preview

How to Create a Sparkling Fantasy Photo Manipulation

on May 8th 2009 with 96 comments
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In this tutorial, we’re going to create a photo manipulation using different techniques. We’ll be adjusting each layer and element to make a compact final image. We’ll be using multiple photos and a handful of effects to create this work. Let’s get started!

Final Image Preview

Take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $19/month. You can view the final image preview below.

Step 1

The first step is to create a background for our image. This time we’ll use a simple combination of different textures using the blending modes. Just open the first texture and the second one over the first. Now change the mode of this last one to Multiply and the Opacity to about 40%, then Merge them.

Step 2

Now duplicate your layer, Desaturate the upper one and use the Eraser Tool (E) to delete parts from the upper left zone. Use the Motion Blur in this layer like in the sample image below, merge the layers, and finally add some magenta and blue using Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.

Step 3

Now grab this image of a woman. Cut her out from the original picture and paste in the center of the new image. We are going to modify her color and light using the blending modes again.

From the beginning we have in mind that we want the light falling from the upper-left corner of the image, so we have to show this in the girl and her lights and shadows. First, let’s go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation and add some more saturation to the image.

Now duplicate our layer with the girl, and with the upper layer selected go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and add more brightness. Change the mode of this layer to Screen and the Opacity to 58%. Finally, you can delete (using a blurred brush and a Layer Mask or the Eraser Tool) the darker parts (under her arms and hair).

Duplicate our first layer with the girl again and move it over the other. Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and make it darker. Pay attention to the shadows in her dress, don’t be worried by her face or others zones at this point.

When you have some good details in the shadows of the dress change the Layer Mode to Linear Burn and use the Layer Mask or the Eraser Tool again to delete the zones that you don’t need to be dark, like her face, the light zones in her arms, etc. Now merge the Layers of the girl.

Finally, use the Burn Tool (O) to make the zones darker than you need. I retouched her hair and some details in her face.

Step 4

The face in our image doesn’t look too big, but it still seems a little pixelated, we can fix this using the Smudge Tool (R). Select it with a small brush (about 16 px) and the strength set to about 30%, and use it on her skin with small strokes in the direction of her features. You can use the Blur Tool (R) to help with this process, but use it carefully because we don’t want the face out of focus.

Step 5

Now let’s duplicate our girl layer and add some Cyan, Green and Blue to the lower one. Go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance and change the settings to those shown below.

Change the Layer Mode in the one on the top to Hard Light, the Opacity to 40% and use the Layer Mask or the Eraser Tool to delete most of the image, just leave some of its warm tones on the left side, where the light is falling over our model. Merge the layers with the girl and finally go to Image > Brightness/Contrast and add a little more of brightness.

Step 6

We’re going to create the shadow of the girl in the easiest way. Just create a new layer over the girl and use the Brush Tool (B) with black selected to draw some uneven horizontal lines under her feet and her back.

Go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur and use a horizontal blur with about 760 px. If you need some more shadows over the girl just supplicate the layer, erase the shadows that you don’t need, and merge the layers.

Now let’s add a transparent shadow falling over the background. Just duplicate the “girl” layer, fill it with black (for example, go to Levels and make it dark) and move it to the position shown below. Then make it a little smaller using Free Transform (Command + T) and add a Gaussian Blur (Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur) of about 21 px.

Change the Layer Mode of the shadow to Soft Light, the Opacity to 75%, and finally erase the lower part of the shadow.

Step 7

Now create a new layer, select the Brush Tool (B) again with black selected and a blurred blush, then draw some dark zones, as shown below.

Go to Filter > Motion Blur and add the settings shown below. You can use the filter twice or more if you prefer.

Change the Opacity to about 70%, erase some parts if you consider it necessary and change the Blending Mode to Multiply. If you want to add more shadows in some parts just repeat the process painting in other places.

Step 8

Now, in a new layer use a smoke brush with a white color selected and put it behind the girl. You can use Gaussian Blur to make it out of focus.

Step 9

Now we’re going to create some subtle rays of light in the corner of our image. You can draw some lines and use the Motion Blur, but we can do it with the same brush that we´ve used for the smoke. Just duplicate some of these layers and apply the Motion Blur (Filters > Blur > Motion Blur) with the settings shown below.

Now move the layer to the corner and repeat the previous step with another brush. Use Free Transform (Command + T) to change the angle of the rays. I used three different layer for the light to get a good result.

Step 10

Now grab an image with ribbons in it. Open the new image and select the ribbons, as shown below.

Copy and paste them into our image and go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Modify the settings as shown below.

Finally, use the Burn Tool (O) to make darker the zones in the ribbon that are not touched by light. You can adjust levels or other settings to get a perfect color and light.

Grab some more ribbons from another similar image. Select them and paste them into our image, then change the color/saturation, and use the Burn Tool (O) in a similar way as in the previous step.

Add the shadow for this last ribbon falling over the girl’s dress. There are a lot of ways to make it. For example, draw a black stripe, use Gaussian Blur, change the opacity and the blending mode to Multiply, much like we did in previous steps.

For the shadow of the second ribbon, duplicate this layer, fill it with black and apply a Gaussian Blur.

Change the blending mode to Soft Light and erase the parts that you don’t need.

Finally, I add a new ribbon and a new layer of shadow under the model.

Step 11

Now let’s add some flower imagery. This is a simple cut and paste process. The only important thing is that you change the levels or colors little in the images as needed.

Use some stock images of flowers to add behind the girl. You can download these images: 1, 2, and 3.

The only remarkable details are some shadows added using the brush and some Gaussian Blur, then change the color in one of the images. To make this just go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, select yellow colors, and change the Hue bar as shown.

Add a flower image in the hand of the girl. To integrate it in the image select the layer of the flower and draw a black shadow in the upper part, then use the Gaussian Blur again (Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur). Now change the opacity of the layer if it’s needs. Create a new layer under the flower and paint two little shadows, use blur again using a subtle Gaussian Blur, and change the opacity as needed.

The system to add the other flowers are always the same. It’s easy and it only requires that you choose good stock images. For example, it’s important that the light in the flowers is logical and respects the light source of our image. If light come from left, don’t use images with the shadow in the right. It’s really simple, you just need cut them, and correct them a little with Levels as needed.

Step 12

Now let’s add some rays of lights flowing from the hand of the girl. To make this, select the Brush Tool, select a hard brush with a size about 8 px and white as the foreground color. Now select the Pen Tool (P) and select in the upper part the option of Paths.

Now draw a curve similar to the one in the image and press the right button on your mouse, then select Stroke Path. In this new menu select Brush and check the Simulate Pressure box.

Press OK. Now press the red button on your mouse again, and select Delete Path. In this layer, select Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay. Add a gradient from black to blue as shown below. Then select Outer Glow and add a blue glow.

Now add a Gaussian Blur to the layer. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and add 2,5 px.

Now duplicate the layer and change the position of the new one.

Select the Brush Tool again and use the smoke brush with a white color. Draw some of smoke and select Edit > Transform > Warp to adjust the curve of the smoke as needed.

For the other ray of light I’ve used the same steps as those above.

Step 13

Now create a new layer, use a brush with a white color to draw a stripe, and then use a blur on it. Finally, change the blending mode of this layer to Overlay. Then you can move it over the ribbons to simulate shine.

For the rays behind the girl use the same system. After you’ve created one of them, duplicate it and move until you’ve done something similar to the sample below. Finally, add the smoke as you’ve done previously.

With these simple ideas I’ve created different points of lights marked in red in the next below. With a mark in blue you can see another ray of light that I’ve drawn using the previous steps.

Step 14

Now that we’re finishing the image, we just need to add details to make it more attractive.
For example, let’s use some petals to decorate the image here and there. Use some flowers too and put them in our image as if they’re flying. To make the movement effect just go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Cut another ribbon, paste it in the right corner of our image and add a Motion Blur. Then go to Layer > New Adjustments Layer > Drop Shadow and add the setting shown below.

Add another ribbon in the bottom of the image and repeat the Motion Blur.

Step 15

Finally, let’s add some Adjustments Layers. Go to your upper layer and then to Layer > New Adjustments Layer > Levels. Modify the settings as shown and repeat the process with Color Balance and a Gradient Map. Then change the opacity in the Gradient Map layer to 9% and in the Levels layer to 75%.

Conclusion

The final image is below and I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Have fun applying these techniques in your own work!

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By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

I am a Spanish freelance designer, photographer and illustrator. I use mostly photoshop for photomanipulation and design, but I love vector graphics and flash animation.  

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Discussion 96 Comments

Comment Page 1 of 21 2
  1. lawrence77 says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:48 am

    wow i like the rays that placed here and there…
    fantastic JOB man…

    Soon i gonna give a try! :)

    Reply
  2. pjotter says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:50 am

    waw looks really great!!

    Reply
  3. tjarzabek says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:52 am

    So so, I don’t like the composition.

    Reply
  4. underdog says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:57 am

    OH my god it’s amazing…thx Oliver Cereto!!!

    Reply
  5. Armansyah says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:00 am

    LOookkk so Awesome!!!!!

    :)

    Reply
  6. Alvaro says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:08 am

    beautyful outcome :D

    Reply
  7. anime7graphic says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Owh god, I love it,
    But the color balance is not good for picture eye catching.
    Its OK, I think this design have good taste…

    Reply
  8. BogDinamita says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:27 am

    another ‘photo manipulation’??? And the SAME blur issue. In this case it’s motion blur in stead of depth blur. oh boy

    Reply
  9. David says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:34 am

    i think its funny when someone comments with “So so, I don’t like the composition.”
    While you certainly have the right to your opinion on the final result, the idea here is to study the techniques used to produce such an outcome.

    Nice job Oliver. However, had I been new to PS I might have wanted more detail in your explanations. I get that people should experiment, but as one follows the tutorial I can certainly see where a bit more detail would have been insightful.

    Again, good tutorial and I do like the composition.

    Reply
    • Sammo says:
      May 8, 2009 at 11:59 am

      I agree, but I think when someone replies with negative feedback, constructive criticism would be helpful. Things like “So so, I don’t like the composition.” – ellaborate, expand, help the artist understand why you don’t like his piece. Perhaps we can comment about the reasons you don’t like it, giving the ‘negative feedback person’ some advice and tips also.

      It helps the community and the artist as a whole, instead of short sentences like “Not so good for me.” type comments.

      Reply
      • tjarzabek says:
        May 8, 2009 at 12:35 pm

        I agree but it’s a matter of time in my case – anyway, congratulation for the author for good tutorial (even if the final result is not very nice for me), sorry for too short opinion, best regards.

      • twin23 says:
        June 28, 2009 at 10:19 pm

        I SECOND THAT … (tjarzabek) IS PERHAPS SOMEONE WHO IS GREAT @ PS, BUT ALL OF US ARE NOT. OR (tjarzabek) IS SOMEONE WHO JUST DON’T LIKE TO SEE OTHER PPL GETTING ATTENTION IDK BUT THIS IS A REALLY GD TUT. I TELL YOU (tjarzabek) I SUCK AT PS AND THAT MAY BE WHY THIS TUT IS GREAT TO ME, SO HERE’S A SUG. YOU SHOULD MAKE A TUT TO SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS. i WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT… ALWAYS WILL TO LEARN !!!!

      • twin23 says:
        June 28, 2009 at 10:20 pm

        *WILLING

    • skunkie says:
      May 8, 2009 at 4:01 pm

      In German there is a name for this kind of composition – Kitsch. It means that something is kind of cheap, like the pictures in chinese restaurants if you know what i mean. All the fancy coloring and light beams and flowers, every aspect a little too loud.

      Don´t misunderstand me, this is not meant in a negative way. Maybe it was the intent of the author to produce exact this kind of effect, but that´s why i don´t like the composition.

      If i place a simple color fill adjustment layer over this picture and refine it with a layer mask, i would be able to produce a much more subtle and eye-pleasing atmosphere.

      But, of course, this is my very personal opinion. I believe it should be possible to just make a simple statement if you like an outcome or not. Nevertheless, thank you for the tutorial. I appreciate you sharing it with us.

      Reply
      • Oliver Cereto says:
        May 8, 2009 at 9:21 pm
        Author

        I appreciate a lot your constructive opinion, indeed. I agree about some details about composition or stock images.
        I just created this image to show different techniques or ideas when you work with photomanipulations.

        Basically I think that the best of tutorials are to learn new ways to work and then apply these ideas in your own images, so this time I was more worried about use different techniques than get a high quality final image that let us to print a perfect photomanipulation. Anyway, next time I will try to use better quality stock for all of you that have in mind to use this same stock in a more serious work :)

        Best regards!

      • Lalith Muthali says:
        July 23, 2009 at 12:57 am

        This is a tutorial, NOT an art piece that goes on display so any kind of criticism about the composition is useless and makes no sense. Only valid criticism would be to make comment about the process and provide a more effective way to achieve this composition.

    • Sean Hodge says:
      May 9, 2009 at 8:41 am
      Staff

      Good points. I think the idea of criticism should be to help in some way. The question to ask is, “how am I furthering this discussion?” You can offer advice, criticism of decisions chosen in a tut, humor, links to resources, and more – while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.

      Keep in mind that you are building your reputation every time you leave a comment. Sometimes awesome information is found in the comments of articles and tuts, which have really furthered the topic or technique. Thx.

      Reply
  10. rieszkeee says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:49 am

    hmmm… the pictures used are not high quality, thats a pity. Composition is nice though, but i would use other, more High Res images…

    Reply
  11. Ricardo Marinho says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:59 am

    I think a tutorial is to teach people independent of the quality of the photo. Even with low quality images the author has a fine work. This makes it great! Congratulations and thank you! I learned a lot from this tutorial!

    Reply
  12. Diego SA says:
    May 8, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Well, the tutorial author has a good notion of composition, but this one looks pretty weird. The face is too artificial.
    But it’s OK. Congrats!

    Reply
  13. Eric Shafer says:
    May 8, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    Nice techniques, and overall good tutorial. Could use higher quality stocks to achieve an overall cleaner result (which I think would resolve the ‘composition’ and ‘weird’ factors for most people), but good work!

    Reply
  14. Palusko says:
    May 8, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    I like it a lot, has a nice fantasy feel to it. The only thing I’d change is the big flower on the bottom right side – I wouldn’t blur it, or at least blur it much less. Anyway, I think the composition is great, and the ribbons are a very nice touch and blend excellently with the white sparks. Great work, thank you!

    Reply
  15. handbagbrandshop says:
    May 8, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    nice try but color scheme as focus point are not working

    how to make big money,ask me

    Reply
  16. loswl says:
    May 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    Very good techniques, the final composition IMO needs some balance, I cannot seem to find the focal point. I dislike the low resolution images and bad use of motion blur… but with that said….this is better than a few I have seen lately :o)

    Reply
  17. Franky says:
    May 8, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Nice. This would be an awesome watercolor look.

    Reply
  18. Tom Ross says:
    May 8, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    I actually really liked the outcome. Nice work!

    Reply
  19. Wojciech Pijecki says:
    May 8, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    Great idea with the ribbons

    Reply
  20. ricardoFx says:
    May 8, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    I think the main purpose of a tutorial is teach and help.no matter the image quality and outcome, the purpose is to teach the techniques.criticisms are always welcome, but if you do not, why you not write a better tutorial and send the psdtuts, maybe you have some technique to teach for us. XD

    Reply
  21. Skellie says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:03 pm
    Staff

    I think the composition is fantastic – the placement and flow of the figure and ribbons is spot-on. A really elegant piece!

    Reply
    • lawrence77 says:
      May 8, 2009 at 11:55 pm

      U the tuts manager comment here as elegant…..
      then who approves tutorials in psdtuts…

      Reply
      • Sean Hodge says:
        May 9, 2009 at 8:47 am
        Staff

        @Lawrence77 – I approve about 90% or more of the content on Psdtuts+. Skellie helps out with article approval mostly. Like many of us, she’s also practicing art and design when she can fit it into her schedule, and multitude of interests.

        I approved this tutorial and have been working with Oliver for a couple months now. I think he has a lot to contribute to the community and look forward to his next tut. Also, criticism is great! It’s how we learn and grow. Thx.

      • lawrence77 says:
        May 9, 2009 at 11:32 am

        thanks for ur replies sean…
        Yeah i know he is queen in articles.. ;)

        and yeah we should learn and grow….

        And you guys are from different place and i wonder how u contact to make such good things…

        LONG LIVE TUTS….
        I learn much more things from tuts+ and also waiting to learn still more :)

  22. wild_spyder says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    Good work!
    i guess-the intention of creating this one is not only focusing the good result but giving the ideal technique – considering the beginners like me to understand step by step…

    it’s a great concept!
    I appreciate this one Mr.Oliver!

    Congrats!

    Reply
  23. ZaFaR says:
    May 8, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    LOookkk so Awesome!!!!!

    Reply
  24. Naldz Graphics says:
    May 9, 2009 at 12:21 am

    Nice manipulation.good job :)

    Reply
  25. CgBaran Tuts says:
    May 9, 2009 at 5:22 am

    Great work thanks

    Reply
  26. moih60 says:
    May 9, 2009 at 9:52 am

    good work and great tutorial………..

    Reply
  27. Aki says:
    May 9, 2009 at 10:02 am

    Nice, although I don’t really like the idea, and the stock too :p
    But it’s still good if beginners want to learn his techniques :)

    Reply
  28. Listoric says:
    May 9, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve to say that i also do not like the composition. It may show various techniques, but I don’t want to read the article because the final image looks cheap and does not look like someone actually cared about it. There are just so many small “mistakes” in the final image, that I won’t read through the tutorial at all.

    There are three giant problems I see with this certain picture, it’s the stock images used as they don’t fit together that well, the colours as they don’t fit together, and the lighting, which feels just wrong and is even “enhanced to be worse” with drawing the shadow to the right side, while the lightsource is exactly coming rom that side.

    To me, I can’t find an effect that looks interesting or “right” enough to learn it from this tutorial.

    A tutorial is not just various techniques wildly put together, it’s about the outcome, the focus on important things like the lighting, colours, atmosphere. All stock parts have a different “blur”, they just look out of place.

    The flower in the foreground is blurred to create a certain depth, while all other elements have no depth at all. Some are sharper than others, even though they shouldn’t and vice versa.

    Also the “front flowers blur” doesn’t enhance anything at all, it’s just there to be there. It feels useless. It feels like adding a bright yellow button at the bottom of the picture, just to show how to create a bright yellow button. But that’s not the goal of a tutorial to variously mix up cool stuff just for the sake of it :)

    Reply
  29. Siorber says:
    May 9, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    Nice Job man!!!

    Reply
  30. moet says:
    May 10, 2009 at 3:06 am

    great tut im gona giv it go l8r thnx psdtuts…..

    Reply
  31. Sumithra Wijayantha Thilakarathna says:
    May 10, 2009 at 3:53 am

    (\ /)
    ( . .)
    c(”)(”)
    ——————–
    That’s so helpful! Thanks Mr. Oliver Cereto
    ———————————
    me
    http://wideeye-ad.deviantart.com/art/Photo-Manipulation-122029209

    Reply
  32. macias says:
    May 10, 2009 at 4:14 am

    great ..and her sikn is smoothy…. iike it

    Reply
  33. sena cyu says:
    May 10, 2009 at 9:53 am

    thank you for this great tuts

    Reply
  34. tony says:
    May 10, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    cool, but man… the quality of the stock images used is really bad.

    Reply
  35. Cristian says:
    May 10, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Thanks, great tutorial, bookmarked :)

    Reply
  36. J. Khan says:
    May 10, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    don’t think the blue matches with the tan background.
    use of the pen tool and the flower stocks are good though.

    Reply
  37. adeeb says:
    May 11, 2009 at 12:19 am

    wow…

    Reply
  38. Suresh Kumar G says:
    May 11, 2009 at 2:14 am

    wat an effort…. looks professional..

    Reply
  39. july says:
    May 11, 2009 at 9:25 am

    wow great so easy!!!
    very good!

    Reply
  40. Anton Agestam says:
    May 11, 2009 at 10:39 am

    Nice! I love that smoke brush!

    Reply
  41. Anonymous Coward says:
    May 11, 2009 at 11:24 am

    Great tutorial.

    Reply
  42. Keira Heiskell says:
    May 11, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    its great hands down

    Reply
  43. Rafi says:
    May 11, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    thanks for the tut

    ps: i’m getting a little bit tired of this particular style. So many designers create similar pictures (with splashes, light swirly, etc) and the end result always looks similar. I’m missing something fresh, something new…

    Reply
  44. kasper says:
    May 11, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    Insanely nice… Thank you

    Reply
  45. nazeer says:
    May 12, 2009 at 7:21 am

    oh super

    Reply
  46. e11world says:
    May 12, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    Amazing tutorial!

    Reply
  47. benish says:
    May 13, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    It is the great work! really!

    Reply
  48. Charly Mathai says:
    May 17, 2009 at 10:10 am

    hey thankxx alot for this tutorial…
    i loved it..
    i was looking for a tutorial on how to create Ray… but i never found it.. :(
    but i found it today… soo happy…lol
    anyways thankxx alot..
    i am surely givin this a try….
    thanxkx once agian…

    Reply
  49. aina says:
    May 18, 2009 at 8:47 am

    OMG! So beautiful! I like that!!!!

    Reply
  50. David Owiti says:
    May 20, 2009 at 6:43 am

    very NICE “the idea here is to study the techniques used to produce such an outcome. “

    Reply
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