How to create your own transparent background overlay

This took me about five minutes to create

I used this as the template, but you can use the shapes that work for you. This is actual pixel size.

Edit > Define New Brush Preset

Spacing 60%  Note: You can't get an accurate fix on this until you have made the other settings, so you will probably need to come back to it.

Try these settings, but others may work better for your starting shape/template.

I would still tend to keep Angle jitter at 100% to randomise the preset.

Roundness Jitter will have the effect of creating perspective as if some of the confetti is on its side.

The Preview window will be giving a good indication by this stage, so be guided by it.  Scatter at 200% was working for me

This is where the magic begins.  Definitely goe with a Spinal Tap Eleven for colour dynamics.  I've added some Brightness jitter to see if it creates depth but I might turn that off.  It's all part of the fun of using ht eBrush Engine.

Note: Apply Per Tip.  If that is not enabled the colours won't change.

Lets try it out. I am using Green and yellow for foreground Background colours.

How realistic does it have to be? 

Very simple confetti could be achieved with a Brush. 

I would definitely shoot the confetti on a neutral or white background, then create a transparency mask in Photoshop to use as an overlay. That way you can control the placement and intensity of the confetti. The only time I'd have a subject in the shot is if they are interacting with the confetti (throwing it, catching it, etc). Otherwise you can put some on their shoulders, clothes, hair as a separate shot and combine.