How to Create a Color Dust Action in Adobe Photoshop

The complete action has the following additional features:

Greater control over dust elements.

Three predefined background options.
Ten preset color looks and additional color adjustments.
Additional dust elements are also included.
Animated version contains options to generate animated GIF images with variable frame
rates and sizes.

1. How to Set Up Your Document

Step 1
First, open the photo on which you want to work. To open your photo, go to File > Open,
choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, we need to check a few
things:

1. Your photo should be in RGB Color mode and 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go
to Image > Mode.
2. Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New >
Background from Layer.
3. Click the fly-out list of the Layers panel and click Panel Options....Make sure that both
Use Default Masks on Fill Layers and Add "copy" to Copied Layers and Groups are
checked.

Step 2
The effect works best with images of size 2500–4000 px width. If your image is smaller,
increase it by going to Image > Image Size. You can always reduce it to your original size
after the effect has been applied.

2. How to Load the Brushes

Step 1
Go to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager... In the Preset Manager window, select Preset
Type: Brushes and click Load...

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Browse and select the Color Dust Brushes.atn file that came with the downloadable
attachment. Then, click Done.

Step 2
Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Make sure both Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

3. How to Make the Effect Area Layers

Add a New Layer above the Background layer. Name the new layer subject.

Now, make a Selection around your main subject. You can also choose the Brush Tool
(B) and brush over your photo using a Hard Round Brush.

4. How to Start Recording the Action

Step 1
Now, let's start preparing the base for our action. We'll put it in a separate set for easier
management.

Go to Window > Actions or press F9 on the keyboard to open up the Actions panel. Then,
click the Create new set icon, name the set Color Dust Photoshop Action, and click OK.
We'll place the action inside this set.

Step 2
Click the Create new action icon and name it Color Dust.

Click Record to start recording all the subsequent steps in Photoshop.

From this point onwards, everything you do will be recorded, so please be careful and keep an
eye on the Actions panel. If you make a mistake, click the Stop playing/recording icon, and
Delete the unnecessary step from the Color Dust action. Then click the Begin recording icon
again to continue. The last thing you'd want is to have a messy action filled with unwanted
steps.

5. How to Create the Background

Step 1
Select the Background layer, and hide the subjectlayer by toggling the eyeball icon off. Then,
press D on the keyboard to reset swatches.

Step 2
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Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color... Name it BG Color, enter the hex color
code #ffffff , and click OK.

Step 3
Press Control-G to add the BG Color layer in a new Group. Then, go to Layer > Rename
Group... and rename the group Color Dust. We'll add all our further layers into this group to
keep everything organized.

Step 4
Select the subject layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels. Then
select the Background layer and press Control-J to Copy the selection into a New Layer.

Create a New Layer, rename it Base Image, and drag it above the BG Color layer (inside the
Color Dust group).

Step 5
Create a New Layer and name it temp-sub.

Again, select the subject layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels. Go
to Select > Modify > Smooth..., enter Sample Radius: 50 pixels and click OK.

Then, select the temp-sub layer and press Alt-Delete or to Fill the selection with
the Foreground Color.

Press Control-D to deselect the current selection.

Hide the temp-sub layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

6. How to Create the Emitter Guide Layers

Step 1
Select the Base Image layer. Create a New Layer and name it emitter-1.

Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the emitter-1 layer. Press M on the keyboard to select the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
Then, right-click on the image and select Make Work Path.... Enter Tolerance: 3.0 pixels and
click OK.

Step 2

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Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-emitter-1 brush. Make sure both
the Opacity and Flow are set to 100%.

Step 3
Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-click on the image with the Pen Tool and select Delete Path.

Step 4
Now, your image should look like below.

Hide the emitter-1 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

Step 5
Create a New Layer and name it emitter-2.

Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the emitter-2 layer and go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Center, enter Width: 50%, Height: 1%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enter to confirm.

Step 6
Press M on the keyboard to select the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Then, right-click on the
image and select Make Work Path.... Enter Tolerance: 3.0 pixels and click OK.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-emitter-2 brush. Make sure both
the Opacity and Flow are set to 100%.

Step 7
Now Stroke the path with the selected brush. Your image should look like below.

Hide the emitter-2 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

Step 8
Create a New Layer and name it emitter-3.

Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.
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Select the emitter-3 layer and go to Select > Transform Selection. Keep Reference point
location at Top-Right, enter Width: 40%, Height: 40%, and click the Tick button on the top
toolbar or press Enter to confirm.

Again, go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Bottom-Left, enter Width: 1%, Height: 1%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enterto confirm.

Step 9
Make a path from the selection and Stroke it with the selected brush. Your image should look
like below.

Hide the emitter-3 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

Step 10
Create a New Layer and name it emitter-4.

Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the emitter-4 layer and go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Bottom-Left, enter Width: 30%, Height: 30%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enter to confirm.

Again, go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Top-Right, enter Width: 1%, Height: 1%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enter to confirm.

Step 11
Make a path from the selection and Stroke it with the selected brush. Your image should look
like below.

Hide the emitter-4 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

Step 12
Create a New Layer and name it emitter-5.

Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the emitter-5 layer and go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Bottom-Right, enter Width: 30%, Height: 30%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enterto confirm.

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Again, go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Top-Left, enter Width: 1%, Height: 1%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enterto confirm.

Step 13
Make a path from the selection and Stroke it with the selected brush. Your image should look
like below.

Hide the emitter-5 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

Step 14
Create a New Layer and name it emitter-6.

Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the emitter-6 layer and go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Top-Left, enter Width: 40%, Height: 40%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enter to confirm.

Again, go to Select > Transform Selection.

Keep Reference point location at Bottom-Right, enter Width: 1%, Height: 1%, and click
the Tick button on the top toolbar or press Enterto confirm.

Step 15
Again, make a path from the selection and Stroke it with the selected brush. Your image
should look like below.

Hide the emitter-6 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

Step 16
Select the emitter-1 layer. Hold Shift and select the emitter-6 layer. Press Control-J to
Duplicate all selected layers.

Show the emitter-1 copy, emitter-2 copy, emitter-3 copy, emitter-4 copy, emitter-5
copy and emitter-6 copy by toggling the eyeball icons on.

Step 17
Press Control-E to Merge the selected layers. Go to Layer > Rename Layer... and rename
it emitter-7.

Now, your image should look like below.

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Hide the emitter-7 layer by toggling the eyeball icon off.

7. How to Create the Background Color Dust

Step 1
Select the BG Color layer.

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Fill Dust 1, enter the hex color
code #000000 , and click OK.

Step 2
Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Delete.

Again, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All.

Now, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Unlink.

Step 3
Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-4c brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 4
Select the emitter-7 layer, right-clickon the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Step 5
Select the BG Fill Dust 1 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Press D on the keyboard to reset swatches. Make sure your Foreground Color is white while
the layer mask is selected.

Step 6
Press M on the keyboard to select the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Then, right-click on the
image and select Make Work Path.... Enter Tolerance: 3.0 pixels and click OK.

Step 7
Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.
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Again, right-click on the image with the Pen Tool and select Delete Path.

Step 8
Now, your image should look like below.

Step 9
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Fill Dust 2, enter the hex color
code #000000 , and click OK.

Step 10
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Fill Dust 2 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-3d brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 11
Select the emitter-7 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Fill Dust 2 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Step 12
Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 13
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 1, enter the hex
colour code #00ce7e , and click OK.

Step 14
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 1 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-1 brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 15
Select the emitter-1 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

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Select the BG Dust 1 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Step 16
Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 17
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 1 Col 2, enter the hex
colour code #0db9ea , and click OK.

Step 18
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 1 Col 2 layer.

Go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask to add the BG Dust 1 Col 2 layer as a Clipping Mask to
the BG Dust 1 layer.

Step 19
Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-4c brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Select the emitter-7 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 1 Col 2 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that
the layer mask is always selected at this step).

Just like before, make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Press Control-I to Invert the layer mask color.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 20
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 2, enter the hex color
code #ef16a5 , and click OK.

Step 21
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 2 layer.

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Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-2 brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 22
Select the emitter-3 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 2 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 23
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 3, enter the hex color
code #ffea5a , and click OK.

Step 24
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 3 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-4a brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 25
Select the emitter-3 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 3 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then, make a path from the current selection. Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-clickon the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 26

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Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-3d brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then,right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again,right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-clickon the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now, right-click on the image with the Pen Tool and select Delete Path.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 27
Select the emitter-4 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 3 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the current selection. Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again,right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 28
Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-4a brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-clickon the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-clickon the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

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Again, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now,right-clickon the image with the Pen Tool and select Delete Path.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 29
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 4, enter the hex color
code #0df0ed , and click OK.

Step 30
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 4 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-3c brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 31
Select the emitter-5 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 4 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 32
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 5, enter the hex
colour code #eb18a8 , and click OK.

Step 33
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 5 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-4a brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Select the emitter-2 layer,right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 5 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.
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Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Darken.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 34
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it BG Dust 6, enter the hex color
code #0db9ea , and click OK.

Step 35
Repeat Step 2 for the BG Dust 6 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-3a brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Select the emitter-4 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 6 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 36
Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-3b brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Select the emitter-6 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the BG Dust 6 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Your BG Dust layers should look like below.

8. How to Create the Overlay Color Dust

Step 1
Select the Base Image layer.
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Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it OL Dust 1, enter the hex color
code #00ce7e , and click OK.

Step 2
Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Delete.

Again, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All.

Now, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Unlink.

Step 3
Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-4b brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 4
Select the temp-sub layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Step 5
Select the OL Dust 1 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Press D on the keyboard to reset swatches. Make sure your Foreground Color is white while
the layer mask is selected.

Step 6
Press M on the keyboard to select the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Then, right-click on the
image and select Make Work Path.... Enter Tolerance: 3.0 pixels and click OK.

Step 7
Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-clickon the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-clickon the image with the Pen Tool and select Delete Path.

Step 8
Now, your image should look like below.

Step 9

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Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it OL Dust 2, enter the hex color
code #eb18a8 , and click OK.

Step 10
Repeat Step 2 for the OL Dust 2 layer.

Select the emitter-5 layer, right-clickon the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the OL Dust 2 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 11
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it OL Dust 3, enter the hex color
code #0db9ea , and click OK.

Step 12
Repeat Step 2 for the OL Dust 3 layer.

Select the emitter-4 layer, right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Select the OL Dust 3 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the selection and Stroke the path with the selected brush.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 13
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.... Name it OL Dust 4, enter the hex
colour code #ffea5a , and click OK.

Step 14
Repeat Step 2 for the OL Dust 4 layer.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-5 brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 15
Select the emitter-7 layer,right-click on the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.
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Select the OL Dust 4 layer icon. Then, select the layer mask (this is to make sure that the
layer mask is always selected at this step).

Then make a path from the current selection.

Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now, right-clickon the image with the Pen Tool and select Delete Path.

Now, your image should look like below.

Your layers structure should look like below.

9. How to Make Image Adjustments

Step 1
Select the Base Image layer and press Control-J to Duplicate it.

Go to Layer > Rename Layer... and rename it Overlay Image. Change the Blending Mode
of the Overlay Image layer to Luminosity.

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All. Select the Base Image layer and go to Layer > Layer
Mask > Reveal All.

Step 2
Select the emitter-7 layer, right-clickon the layer thumbnail, and select Select Pixels.

Press B on the keyboard to select the Brush Tool. Expand the brush selector drop-down
menu and select the br-color-dust-3e brush. Make sure both the Opacity and Flow are set
to 100%.

Step 3
Press M on the keyboard to select the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Then, right-click on the
image and select Make Work Path.... Enter Tolerance: 3.0 pixels and click OK.

Select the layer thumbnail of the Base Image layer and then select its Layer Mask. This is to
make sure that the layer mask always gets selected at this point.

Press D on the keyboard to reset swatches. Then, press X on the keyboard to switch
swatches and set your Foreground Color as Black.
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Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then,right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-clickon the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now, your image should look like below.

Step 4
Select the layer thumbnail of the Overlay Image layer and then select its layer mask. This is to
make sure that the layer mask always gets selected at this point.

Press D on the keyboard to reset swatches and set your Foreground Color as White.

Press P on the keyboard to select the Pen Tool.

Then, right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Again,right-click on the image and select Stroke Path.... Make sure Simulate Pressure is not
checked. Click OK.

Now, right-click on the image and select Delete Path.

Your image and layers structure should look like below.

10. How to Make Additional Adjustments

Step 1
Select the OL Dust 4 layer.

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels... and name it Overall Levels.

Enter the following input levels - Shadow input level: 20 and Highlight input level: 245.

Step 2
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves... and name it Overall Curves.

Select the Blue channel and enter the following values.

Now, your image and layers structure should look like below.
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11. How to Tidy Up Your Groups
In the next steps, we'll organize the layers into logical groups and color code them for ease of
use.

Step 1
Select the temp-sub layer. Hold Shift and select the emitter-1 layer.

Press Delete on the keyboard to delete all eight selected layers.

Step 2
Select the Overall Levels layer, hold Shift and select the Overall Curves layer.

Press Control-G to Group the layers. Go to Layer > Rename Group... and rename it
as Overall Adjustments.

Right-click on the Overall Adjustments group and select Slot Color: Gray.

Step 3
Select the OL Dust 4 layer, hold Shift and select the OL Dust 1 layer.

Press Control-G to Group the layers. Go to Layer > Rename Group... and rename it
as Overlay Dust Elements.

Right-clickon the Overlay Dust Elements group and select Slot Color: Yellow.

Step 4
Select the Overlay Image layer, hold Shift and select the Base Image layer.

Press Control-G to Group the layers. Go to Layer > Rename Group... and rename it as
Image Elements.

Right-click on the Image Elements group and select Slot Color: Blue.

Step 5
Select the BG Dust 6 layer, hold Shift and select the BG Dust 1 layer.

Press Control-G to Group the layers. Go to Layer > Rename Group... and rename it BG
Dust Elements.

Right-click on the BG Dust Elements group and select Slot Color: Red.

Step 6
Select the BG Fill Dust 2 layer, hold Shift and select the BG Color layer.

Press Control-G to Group the layers. Go to Layer > Rename Group... and rename it BG
Elements.

Right-click on the BG Elements group and select Slot Color: Green.

12. How to Finish Recording the Action

Stop recording by clicking the Stop button.

13. How to Customize Your Result

Now, I'll show you how to change the color of the dust elements.

Step 1
Double-click on the BG Color layer thumbnail and enter the hex color code #000000 .
Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Fill Dust 1 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffffff . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Fill Dust 2 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffffff . Click OK.

Step 2
Double-click on the BG Dust 1 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #000000 . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Dust 1 Col 2 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #436c78 . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Dust 2 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #38b2ff . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Dust 3 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffea5a . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Dust 4 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #49b0ff . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Dust 5 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #eb18a8 . Click OK.

Double-click on the BG Dust 6 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffffff . Click OK.
Step 3
Double-click on the OL Dust 1 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffffff . Click OK.

Double-click on the OL Dust 2 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #eb18a8 . Click OK.

Double-click on the OL Dust 3 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffffff . Click OK.

Double-click on the OL Dust 4 layer thumbnail and enter the hex color
code #ffea5a . Click OK.

This is what we'll get.

Feel free to experiment with different colors. You can also select the Layer mask of any color
dust layer and press Control-T to bring up the Free Transform tool. Then, you can resize and
rotate the elements.

Awesome, You've Done It!

Here is your final result!

You can now apply the effect onto any other image. Open the image, select Color Dust
Photoshop Action, and click Play from the Actions panel.

Things to remember before playing the action:

Make sure that you have installed the Brush.

Make sure that the Brush Opacity and Flow are set to 100%, like step 2 - How to Load
the Brushes.
Make sure you have created the subject layer, made a selection of your main subject
and filled it with any color, just like Step 1 of 3 - How to Make the Effect Area Layers.
Make sure the width of the image is set between 2500-4000 pixels, like Step 2 of 1 -
How to Set Up Your Document.
Make sure Use Default Masks on Fill Layers and Add "copy" to Copied Layers and
Groups are checked under Panel Options..., like Step 1 of 1 - How to Set Up Your
Document.

We have reached the end of the tutorial. Here you've learned how to add a color dust
explosion effect on any photo and also automate it in a one-click Photoshop action.