Tutorial Resources
- Forest – winesmoke
- The Grim Weedwhacker 2 – mjranum-stock
- Nordic Warrior 3 – liancary-stock
- Stock 01 – wen-jr
- Smoke Stock 25 – hatestock
- Smoke Stock 20 – hatestock
- Celestial Background 45 – frostbo
- Celestial Background 43 – frostbo
Step 1
Let’s start! Create new file (File > New…). Set size 1828x1332px.
Step 2
Place “Forest” stock to your file. Drag it from the folder and drop it in the middle of the picture.
Step 3
Now, you will change time from day to night. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut) with Brightness/Contrast.
Step 4
Place “Smoke stock 20”. Transform it as is shown.
Step 5
Add new Adjustment layer with “Invert” (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”.
Back to “Smoke stock 20”. Change blending mode of this layer to Multiply. Darker parts will be visable, lighter will be removed.
Step 7
With big, soft round brush, mask top of the smoke (which will be connected with dark monk).
Step 8
Place “The Grim Weedwhacker” and mask it with hard round brush. Use soft round bigger brush on the bottom of his clothes.
Step 9
Add new layer (Shift + Ctrl + N or shortcut), click on it with right mouse button and choose, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Pick soft round brush and draw some strokes on mans face.
Step 10
If photo is overexposed, try to fix that. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown.
Step 11
Let’s fix Brightness/Contrast settings. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown.
Step 12
I’m recommending to align colors and lights on monk. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown. Then, click on white canvas next to this layer and mask with big soft brush middle part of character – see thumbnail.
Step 13
Now, try to add more light on the hood. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown. Then, click on white canvas next to this layer and mask with big soft brush whole character, beside hood – see thumbnail.
Step 14
Let’s color it! Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown. Then, click on white canvas next to this layer and mask with big soft brush whole character, beside hood and bottom – see thumbnail.
Step 15
Drag, drop and place “Smoke stock 25”. Transform it as is shown. Then, click on white canvas next to this layer and mask with big soft brush remove sharpen edges.
Step 16
Add new Adjustment layer with “Invert” (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”.
Step 17
Back to “Smoke stock 25”. Change blending mode of this layer to Multiply. Darker parts will be visable, lighter will be removed.
Step 18
Back to layer with “Smoke stock 20”. Hold ctrl and click on layer with “Smoke stock 20” and on clipping layer with Invert. Drag it and drop to “New layer symbol”.
Step 19
Drag duplicated content on the top of layers. If you need, you can mask parts of smoke by clicking on white canvas next to this layer and using big soft brush.
Step 20
Place and mask “Nordic warrior” stock. Character have to be bigger, because he is standing closer to viewer than monk. See the red guides. For masking character, use small brush. Why not Magic wand tool? Shape will be really rough and edgy. For bigger precision use brush on mask.
Step 21
Try to fit character to background (just a little). Add new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown.
Repeat this step, but use Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. You will gently change tint of stock.
Step 22
Add new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown.
Click on white canvas next to this layer and mask with big soft brush middle part of character – see thumbnail. Leave only edges on top of stock – see thumbnail. By doing this you can make glowing lights on the character.
Step 23
Add new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Set it as is shown.
Mask center of the character. Click on white canvas next to this layer and mask it with big soft brush. You can easly make lights on model. See thumbnail.
Step 24
It’s time to make highlights. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. Pick soft round brush, around 30 px. Set its opacity to 50%. Pick light-blue color (92b2cf) and draw highlights on model.
When you are done, just change blending mode of this layer to Linear dodge (Add) and decrease its opacity to around 33%.
Step 25
Now you are done with models. You should take care of whole background. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose big soft round brush and set its opacity to around 25% and color to navy blue – #171c25 (for lighter shadows use #596571 color). I’ll show you, how I’ve done that at normal (100%) opacity, for easier effect. Draw shadows on each of the trees, shadows below characters (remember about perspective). Don’t be afraid to make strong shadows – if it’s your vision, do it! 🙂
See the result of shadow painting (as yours should looks like this).
Change blending mode of this layer to Multiply.
Step 26
Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose big soft round brush and set its opacity to around 25% and color to light blue – #829ab6. Draw some light strokes on trees. At first, take care of trees which are far away. Light source will be in the centre of image, remember :).
For more gently effect, decrease opacity of this layer to around 50% and change its blending mode to Screen.
Step 27
Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose big soft round brush and set its opacity to around 25% and color to light blue – #829ab6. Draw light stroke on tree in the left side of picture (the one which is close to viewer).
Step 28
Duplicate this layer – drag it and drop to “New layer symbol”. Then transform it (ctrl + T – or go to Edit > Transform > Free) and fit it to tree on the right side – at first, flip it horizontally (by free transform or Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal), then drag it and drop where is shown.
Step 29
Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Decrease saturation, by adding Hue/Saturation layer.
Step 30
Let’s cooler atmosphere. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut) with color fill. Then, change blending mode of this layer to Hard Light.
Step 31
Make just more lights from magical epic swirl, which we’ll place. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose soft round brush, around 50px. Set its opacity to around 50%. Use #06a999 color and draw strokes of light on characters and trees.
Now, change blending mode of this layer to Soft light. It will be looking like diffused light.
Step 32
Prepare your picture to magical swirl – make frame of particles. Drag and drop “background_61” to your file. Choose big, soft round brush and mask everything, beside right bottom corner of picture. Trust me :).
Click on layer thumbnail, then go to top menu. Pick Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur.
Step 33
Make great shadows. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut) with Brightness/Contrast. Set it as is shown. It will provide you foggy look.
For stronger light effect, mask this layer (click on white canvas next to layer icon) with soft round brush (around 50px) parts which should be brighter.
Step 34
Let’s place magical swirl in your file. Drag and drop from folder “stock 01” and change blending mode of this layer to Screen.
With big, soft round brush, remove unnecessary parts. Click on white canvas and mask it.
Click on layer thumbnail, then go to top menu. Pick Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur.
Click on white canvas on the left side of “Smart filters”. Mask filter as is shown.
Add new adjustment layer with Hue/Saturation (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”.
Step 35
Click with ctrl on created layers – stock 01 and Hue/Saturation. Then, drag and drop it on new layer symbol. Click with Right mouse button on “Smart Filters” on copied “Stock 01”, choose “Clear Smart Filters”.
Step 36
Let’s enchance lights on dark monk. Add new layer r (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose soft round brush, 1px size, #92e8e6 color. Draw light strokes on his clothes and on smoke. Use Blur tool if you need more gently effect.
Decrease opacity of this layer to 50%.
Step 37
Place to your file “Background_61”. Transform it as is shown. Change its blending mode to Screen.
Step 38
Mask “Background_61” with soft round brush as is shown. Click on white canvas next to layer thumbnail and use big, soft round brush.
Step 39
Add new adjustment layer with Hue/Saturation (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”. It will change colors of this stock image to colors like are on magical swirl.
Step 40
Add new adjustment layer with Brightness/Contrast (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Click on created layer with right mouse button, then choose “Create clipping mask”.
Step 41
Let’s light up swirl. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Use soft round brush, around 150px. Set #06aa99 color. Draw rounded stroke.
Use blur on this layer – go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur. Set it as shown. It will make effect more diffused.
Then, change blending mode and opacity of this layer to Vivid light, 55%.
Step 42
Now you’ll create more lights :). Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Use soft round brush, around 150px. Set #0ab8a4 color. Decrease opacity of brush to around 50%. Draw rounded, smaller stroke.
Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light.
Step 43
Now you’ll draw glow around. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Use soft round brush, around 150px. Set #91f5ef color. Decrease opacity of brush to around 70%. Draw rounded, smaller stroke.
Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light.
Step 44
It’s not necessary, but it will stylish your image to more cartoonish look. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut) and choose soft round brush. Set its size to 1px. Use #1ac7b6 color and draw outlines of image. You can use tip from step 36.
Step 45
I would like to do more visable shadows on characters on our image. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Use soft round, dark-gray (#3c3c3c) brush, around 20px, with 45% opacity. Draw shadows behind shield, next to the sword (on the clothes), below hair strands and on robe of monk. Just follow light source and everyghing will be okay.
Now change blending mode to Multiply – this is the best mode to make shadows. Decrease opacity of this layer to around 55%.
Step 46
Now you should add more color to swirl. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick soft round brush, around 200 px. Draw with #6be0d2 (light blue) color on swirly thing.
Change blending mode and opacity – Overlay, opacity around 50% (here I used 47%).
Step 47
Mark light from monk’s wand. Add new layer. Choose big, soft round brush (around 400px). Use light-blue (#6adfd1) color and draw big dot on wand’s edge.
Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light, decrease opacity to 50%.
Step 48
If colors are too flat – let’s fix it. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut) with Color/Balance settings. Set it as is shown.
Step 49
Let’s put “background_59” stock. Change blending mode to Screen.
By using big soft round brush, mask unnecessary parts of stock (see thumbnail). Click on white canvas next to layer thumbnail and draw where you want to remove things.
Click on layer thumbnail. Next, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur. Set it as is shown.
Step 50
Great! Now you should strengthen shadows on swirl. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick soft round brush, around 300 px. Draw with #00040d (dark blue) color on swirly thing’s shadow.
Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light.
Step 51
Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose soft round brush, around 30px size, #00060f color and set its opacity to 50%. Draw some strokes on smaller shadowed parts of swirl.
Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light. It will enhance shadows and lights.
Step 52
Now we’ll make more darker things. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick soft round brush, around 300 px. Draw with #00040d (dark blue) color aside from swirl.
Decrease opacity to 10%. Change blending mode to Soft light.
Step 53
We’ll play with colors. Set in your color picker: #4ab4a8 and #01040d colors. Add new adjustment layer with Gradient map and set it as is shown. Change blending mode of this layer to Color dodge. Decrease its opacity to around 25%.
Step 54
Duplicate created layer. Drag it and drop on “New layer” symbol. Change blending mode of duplicated layer to Soft light.
Step 55
Add new adjustment layer with Hue/Saturation (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Set it as is shown.
Step 56
Now you’ll make blurred particles. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose brush tool. Set soft round brush and use around 8 px size. Go to brush presets (right side, three brushes icon). Click on “Brush Tip Size” and set Spacing around 1000%.
Then, set “Shape dynamics” as shown.
Next, set “Scattering” as shown.
Set also “Color dynamics”.
With prepared brushes, you can draw some particles, as is shown. Play with brush size and colors. I used colors from #fff to #1cc3b9 and sizes from 8px to even 20px.
Then, use blur tool (Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur) and set it to around 3-4px.
Step 57
You can repeat step 56 on new layer for deeper effect. Use wider spectrum of colors.
Step 58
Next, You will take care of light source. Our eyes are focusing on light source – so show it. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick sharpen tool. Set its size to around 300 px and strenght around 61%. Use tool on light source.
For better effect, use on this layer another soft round brush (set its size to 30 px and its opacity to 50%). Draw lights on trees and characters.
Step 59
Add new adjustment layer with Selective color (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Set it as is shown (neutrals and black).
Step 60
Add new adjustment layer with Photo Filter (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Set it as is shown (neutrals and black).
Step 61
If you want, you can also add some more particles to your work. Follow step 56, beside step 56e. You can also use any particle-like brush, you want with #10c9c8 color.
Final Results
Download the PSD
Download
Tutorial by msRiotte
Thank you for following this tutorial! Hope everything was clear – if not, contact me! If you want to know me, I’m geek, goth, graphic designer from Poland. Go here and see my other works. Watch me if you want to see new works – here and here.
– msRiotte