How to Create a Fantasy Photo Manipulation
Download Source Files
- Source files for this tutorial are available to Premium members.
Get a Premium Membership
The idea behind this work was to create a fantasy world. You will learn how to work with a few images and create a really interesting photo manipulation. I would also like to thank Loredana for working with me on this one.
Final Image Preview
Below is the image you will create in this tutorial. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join PSDTUTS PLUS for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here.
Video Tutorial
Our video editor Gavin Steele has created this series of video tutorials to compliment this text + image tutorial.
Step 1
The first step is to choose the right pictures for your work. I chose just three stock images to keep it simple: Background, Tree, and you can look at through the following site for a suitable image of a Model.
Step 2
The second step is to create a proper background. Use your imagination; don’t just use the background picture ast is. Click on the background layer and then Command + J to duplicate it. Next flip the background you just duplicated Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal, and then overlap them covering just a bit of the picture with the other.
Step 3
Now Command-click on both layers and then press Command + E to merge them together. It looks strange, like in a mirror, but by using a brush and a clone stamp it will look quite natural. Select the Clone Stamp Tool (S) and start cloning the trees and the grass until it looks natural, use the Brush Tool (B) and paint with black at the trees roots. Then crop it so it won’t look symmetrical.
Step 4
Next you need to add some clouds. You will create these clouds using a cloud brush; also you need to make the clouds yellow. Yellow and orange clouds look good in a fantasy picture, and here are some Free Cloud Brushes.
Step 5
Next you need to add some birds on the sky. Again create the birds using brushes, and here are some Free Bird Brushes.
Step 6
For this step you will add a moon or maybe you will add two, after all this is a fantasy illustration, and here are some Free Moon Brushes.
Step 7
Last element you need to add is a tree in the right side of the composition. We do this just to get rid of the symmetry. Look for a tree that matches your background, and here are some Free Tree Brushes.
Step 8
You have just finished with the background. Now you need to work on your model. Use the Pen Tool (P) and cut out the model, then place it into a single layer called "model."
Step 9
Every fairy has long hair, right? Just use the Lasso Tool (L) and cut out her hair. Make the selection and then press Command + J to copy it to another layer.
Step 10
Next you need to move the part of the hair you just created lower then the "model" layer and using the Smudge Tool (R) and Transform Tool (T) you need to make the piece of hair look like it belongs there. The final result might not look great, but we will go back to the hair later.
Step 11
Now you need to create some shadows and lights on her skin. Go to Create a new fill or adjustment layer and select Curves. Use my settings or just make the skin look darker.
Fill the layer mask with black. Next, pick a basic brush and with white draw on the layer mask over all the darker areas of the models skin. Make sure to use a 0% Hardness for the brush, also you can use a lower Opacity for the brush. This will help you build the effect gradually.
Step 12
Repeat Step 11, but this time you need to use different settings for the curves. Also, when you draw over the mask this time draw over the lighter parts on the model’s skin.
Step 13
You are almost done with the model. You just need to create a bit of makeup and make the fairy look better. Create a new layer, pick a basic brush with smooth edges, use a black color and start drawing just a bit above her eyes. When you have finished set the Opacity to 60% or 70%.
Step 14
So far so good. You have finished preparing the model, now move it into your document.
Step 15
Next you need to add the wings. The wings I used are free brushes you can find anywhere, here are some free wing brushes. I will make the wings yellow, same as the sky and place them each in different layers to move them later if necessary.
Step 16
Back to the hair. Chose the Smudge Tool (R) and set the Mode to normal, strength to 100, use a basic brush with smooth edges and Diameter of 1px or 2px. Now start smudging the edges of her hair so the model will look like she belongs in the background.
Step 17
Next you need to bring in the tree. Before you do this you need to remove the background. The tree can be cut using the Pen Tool (P), but at some point you will need to use the Quick Selection Tool (W). It does not have to be perfect, for the moment we can use it as it is.
When you are finished cutting you need to use the Smudge Tool (R) again and smudge the edges of the tree. Finally, move the tree on the document you are working.
Step 18
In this step we will create a flower in her hair. Make a new layer and chose the Brush Tool (B). Start drawing the flower like the one in the image. Use these for the colors #989ba2 and #a58532 and then start adding some shadows and highlights, just like you did with her skin. The flower does not need to be perfect as it will not be very visible.
Step 19
Place the flower over her hair. Also, using the brush you need to make create some hair and place it over the flower.
Step 20
Next you need to use the Smudge Tool (R) on the grass. Now it is visible that the model has been cut and placed on this background so to hide this we need to create some grass over her dress.
Step 21
Now you need to change the colors a bit for the atmosphere. Go to Create New Adjustment Layers, chose Gradient Map and make the settings as in the image below.
Step 22
Now set the Opacity to 60%. Go to the layer mask, pick a basic brush with Hardness set to 0, set the Opacity of the brush to 40%, pick the black color and paint all the grass. The result should look like the image below.
Step 23
Go to Create New Adjustment Layer again and chose Photo Filter. Chose #ec8a00 for the color and 25% for Density, also make sure the Preserve Luminosity is checked. The difference is not very visible but there is one.
Step 24
Next go to the Create new adjustment layer and chose Curves, make the settings as in the image. Then pick a brush with smooth edges and paint the layer mask as shown, so the curves won’t be visible in the middle.
Step 25
Go to Create New Adjustment Layer and pick Curves again, then make the settings as shown below. Now pick the same brush, and paint with black on the mask, as you see in the small image. This will give a nice effect to the moon and it will look like it is shining on the girl.
Step 26
Apply another Photo Filter as you did in step 23.
Step 27
Now apply another gradient map. Make the settings as shown, and set the Opacity of the layer to 30%.
Step 28
Next you need to press Command + A to select the entire work, then go to Edit > Copy Merged. Now that you have made a copy, go to Edit > Paste. This will paste the entire work you have done so far into a single layer with all the effects merged.
Step 29
With the new layer selected you need to go to Filter > Render > Lens Flare. Position the lens as I did. It must look like the girl is looking at it. After you position it you must create a mask for the layer and try to mask the entire image except the middle part of the flare.
Step 30
Now we’ll add a dreamy effect. Go to the adjustment layers and select Channel Mixer, then set the Channel to Blue. Next, set each as I did: Red at +7, Green at -13, and Blue at +94.
Step 31
Go to Create New Adjustment Layer and go to Hue/Saturation and set the Lightness to -22 and press OK. Next, using a black to transparent Radial Gradient (G), make a black spot in the middle of the layer mask.
Conclusion
In the end you can apply more blur and lights on the sky and girl. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
Subscribe to the PSDTUTS RSS Feed for the best Photoshop tuts and articles on the web.
Enjoyed this Post?
Subscribe to our RSS Feed, Follow us on Twitter or simply recommend us to friends and colleagues!
By Constantin Potorac
Premium Members
Source Files, Bonus Tutorials & More for all relevant Tuts+ sites in one subscription. Join Now
Related Posts
Premium Membership
Source Files, Bonus Tutorials & More for all relevant Tuts+ sites in one subscription
just feel it - More
Photoshop Basix
Just getting started? Start with our basix tutorials on the fundamentals. View All Basix Tutorials
Other Plus Sites ...
aetuts+ audiotuts+ vectortuts+ tuts+ phototuts+ cgtuts+ nettuts+ psdtuts+ activetuts+Create a Tutorial, Get Paid!
Have something to teach the world? Want to earn money doing it? Tutorials, screencasts, and articles published here on Psdtuts+ are largely contributed by readers just like you! We'll pay you great money for good content. Find Out More
hi. I think your tutorial is great for experienced people, but I’m a beginner and I don’t understand it.
Especially the brushes, how to bring it in photoshop?
amazing tut .. that will really come in handy to me … chapou my friend
it’s a great tutorial..
cool images from simple stuff
beautiful
like a grate paint.
i wanna u brush.
thank to share u knowledge.
Absolutely divine. The finished product looks like something from fantasy world.
wonderful
nice tut
Have been looking for those brushes!
thanx
That was an awesome tutorial! I didn’t follow it exactly (using different images, yeah…) but it’s great no less!
Here’s my result…
http://onesixteen.deviantart.com/art/Tell-Him-113306054
Thank yoooou! Love ya!
Great tutorial but I think I prefer the image at step 26 already
the final version is a bit too dark…for me at least 
But overall great job!
Great tutorial, but I’d be careful about how you word “Free Brushes”, because while they don’t cost anything, users still need to adhere to the terms of use set forth by those brush providers. You also linked to stock images with those brush links, and most assuredly those are copyright protected as well. You know this, but newer users might not. Just a thought.
in extracting the model its easier if you use the extract in the filter rather than pentool
the pen tool is the best way to cut out something . it’s harder but the results are way superior than anything in ps . easy ways are for noobs
it’s a good tut;
but your gradient and curve instructions are very poor and confusing
you don’t explain what to do good enough, it becomes confusing
I love fantasy art and this is a great example of this
GREAT!! thanx so much!!!!!
Thank you so much for a great tutorial, I have learned so much from this! I’m practically completely fresh at PS, and this is somewhat over my head, but I wanted to give it a go nonetheless. I’m amazed that I managed to get through the whole thing (although I think I might have missed something around step 29, since my flare is still red).
I’ll show you my first attempt – if you promise to ignore the whole branch/lens flare/fairy gaze thing, which I conveniently skipped working on much – I decided to prioritise working on the the filters and stuff and just get through the entire thing
Also, she doesn’t quite blend in enough with the background, so I need to learn how to work on that.
Anyway, this is what I came up with, and it follows the tut rather slavishly, hehe:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v427/palamina/?action=view¤t=fantasy_ill01_sketch.jpg
* http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v427/palamina/?action=view¤t=fantasy_ill01_sketch_02.jpg
(Did a few last-second adjustments. The gaze should now hit more correctly, though the branch and flare are still a little dodgy-looking.)
you should probably add that the stock and brushes you linked to aren’t just “free” like that. many of the stock providers require that you credit them, or don’t allow their brushes and stock being used in artwork displayed outside deviantart. chances are they won’t find out, but it’s still a matter of courtesy, and they can get pretty angry when they find out, as Lin already said.
Thank you
Thank you, the background really nice, and now I learned how to use curves effectively.
awesome tutorial i wonder if i can manipulation like that but i’ll try thanks for awesome tutorial..
amazing!
great tutorial…but i don’t know how to do it…..
i’m a beginner in photoshop..can u do any simple @ basic tutorial me??
thanks…=)
fantastic….good job!
thank you so so so much for the tutorial,I learned a lot from it =)
It was my first one and that is my version:
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8515/firibitik.jpg
Truely good work hey.
Was wondering if there was a custom tut for wings around instead of just a brush, I’m thinking of the angel or fallen angel wings sort thing, would be really cool to learn how to do.
CAN THIS BE DONE WITH A PERSON WITH DARK HAIR OR RATHER HOW TO DO IT…?
wow this is very good tutorial.
nicely explained.
thx a lot for sharing this.
I like work on fentasy,it good imeginetion and help to imagen
FAB!!! wanting my photos done…
I love tutsplus and learning your tutorials to create my own blog design now.
greath tut…one of constantin’s best
wonderfull, very nice
Awesome tutorial
thnx buddy
nice job
keep it up……………………………………………….
Thanks for great tut. But there were couple of steps where it was not clear and the results did not match…
But here is my final product.
http://img195.imageshack.us/i/fantasyfairyfinal.jpg/
like in a dream world, good job…
here was my try i used my own photo of girl
http://don178.deviantart.com/art/Fantasy-Photo-Manipulation-140250753
i’m beginer for PhotoShop…
but it’s very good…
Absolutely Wonderful…A great learning tool!!!
This is my interpretation…
http://contengent-necessity.deviantart.com/art/Fairy-Onster-113141867
Thanks a lot! this a very nice tutorial
Excelenta lectie!
Desi e prea complicat pentru gradul meu de cunoastere Photoshop, voi incerca sa o reproduc ..
Multumiri!
nice tut…using the smudge tool in the hair was well thinked…thx
here’s my result
http://www.orkut.com.br/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=1132328240054438811&pid=1259077298144&aid=1258900534$pid=1259077298144
if u dont have orkut…look here http://img696.imageshack.us/i/fairyo.jpg/
it is a good picture
One of the best Fantasy-photomanipulation tutorials EVER!!!
God bless you, mate!
wow! really outstanding tutorial. Tqvm ……
apik tenan…. makasih mas ……
it is extremely well,gud thought, u did very well.
Wow … its great, you explain it clearly, I’ll try it. in fact, to make fantasy photo can be done easily. Thank for the tutorial…