow cursor (looks like the resize cursor, but bent). Hold shift and then click and drag, rotating your large stars layer 180 degrees.
 
Hit Enter.  
 
5. The Big Bada-Boom!
Okay, so now we've got a very basic star field. However, there's one problem. This is the most boring, depressingly monotonous star field ever made. What we want is a star field that tells a story of stellar evolution, with clusters and deep space and such. This is the intuitive part of the process, so you may have to save this Photoshop file and try several times before you're truly happy with your results.
 
Take your eraser and start erasing bits and pieces of each layer separately. Be as random as possible.
 
There is no wrong eraser brush size, although you'll want one with a crisp edge and nothing smaller than about 10px.
 
Go nuts.
 
What we're doing here is randomizing the star field in a human fashion, so it doesn't look so computer generated. In order to make it better, however, we've got to thoroughly trash it first.
 
Additionally, you should see fewer large stars than small stars, so be especially brutal on the large stars layer.
 
This is also an opportunity for you to eliminate any obvious patterns you see in your stars (sometimes the computer starts generating patterns with its noise generation) and we want to nip those in the bud.

 
6.Once you're all done and have a sad, pathetic star field, flatten your document (Layer > Flatten Image).
 
It's time to start cloning your stars and "shaping" your star field.
 
Grab the clone tool... Use a variety of brushes (brushes with a crsip edge are preferable, however...)
 
The idea here is to now start telling a story with your stars. This is where you make your clusters and dark spaces come alive. Try using the clone brush both in normal mode, or in "screen" mode (you can change the modes in the options bar across the top of your screen), which will add the stars you clone instead of merely replacing the underlying canvas. This will also bring out some of the smaller, dimmer stars that you never really see, giving you a much broader range of stars (which is always a good thing!)
 
There is no set technique for this process -- it's all based on gut instinct and whim. Avoid cloning edges, as the stars will form a very noticeable edge. Also avoid cloning stars and placing them right next to the selected source area.  

 
 
7. Alrighty, that's much better. Again, you may need to experiment with this to get a result that you're really happy with. Finally, we come to the step that's the most fun by far: adding glow.
 
Duplicate your layer again and name this new layer "star glow."
 
Go up to Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Blur with a radius of about 6 to 8.
 
Hit OK.
 
This gives us a diffuse blur where we have the highest concentration of stars, as if the cluster of stars was glowing brighter as a whole. Change the mode of the star glow layer to Linear Dodge (or screen if you're using an earlier version of Photoshop).
 
Hit ctrl +B to bring up the Color Balance dialogue box. Using color balance (also found under Image > Adjustments > Color Balance) give your glow a color. This is entirely at your discretion. (I've always enjoyed a good blue, so that's what I'm going with.) i used the folowing color settings:  

 
  [If you want your stars to have a more individualistic glow, you can repeat this process: duplicate the star layer (should be your background layer if you're following this tutorial to the letter) and blur with a smaller radius, say 3 or 2. Change layer mode to linear dodge, yadda yadda yadda.]
 
That's it! You've got a star field! Actually, you've got an intermediate star field. If you TRULY want to go the extra mile, you can start adding background dust, larger stars (camera flares work remarkable well when shrunk down) and spatial anomalies. This is entirely up to you. The main point is that your creation is a) distinctly yours, and b) much better than the crap Bryce or any other program that boasts star field generation puts out. Why? Because YOURS is human-made, not based on predictable algorithmic output.
 
8. Create a new layer and fill it entirely with black. Set the layer mode to Linear Dodge (this is the best mode, screen just doesn't cut it sometimes). Render a lens flare (Filter > Render > Lens Flare). Duplicate the layer and resize as needed to create dynamic star clusters in the foreground. (You'll need a flare layer for every single star you want to create.)
 
So this is now our galaxy. Let enchace it with a new planet.
1. Set your marquee tool to Eliptical, and by holding SHIFT, make the planet to size. Fill it with a color of your choice, on a new layer; named planet1.
 
2. Open a new document, and copy-paste this picture.

Go to Edit -> Define as Pattern and name it whatever you want.
 
3.Switch back to the picture of your galaxy. Insert a new layer, and use a black-to-transparent gradient to make the shadowy side of the globe. Hit CTRL+T, to free transform it, and in the right-click-menu, select the WARP option. Do not load the planet1's selection, or during the warping it will go mad...

 
4. Now, when you're done with the aligning og the shadow, load the selection of the Planet1 layer, by CTRL+clicking on it's thumbnail.
Inverse the selection by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+I, and hit DELETE, to erase the unwanted parts of the black pitch. You'll see something like this now:

 
5. Now open the blending options of the Planet1 layer by double clicking on it in the Layers tab, and apply the following settings:

right-click on the name of planet1 layer, and select "Convert to Smartobject" than right-click again, and Rasterize the layer.
Now go to Filter -> Distort -> Spherize and make a ball out of it Don't forget to load the selection of the layer before you start Spherizing, or your new, nice planet will look like a big piece of s**t
 
6. Duplicate your planet1 layer, name it glowing, and apply the following blending options:



 
Now rasterize this layer too, and pick your Eraser tool. Choose a size around the 3/2 of your planet and hardness at 0%.
Clear some parts of the Glowing layer, around the deepest parts of the shadow on the planet.
 
 
You're done!
 
here's my result:

 
feel free to post your results here

I liked how you did the actual planet. However, the background isn't looking that good. Try using fewer stars, and you've to find something else for that erasing as well. Perhaps try erasing with several 'shades' of opacity.

Awesome tut but I don't feel too well so maybe I'll try this another time.

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Great TuT But i agree with Gruzz, maybe a litle more vireaty in star size?
 
Ill post a result if i have time

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Glomping the internet populace.One forum at a time.

err... it was a big mistake, what i've recognised after flattening the image... -.-" i used 100% hardness eraser not a soft-edged one... :S
 
but now i'm working on a wallpaper, what i'll post here too (i'll take care of these little things this time ^^,)

heres a 1280x1024 background I made.
 

 
This is the method I used for space: instead of erasing chunks of stars I used an eraser with 0% hardness and 45% opacity. Thats pretty much it.
 

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The stars are way too bright and far too congested.

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Glomping the internet populace.

One forum at a time.

Good tutorial.
 
 

People! There normally isn't this much light in space!!!
 
I'll try this myself tomorrow.

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Glomping the internet populace.

One forum at a time.

 
Very Nice Result Truth    

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Glomping the internet populace.One forum at a time.

very nice results guys!
here's my masterpiece

 
 
Nice galaxy!

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Glomping the internet populace.One forum at a time.

All right, I got this:

I used my own planet texture, and changed quite a few things ... but essentially the same.

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Glomping the internet populace.

One forum at a time.

 
WOW!!  
 
 Thats Great, i like the sun, different textures and coloured 'stars'  
 
looking at the image size is it meant to be a wallpaper?

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Glomping the internet populace.One forum at a time.

Thanks! I used 720p dimensions ... not really wallpaper.

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Glomping the internet populace.

One forum at a time.

nice that blue planet is awsome
 
you should make it as a wallpaper

Thanks! Now that I look at it, it would look good as a wallpaper! But I'd have to make it all over again as the dimensions aren't right.

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Glomping the internet populace.

One forum at a time.

Familiar...
 
http://www.adobetutorialz.com/arti [...] utorial%09
 
did you learn from here, KhainDesign?

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A long time ago I make that space wallpaper
It was validated into gallery
 

 
For more screen resolutions go here   link

 
 
err nope.. i learn from everywhere... i can't remember what was the site, where i first read it...
 
Earnur -  

Khain I would suggest rather than making an object a smart object you make another layer put it under the glow layer, for example, select the glow layer and merge down. The color stays the same that way.
 
EDIT: Can someone change the title it's supposed to be "Create your own galaxy!"

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