In this tutorial you will learn how to create simple twirl effect using the distort filter and gradients. This process is quick and only requires three steps.

Twirl effect

Step 1

Open a new Photoshop document with the size 640 x 480 dimension.
Select the gradient tool with the linear gradient and whatever gradient colour you wish. If you can’t find a gradient you like, I have provided a list of free photoshop gradients.




Step 2

Click and drag a gradient on the canvas you can choose whatever direction you wish. You canvas should look something like below:




Step 3

Select Filter > Distort > Twirl and give the angle 250 and click ok. Now select Ctrl + F about 4 -5 times and you should get a pattern like below. If you want more twirls then simply select Ctrl + F a few more times.



You should now have a twirl effect.