How to Create an Emotional Photo Manipulation of an Angel ~ Photoshop for you !

Learn how to use Photoshop to create this emotional photo manipulation. You will learn techniques such as creating smooth skin, creating a soft blue color tone, adding floating feathers, and more.

Preview of Final Result

Emotional Photo Manipulation of an Angel Photoshop Tutorial

Tutorial Resources

· Model: Maria Amanda.deviantart.com
· Background: kuschelirmel-stock.deviantart.com
· Wings: jtotheotothee.deviantart.com
· Feathers: falln-stock.deviantart.com
· Crown: ybsilon-stock.deviantart.com

Step 1

Place a part of your background image as shown below.

Step 2

Go to Filter>Blur>gaussian blur and choose the desired value.

Step 3

Add the adjustment layers below:
Hue/Saturation 0 -38 0
Color balance 0 -20 0

Step 4

Now working with the model.
Place your model’s image where you want or as shown here.
Choose your pen tool and cut around the model’s body. You can use any other tool you’re familiar with, but make sure to always have a mask on the original image.
Sometimes, using my graphics tablet, I find it better to mask the model’s image and use the eraser to isolate her from the background.

Step 5

Add layer masks to the model’s layer as shown below.
Tip: You can add those masks by pressing Ctrl+Alt+G or simply press Alt between each 2 layers on the layers palette.
Make sure they are with the same order (Curves, Color balance, Hue/saturation).

Step 6

This will be the result.

Step 7

Select the model’s layer and go to layer>layer style>Inner shadow and apply the values shown below.

Step 8

This is how it should look like. You can also try inner glow. Those two ways will soften the hard edges of the model.

Step 9

Convert the model’s layer into a smart object by right clicking on the layer of the model and selecting convert to smart object.
Don’t panic, you can always go back to the original layer mask and layer style by double clicking on that layer.
Now select Filter>Blur>Surface blur with Radius: 10 and Threshold: 30
Select your smart filter mask (the white box) and fill it with black (9a).
Tip1: If white was your background color and black was your foreground color select Alt+backspace.
If it was the opposite, select Ctrl+backspace.
Tip2: To choose default colors (Black and white) press D.
To switch between foreground and background colors press Shift+X
Select the brush tool and paint with white the hands and parts of the face.
This will apply the effect of the surface blur therefore the skin will become softer. (9b)
Be careful not to blur the mouth, nose edges and eyes because this will make you lose details.

Step 10

This is how it should look like.

Step 11

Using a Graphics tablet I painted with white some edges on her arms and shoulder.
Also paint with light pink color on her cheeks and decrease the fill and/or opacity depending on your desire.

Step 12

Most artists use dodging and burning for the model’s face, body and clothes, but I use a normal brush to make shadows and highlights.
Create a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) and name it shadows/highlights.
Select your brush tool (or press B). Hardness should be 0% and sizes depend on the area you’re working on with opacity 30% and Flow 20%.
Tip: To be faster play with the brush size with “[" and "]” and the hardness with “shift+[" and "shift+]“
We will be using black to make the shadows and white for the highlights. Set the layer blending mode to soft light.
To make some areas pop-out more (like the cheeks, hair, etc…) make another blank layer, use a white brush and set the blending mode of the layer to overlay.
You can always play with opacity and fill to get your desired result.

Step 13

Add more volume to the hair of the model by using hair brushes or painting.

Step 14

Now bring in the wing, place it below the model’s layer and position it as desired or as shown.
Since in this case the wings are a png file, you won’t need to cut them out or fix any edges.
Now for the second wing; keep your selection on the first one and press Ctrl+J (this will duplicate your layer).
Press Ctrl+T then right click> Flip Horizontal and press Enter. Position it to the other side as on the image below.

Step 15

Merge both wings into one layer when you’re happy with the final position. Name the layer “wings”.
Tip: To merge multiple layers, select them by pressing Ctrl, then press Ctrl+E to merge them together.
Add a color balance layer mask to the wings layer: -23 -15 +50
Select the wings layer and go to Layer>Layer style>Inner shadow and apply the values shown below.

Step 16

Create a new layer and name it “wings shadow”. This should be between the model’s layer and the wings layer.
Select a black brush hardness 0% and paint to apply her shadow on the wing. If it was too tough play with the opacity and/or fill.

Step 17

On top of the model’s layer add the Floral crown, resize it, place it on her head and tilt it a little bit.
This is also a png file, so you won’t need to cut or mask anything.
To make it look place on her head erase little and carefully with a soft brush the bottom of the crown.

Step 18-a

Create a new layer name it “Lens flare” and fill it with black. Then go to Filter>Render>Lens flare. Choose the desired shape and values and select ok.
In this image I made 2. One for her necklace and the other one on her crown.
You could also create only one, duplicate it and resize it to get the small one for the crown then merge both layers.

Step 18-b

Select your “Lens flare” layer and set the blending mode to screen. This is how it should look like.

Step 19

Create a new layer and name it “Fog”. Make sure it’s placed above all alyers.
Select the brush tool with color white. Use a huge brush with Hardness 0% Opacity 70% and flow 40%.
Apply single clicks many times to create the desired fog.

Step 20

Create a new layer and name it “Feathers”. Place it below the model and wings layers.
After importing you feathers brush, select the brush tool with color white and right click to choose your feathers brushes and place them randomly.
For better results place every feather on a layer to be able to transform them freely then go to Filter>Blur>Motion blur.
When you’re happy with it merge the feathers layers into one single layer.

Step 21

Finally we’ll be adding some color adjustments above all layers.
Go to Layer>New adjustment layer>Gradient map then ok. It should be from black to white.
Set the blending mode, of this gradient map layer, to multiply and opacity 20%

Step 22

Now another gradient map.
Go to Layer>New adjustment layer>Gradient map then ok.
Go inside the gradient map layer and apply those values (the numbers indicate the color codes).
Set the blending mode to soft light and opacity 30%. Make sure to check “Reverse”.

Step 23

Go to Layer>New adjustment Layer>Vibrance and set the vibrance to +40
Those 3 adjustment layers together will give you this result.

Step 24

Finally create a new layer and press G to choose the Gradient tool. Make sure the foreground color is white.
Go to the bottom right of the image and apply an oblique line from outside the image as shown below.
Tip: To take better control of this action zoom your image out (Ctrl+ -) and slide your mouse easily.

Photoshop for you !

Wednesday, October 24, 2012