All stock download links are in the description.
Lets start!
Head up to File > New.
Width 1280 Pixels.
Height 720 Pixels.
Background Contents: Black.
Then hit OK.
Ok again.
Select the background.
Duplicate it, CTRL + J.
I'm going to rename this layer > Clouds.
Make sure your foreground and background are black to white.
Head up to Filter > Render > Clouds.
Bring the opacity down to about 10%.
Select our Type Tool. (T)
The font I'm using is called Code, Link in description.
250 pt.
Change your text color to white.
Then hit OK.
I'm going to type the word smoke.
Select the Move Tool. (v)
Click and drag the text layer into the center.
Head down and create a new layer.
Bring it below the smoke layer.
I'm going to rename it > Smoke Behind.
Make sure your foreground color is white.
Select your Brush Tool. (B)
Select a nice Smoke Brush.
I will select this one.
Head up to the Brush Panel.
I'm going to rotate my brush.
Angle - 66.
Brush Opacity 100%.
I want the smoke to look as if it's coming from the left.
Close the Brush Panel for now.
CTRL + Click on the Smoke layer thumbnail (Smoke Behind)
This will make a selection of the smoke.
Select our text layer.
Hold ALT + Click on Mask.
That's starting to look good!
I'm going to fix a couple spots.
Make sure our mask is selected.
Change our foreground color to black.
Select the Brush Tool. (B)
Select a small brush with soft edges.
I want to mask out some of the text.
So that the smoke looks as if it's going through the text.
Take your time. :)
I will speed this part up to save you time.
CTRL + 0 to zoom back out.
Select our top layer.
Head down and select FX > Blending Options.
Click on Drop Shadow.
Blend Mode: Multiply.
Make sure the color is set to black.
Opacity 100%.
Distance: 2
Spread: 0
Size: 5 px.
Head over and select Outer Glow.
Blend Mode: Screen.
Opacity 30%.
Size: 15px.
Then hit OK.
I'm going to add a skull to the smoke.
Select your Move Tool. (V)
Then drag and drop onto our project.
I'm going to rename this layer to Skull.
CTRL + T to select the skull.
Holding ALT + SHIFT while resizing.
I want to position the skull at the top of the smoke.
Hit Enter when you're done.
Change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Head over and select the Smudge Tool.
Change the Strength to about 20%.
I want to blend the skull in to match the smoke.
Take your time with this part.
I will speed this up to save you time.
Select the Skull layer. Duplicate it > CTRL + J.
Using your Move Tool. (V) Position the second skull.
CTRL + T > Right Click > Flip Horizontal.
Rotate it if you'd like.
Hit Enter when you're done.
Make sure you have the top layer selected.
Create a new adjustment layer > Gradient Map.
Choose a nice gradient.
Download my free gradient pack. Link in description.
Then hit OK.
Change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Drop the opacity to about 25%.
That's it! Please leave a like if you enjoyed.