Create Amazing 3D Tendacles In Photoshop

Step 1
Create document 250x250 pixels. Fill it with
#B9CCD9 color. Create a new layer name it
"tentacle". Select rectangular marquee tool [M].
Make a shape similar to mine 18 width and 240
height pixels. Fill the selection with BLACK.
Don't deselect it until I tell you.

Step 2
Create a new layer above the tentacle layer.
You don't have to rename it. I hope you have
the selection still active. Fill it with #FCFCFC
color. Now You should have two layers : Layer
1 and tentacle layer. Similar to the image on
the left.

Step 3
Now apply Gaussian Filter to Layer 1.
Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur with radius 4. Merge
both layers CTRL+E. Now you have one layer
called tentacle. You can deselect your selection
selection now.

Step 4
Now all we have to do is distort it.
Edit>Transform>Distort. Select right-bottom
corner and using SHIFT+ALT move it to a little
to the center. Do it the same with right-top
corner but this time move it to the right. Watch
my image.

Step 5
Add Shear filter. Filter>Distort>Shear. You can
make your own or use my settings.

Step 6
Here is the most important part of this tutorial.
Add Plastic Wrap. Filter>Artistic>Plastic Wrap.
Settings: Highlight Strenght : 9

Detail : 9
Smoothness : 2
TIP: The trick is to add light which goes from
top to bottom. It makes tentacle looks like 3D
tentacle. If you want to make smaller or bigger
tentacle just play with these settings.

Step 7
Add some shadows. Use layer style - drop
shadow with these settings:
Blend Mode: Normal
Color: Black
Opacity: 30 %
Angle: 90
Distance: 2
Spread: 0
Size: 5

Step 8
This is the best part. We are going to cover this
tentacle with BLOOD. Download some bloody
brushes or use your own. I suggest you visit
deviantart.com. There is a lot of great bloody
brushes. It doesn't have to be blood. You can
draw some spots using standard brushes.
Create a new layer and name it "blood".
Change the foregound color to #A2171A and
splash some blood on the tentacle. Don't cover
the whole tentacle.
(edit: Brushes available at
www.angryblue.com)

Step 9
Set the blending mode for the "blood layer" to
Color Burn. While still on the blood layer hold
CTRL and select "tentacle layer". Inverse a
selection CTRL+SHIFT+I and hit DELETE. Now
add some adjustments : Image> Adjustments>
Brightness&Contrast and enter Brightness -25.
Sharpen "tentacle layer".
Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen. WOW!

Step 10
Final step is to add more blood spots to the
background. Using this technique you can add
anything to a tentacle like slime. All you have to
do now is duplicate it.
REMEMBER : The key is to properly set Plastic
Wrap Filter. Add more tentacles and have fun.
Just be creative!
Congratulations, Your done!