How to Create a Greek Mythology Inspired Photo Manipulation
Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Photoshop CS+
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Estimated Completion Time: 3 - 4 Hours
Download Source Files
Final Product What You'll Be Creating
In Greek Mythology, the Titan Atlas literally carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. This is because when the Titans were defeated Zeus condemned him to hold the Earth in place. In today’s tutorial we will demonstrate how to depict Atlas’ punishment using stock photography and Photoshop.
Resources
Today, we will be using the following stock photos.
- Model by mjranum-stock
- Planet by fragile-stock
- Chain1 by macro-photo
- Chain2 by ocd1c-stock
- Texture by dark-dragon-stock
- Fire by Etthiss
Step 1
Open stock for atlas model, using Pen tool, extract model from its background and then duplicate it on a new layer. Change layer’s name to atlas.
Step 2
Fill background layer with black. We need a bigger canvas; go to Image > Canvas Size menu. For easier resize process, choose percent and then fill in Width: 120, Height: 140 percent and Pick middle down anchor point. This way, canvas will be resized upward. Click OK to confirm resize.
Step 3
Open earth stock, notice that the earth consists of three layers, delete background layer so now you only have two layers left. Go to Layer > Merge Visible or just press Cmd+Shift+E to merge visible layers.
Step 4
When done, insert the Earth in to atlas illustration. Make sure you place the Earth’s layer below the atlas layer, then rename its layer to ‘earth’. Resize earth to make it larger, then rotate it to the right so the dark side of earth is in the left side. Press Enter to confirm transformation.
Step 5
Click back to atlas layer then resize (Cmd+T) to make it smaller. Make sure atlas image is resized proportionally by holding Shift when you drag the corner control point. Hit Enter when done.
Step 6
Use Crop Tool to crop canvas size. To give celestial atmosphere, add stars to the background. For that purpose, select background layer then click Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Adjust Amount value around 100%, select Gaussian and check Monochromatic ON.
Step 7
Click OK, then background layer will be filled with noise. Blur it using Filter > Blur > Blur More. You can repeat this step by pressing Cmd+F in case you want the noise look even more blurry. Press Cmd+L to bring up Levels dialog. Adjust input levels by dragging its slider’s until the number of "stars" is reduced, or until you have found the desired result. Click OK to confirm levels adjustment.
Step 8
Activate Brush tool, then load the cloud brush (you can find and download the cloud brush here). See image below to learn how to load brushes.
We also need more space to draw the clouds, so resize atlas and earth to make its smaller.
Step 9
Select white as your brush color and make sure Brush Opacity is 100%. Create a new layer on top of your atlas layer, then start creating clouds using various cloud brushes. As you can see, the clouds are placed below the atlas body. To get better results, try to vary multiple cloud brushes as shown below.
Step 10
Now load some ink brushes in to Photoshop (you can find and download ink brush here). Same as before, combine multiple ink brush to get varied results.
Step 11
Add a layer mask to cloud layer. Now paint layer mask with black using cloud and fire Brush with low opacity (around 20-25% ). There is no guide to do this; just try to balance the look of the clouds, not too thick or thin.
Step 12
Select atlas layer, then press Cmd+U to bring up Hue/Saturation dialog. Drag Saturation slider to left to change pale skin color, and then drag Hue slider to right to change skin color look more yellowish.
Step 13
Open up texture stock, use Rectangular Marquee tool to create selection. Copy selected texture in to atlas illustration.
Step 14
Place texture between clouds and atlas layer’s. Change its layer name to texture and then press Alt+Cmd+G to make it a Clipping mask. This way the texture will only appear inside of atlas’ body. Change texture layer Blending Mode to Overlay, then press Cmd+T and make it smaller.
Step 15
Open fire stock, create selection using Rectangular Marquee tool. Drag selected fire in to illustration.
Step 16
Place it between texture and clouds layer, then change its layer to a clipping mask by pressing Alt+Cmd+G. Also change the blending mode to Overlay. This should give the texture below it a nice hue.
Step 17
Add layer mask to the fire layer, then use a Linear Gradient to mask it. This way only half of the fire will be visible.
Step 18
Open chain stock. You can use the Pen tool to create a selection path or you can also use quick mask selection using the Brush tool to extract the chain from its background.
Step 19
After you are done extracting the chains, copy the selected chains in to the atlas illustration. Make sure that you place it on the very top of layer and name it ‘big chains’. Using free transform command, resize and rearrange the chains to the right of illustration, see image below for more details.
Step 20
Duplicate chain layer, then flip it horizontally (Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal). Drag the flipped chain to left, see image for more details.
Step 21
Open and select texture stock once again, then drag it in to atlas illustration. Place this texture over the first big chain layer.
Step 22
Make this texture only appear inside chain image by change its mode to clipping mask (Alt+Cmd+G). To blend texture with chains, change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Repeat this process to the other big chains layer.
Step 23
Open the second chain stock, select chain on the left by using Rectangular Marquee tool and then drag this selected chain in to the atlas illustration. Make sure you place this second chain stock on top of every layer, rename its layer to "small chain."
Step 24
Use the magic wand to select and remove the black background from the chain. See image below for more details.
Step 25
Rotate this small chain until it appears horizontally. Then use the Clone Stamp tool to extend the length of the chains.
Step 26
Press Cmd+J four times, so now you got four new small chain layers, plus one (the original chain layer). Arrange these five chain images like the image below, as you can see, it look like the chain is attached to atlas neck’s.
Step 27
As you can see, the small chains are covering the big ones. We will fix this later. Select one of the small chain, then go to Edit> Transform> Warp. Drag warp control point to make the chain curve down like the image below. Do this step in each small chain layer until all the small chains are curved.
Step 28
Use a hard round eraser tool to remove the small chains as shown below.
Step 29
Now we need to create shadows for the chains to add depth to the illustration. First, we need to select all the chains. Hold Cmd+Shift, then click each related thumbnail layer, see image below for more details.
Step 30
Create a new layer below the cloud layer, then fill the selection with black. Press Cmd+D to deselect. Now name this layer shadow. Now rotate this chain’s shadow to the left, so you can see it, it’s also because the light source is from top right corner, so normally the shadow will fall to the left. This also gives depth to the chains.
Step 31
We need to make this shadow a little blurry, so go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Adjust Radius value around 5 to 7 px, click OK to confirm Gaussian blur. Remember, to make it even more blurry you can easily repeat this step by pressing Cmd+F.
Step 32
Still in the same layer, add a layer mask. Use a soft black round Brush with low opacity to mask the shadow, so it looks as if it is fading out. See image below for more details.
Step 33
Repeat steps 29 to 32 to create shadows for the other chains.
Step 34
Now select the topmost layer. Hold Alt, then click menu button, choose Merge Visible. This will merge all visible layers in to a new layer.
Step 35
Now go to Filter > Other > High Pass. Adjust Radius value around 1.5 to 2 px then click OK. Change this layer’s blending mode to Overlay. This step will make this illustration look sharper.
Step 36
Add a new layer adjustment, Color Balance, then adjust its value so the entire illustration becomes yellowish. See image below for more details.
Conclusion
Take a look at the final image below.
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i don’t really like
=)
haha.. you’re lying! XD
is not my style bro, just that
but congrats to you man, is not about if the effect is cool or not, is about techniques you use and let me tell you you use interesting techniques here
and other thing, not everybody like to write a tutorial and accept critiques man, but you share your knowledge and accept what the people say and take
never give up man
can someone say gay
Love it
just the small chains look a little to modern to me.
hmm, definitely not one of the better tuts on here. looks a little flat. the texture overlays aren’t very well done.
very nive tut, I also have got an idea with the chains
let’s do it right now
Pretty beginner stuff. Sorry, but not a top notch tutorial. Dissapointed.
oops.. sorry.. T_T but i hope you found something usefull here
We should not discourage him like this. You may be disappointing but others getting some useful tips. Everybody not expert like you.
I think it’s over-texturized…
I like it… I understand the guys up here must be already for a long time working with design, but for me that am a beginner, I liked it very much. I found it very helpful, and I like the creativity.
Thank you for your tutorial
thanks for your support ^^
Nice tutorial…I really like it..thanks
i don’t really like
but gj
I really like the globe..but those chains bother me, especially the ones up close..those are some pretty hard cut lines and resolution is definitely suffering..
thanks for the qritique, it’s hard to keep everything balance :3
Nice idea and as a showcase of the ideas and how to approach such a photo-manipulation it is satisfactory. However, it goes no further.
As an art piece the lighting and shadows make no sense. I can’t see any focal points due to the aforementioned problem and the amateurish use of textures and non-usage of distance blur. My eyes just wander confusedly over the piece and take all and nothing in.
Textures should never be overbearing and should only be a minor addition. They should also not be as visible or visible at all in the darker and darkest areas. They should mould properly to the object which they are applied, the most glaring being Atlas’ bicep/shoulder and the continuous texture between each link in the chains, their visibility and size also not varying at all as the distance grows from the viewer.
Colour balancing the other chains could have helped to blend them in and not flatten the image, especially since they take a large portion of the lower third of the image. Using more than one picture of that chain or placing them differently could have stopped the obvious pattern in the links.
The colours overall are utterly boring just like the unremarkable starfield in the background.
Your previous piece, turning a woman into something of a fire spirit, was far better in comparison and notably more inspiring.
Nice tutorial, very clear and easy to understand…
The final image would benefit for some depth of field though and I’m not feeling the textures on the body, but this is where people should be experimenting for themselves. I think you gave them a nice leaping off platform
some depth and coherence in the chains could’ve improved this. still a nice one! kudos.
I dont like the skin of man. another is good. Really like the clouds
Like Lorenzo said, some depht would do a better view for the chains. You could used burn tool to do a easy effect in the chains and in the body.
The composition was good, great tutorial. Just be carefull with the composition of images, they must be totally coherent with the scenario.
Nice work
excellent work in this detailed tutorial.
Sorry, but in Greek Mythology, the Titan Atlas carried the weight of the HEAVENS (sky), and not the world, on his shoulders.
(…) A common interpretation today is that Atlas was forced to hold the Earth on his shoulders, but Classical art shows Atlas holding the celestial spheres, not a globe (…)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_%28mythology%29
I was about to write the exact same thing. Great tutorial with a nice result though.
in some version he carried the world…
don’t really like the textures and the chains you used
i hate the chains and how the guy looks like he is behind the clouds/smoke not in it maybe if you added a couple more things
nice critique David ^^ i’ll remember that next time
The cloud brush trick for water was great, but the rest is poor in my opinion… The chains have no shading (actually, nothing does, but that stands out the most.), the textures were unnecessary (Fire more specifically), the star background is unrealistic and the planet was bad to begin with.
Its a good beginner tutorial, but quite frankly, the piece needs a lot more polish. Just my opinion though, I’m no expert.
thanks for the feedback Mikhail,
i use fire to colorize the texture, hey i think you’re good enough. that’s why you’re commenting here XD
I see your attempt at playing with foreground, middle, and background but it doesn’t quite transition well. I was going to say the earth was cool, but it’s because of the original stock. I agree with David generally speaking about overdoing the smoke, in fact, maybe the entire graphic would be better with more subtle and less harsh looking effects..
i know this tutorial wil get much feedback
thank you, next time will be better
Cool, but it would be better if you didn’t add textures on the body
the man looks like a texture mess. you dont need to fill the unit with textures to make it look cool, sometimes the less is the more… concept of the design is ok, but it’s damn badly exposed.
clear skin with some good adjustment could look really great without these poor textures. beside that the image looks very noisy, it’s ok for beginner, but it’s a wrong way while striving to improve design skills
thanks for your feedback mate
i’ll remember that!
Depth of Field. Due to the scale of the figures and space involved I feel something should be out of focus.
Really nice idea , the result is good but you could create something amazing from such a theme
i will sure practice this ! thanks
thanks dude ^^
Thanks for good tutorial, I like it. ^^
The concept is brilliant. However, the execution is not so good.
The chain does not blend with overall picture. I think you should add more blur to closer chain to give it depth effect.
There’s too much texture on the man. He’s under a big world and I think he suppose to be very dark. If he is glowing, there should be light cast on the world. Also, his texture doesn’t match his body shape. A displacement filter might fix this.
I think you should darken the chains near the man.
One more thing. I think his fingers doesn’t math the rounded world shape.
Anyway, this is a great tutorial. I learn a lot from this.
That’s exactly my toughts.I was looking for this kind of comment. Nice blur to the chains woud add depth of field and improve an overall look of the image. Anyway, I’ts preatty beginner’s stuff, but it’s not bad, so keep it up!
thanks ^^ i’ll keep that for further improvement
Yeah the final piece isn’t particularly thrilling.
1.) You shallow the depth of your human figure by putting those relatively arbitrary textures over it without doing a proper displacement so at least the texture looks realistic and not just 2D-applied to the surface of the image.
2.) The chains are clearly not from the same set because they’re from different source images, so the difference makes it appear that much more a piecemeal Photoshop composition and not a completed, integrated finished image.
3.) The starfield looks very flat and obviously generated. Try using some nebulae or more fantastic real astronomic imagery to denote the cosmic elements of your concept as well as to provide some better background for your foreground elements like the earth itself to pop more effectively to the eye.
4.) Your smoke/fog is way too sharp-edged and defined. Not realistic at all. It looks like he’s crouching in a field of semi-fluffed insulation, not smoke and void.
5.) The textures overall over over-used and flatly applied. You don’t have to grunge and distress every single thing in an image to give it ‘edge’ or slick finished appearance. All you’ve really done here is drain your final image of depth and power.
Anyways, those are just my thoughts on the finished piece and technique choices you’ve made here. As has been said, for a beginner this is probably a decent exercise.
another in depth critique, thank you Ron ^^
i dont know how this got in to psdtuts..
i assume this as a critique?
By adding some depth of field you could’ve easily given the image a much better appearance.
I think it’s a good stuff, and many people can learn by this. Sometime young guy can be better and better then older people, so nice job man!
You got the idea man but its not intermediate lvl its basic i think that u shouldnt use texture on the model if u not going to give it the proper volumen other way it makes him look flat and the fog really reallly needs more work than just using the clouds brush randomly, use more gradients in them for the next time is my advice keep the good work and gl
For Some Reason I Don’t Like The Fire Texture On The Body ? &
Think Its A Bit, Over Textured .
But Other Than That This Is A Nice Tutorial . Good Job (:
Well done! I love the idea, and the execution wasn’t as bad as others made it. Considering the fact that you are still learning tricks and ideas. Overall, I like the final piece. Good job!
i think for beginner like me, this tutorial quite good, i can learn much trick from it..
nice..
” photoshop is magic “
Great tutorial i love the concept thanks
i just like this tutorial, because i’am beginner. thanks bro
Very Good!
Many people criticized, and many loved it. It has to do only with personal taste, thats all. From a professional point of view you are not there yet, from a amateur point of view it is just amazing! Its good the fact you are so open about criticism, it means you are learning even more. So carry on. I loved it! Congratulations!