Ghost effect using Photoshop

Let's check out how to make the haunting ghost camera effect you've been seeing in scary movies.

Open a picture you want to make ghotsly and press Ctrl + J to duplicate the layer.

Press Shift + Ctrl + U to turn the picture black and white.

In the menu click Filters, Blur and choose Motion Blur.

In the Motion Blur settings window, set the distance to 90 pixels and click OK.

This is how your picture should look like.

Now click Add layer mask button.

Choose the Brush Tool ...

... and set the Opacity to 15%. Press D to set the black as a foreground color.

Start painting the picture so you slowly uncover the face.

Uncover most of the face but you can leave some transitions a bit softer for the more ghost like feel.

Now press Shift + Ctrl + Alt + E to merge all layers into one layer (Layer 2).

In the menu click Filter, Distort and choose Diffuse Glow...

Choose the same or similar settings as I did and click OK.

Don't be afraid to choose your own settings, they might differ from picture to picture to achieve the same look.

This is how it should look like by now.

Now click the Create new fill or adjustment layer button (see picture).

And choose a green color.

The code of my green color is 3b7538.

Click OK.

Choose Overlay for the Blending Mode and set the Opacity to 12%.

This is how my ghost looks like by now. Your ghost might be finished but in my case I need to adjust the levels a bit.

If you think your picture need to be adjusted as well, keep on reading.

Select the merged layer (Layer 2).

In the menu click Image, Adjustment and choose Levels or press Ctrl + L.

I've set the dark tones to 45, mid tones to 0.76 and light tones to 240.

Click OK.

That's my lovely ever so haunting ghost.