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In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a conceptual surreal photo-manipulation. We are going to learn the process of creating depth of field using a few advanced tools. We are going to learn how to blend images so seamlessly that it would look like a single image using the Brush tool, the Mask tool and several adjustment layers. We will learn how to create light and darkness to make the background look seamless. We are going to learn how to use textures and give life to our image, and we are going to learn how to create a moody, dreamy tone using a few adjustment layers and lighting effects.
As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:
create a new file with a width of 3000 px and a height of 4500 px at 300 dpi (Dots per Inch). Background Contents should be White.
Let’s create a Gradient with Black and Grey combination so activate Gradient tool (G) .
When the Gradient box opens, input the following:
Drag the cursor from top to bottom.
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the Rock 06 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the rock from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the Rock 06 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the rock and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Rock”.
The result should be similar to this:
Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Rock” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:
The result should be similar to this:
Now Duplicate rock layer (Ctrl+j) the move it to left :
Now create new Vector mask from the bottom of layers palette .
Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings Now let’s erase :
Brush size: 400px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 40%
Flow: 100%
Color: #000000
Now paint over the highlighted area.
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the The Red Wind – 5 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the girl from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the The Red Wind – 5 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the girl and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Girl”.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette :
fill these setting:
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (rock and Curves ) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (rock layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (rock layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.
When the Curves box opens, input the following.
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the Wots up world stock in Photoshop. We will be using the snail from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the Wots up world and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the snail and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Snail”.
The result should be similar to this:
Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Sky” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Curves adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Curves box opens, input the following:
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Sky layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Solid color adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the solid Color box opens, input the following.
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Dress layer and Solid color) to make a mask.
Change the layer mode to “Soft light” and reduce opacity to “25%”
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the I71 Flutter 10 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the cloth from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the I71 Flutter 10 and press m to activate Magic wand tool and then click on the highlighted area then invert the selection (ctrl+shift+i) and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Cloth 1″.
The result should be similar to this:
Now add new Vector mask from the bottom of layers palette .
Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings Now let’s erase :
Brush size: 400px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 40%
Flow: 100%
Color: #000000
Now paint over the highlighted area.
The result should be similar to this:
Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Cloth 1” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Levels adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Levels box opens, input the following:
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth1 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth1 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth1 layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the I71 Flutter 10 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the cloth from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the I71 Flutter 10 and press m to activate Magic wand tool and then click on the highlighted area then invert the selection (ctrl+shift+i) and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Cloth 2″.
Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Cloth 2” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Levels adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Levels box opens, input the following:
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth 2 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth2 layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth2 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the I71 Flutter 10 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the cloth from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the I71 Flutter 10 and press m to activate Magic wand tool and then click on the highlighted area then invert the selection (ctrl+shift+i) and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Cloth 3″.
Now create a Levels adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Levels box opens, input the following:
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth3 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth3 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth3 layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now Goto > Blur > Gaussian blur :
When the Gaussian blur box opens, input the following:
The result should be similar to this:
Now,get back to “cloth 2″ activate Ractungular marquee tool make a selection on our cloth then activate Transform tool (Ctrl+T), See as below:
Make a right click then chose “Wrap”:
The result should be similar to this:
Play with the moving cruves to give our cloth a shape.See as below:
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the Lavaredo towers in Dolomites stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Mountain from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the Lavaredo towers in Dolomites and press p to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the mountain and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Mountain”.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Curves adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Curves box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Mountain layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Color/Balance adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Color/balance box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Mountain layer and Color/balance) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now activate Vector mask and then use a soft round brush and paint over the highlighted area.
The result should be similar to this:
Now,let’s open the gopuram in Photoshop. We will be using the Temple from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the gopuram and press p to activate the pen Tool then make a selection around the upper part then activate move tool (v) . Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Temple 1″.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Curves box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Tempal 1 layer and Curves) to make a mask.
Now create new Solid color adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Solid Color box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Temple 1 layer and Solid color) to make a mask.
Change the layer mode to “Overlay” and opacity to “65%”.
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Tempal 1 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
Now create new Color balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Color balance box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Tempal 1 layer and Color balance) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now,let’s open the Lens flare-1 in Photoshop. We will be using the Lens flare from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the Lens flare-1 and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Lens flare”.
Change the layer mode to “Screen”.
The result should be similar to this:
Now let’s Make duplicate of Temple 1 and lens flare 1
Now Add vactor mask to both layer and erase some part see as below:
The result should be similar to this:
Now,let’s open the textures 92 in Photoshop. We will be using the texture2:06 AM 6/20/2012 from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the textures 92 and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Texture”.
Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Texture” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:
Change the layer mode to “Soft light” and opacity to “15%”
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Curves adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Curves box opens, input the following:
The result should be similar to this:
Next, Create a Vignette
Activate a new layer and name it “Vignette”
Now goto Filter>Distrot>Lens Correction :
When the Lens Correction box opens, input the following:
The result should be similar to this:
Now Just change the layer mode to “Multiply” .
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Gradient map adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Gradient maps box opens, input the following:
Now Just Change the layer mode to “Luminosity” .
The result should be similar to this:
Now Just make some Duplicates (Cmd/Ctrl+J) of Gradient map layer and change the opacity to “45%” .
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the I71 Flutter 10 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the cloth from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the I71 Flutter 10 and press m to activate Magic wand tool and then click on the highlighted area then invert the selection (ctrl+shift+i) and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Cloth 4″
Activate pen tool and make a selection arround the cloth see as below :
Now open Gaussian blur
When the Gaussian blur box opens, input the following:
The result should be similar to this:
Now create a Levels adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Levels box opens, input the following:
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth4 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Hue/saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth4 layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Cloth4 layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now add a vactor mask then erase the highlighted area.
The result should be similar to this:
First off, let’s open the Lizard stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Lizard from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the Lizard and press p to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the lizard and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Lizard”
Now create a Curves adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:
When the Curves box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Lizard layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Color Balance box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Lizard layer and Curves) to make a mask.
The result should be similar to this:
Now let’s make it’s shadow activate a new layer and name it “lizard shadow” then activate pen tool and make a selection below lizard and fill it with black color.
Now go to Gaussian blur.
When the Gaussian blur box opens, input the following:
Reduce the opacity of layer to “85%” .
Get back to the girl layer and make a duplicate of this layer (Ctrl+j) then activate Transform tool and make a right click and choose “Flip Vertical”.
Press Ctrl and click on the duplicate layer and make it selected and fill it with black layer and change the name of layer to “Girl shadow”.
Now open Gaussian blur
When the Gaussian blur box opens, input the following:
Now activate Vector mask and erase the highlighted area.
Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings Now let’s erase :
Brush size: 400px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 40%
Flow: 100%
Color: #000000
Now paint over the highlighted area.
The result should be similar to this:
Now let’s open the Abstract stock in Photoshop. We will be using the light from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.
Click the Abstract and click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Light”
Activate Transform tool (Ctrl+t) then make a right click and choose Flip Horizontal.
Then resize it see as below:
Change the layer mode to “Screen”.
The result should be similar to this:
Now Add layer mask to the light layer and erase the highlighted area.
Again move a abstract stock to the main canvas then resize it and make it small then change it’s layer mode to “Screen”.Then remove some areas through Vector mask.
Then again activate Transform tool and make a right click and choose “warp”.
Play with the moving curves and change the shape of light see as below.
The result should be similar to this:
Make duplicate of both layers and reduce there opacity to 65% .
Now open Lens flare-1 stock and move it to the main canvas change it’s layer mode to screen.
Activate transform tool then make a right click and choose “Warp”.
Just you need to play with the shape see as below .
Now create Color balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Color Balance box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (blue light layer Color balance) to make a mask.
Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .
When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (blue light layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.
Reduce the opacity to “65%”
The result should be similar to this:
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Vikas Singh Adhikari (Vik aadi) is a 20 years old self-taught digital mixed media artist and a photographer from New Delhi India. The themes that are mostly seen on his work revolve around surrealism, pseudo-realism, nostalgic sentiments, and human emotion.You can contact him on his deviant art account: http://vikaadi.deviantart.com/ and his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vikas.theanimater
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I’ve seen the same girl / same stock in another tutorial in PSDVault, and the result is great as well!
It’s a great stock for sure! I haven’t seen the PSDVault tut you’re talking about though.
Sir Tom, here it is: http://www.psdvault.com/photo-effect/create-a-magical-photo-manipulation-with-flowery-effect-in-photoshop/
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