How to study this subject

We’ll start this tutorial by creating a surreal environment with a sky and desert images. Then we’ll add the model and do some retouch on him as well as blend him with the background using adjustment layers and brush. Later we’ll add the rocks, particles, lightning and create some light effect. We’ll finish it up with some adjustment layers. You’ll need Photoshop CS3 or newer to follow the process.

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the given settings:

Step 2

Open the sky image. Drag it into our white canvas using the Move Tool (V) and use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd/Ctrl+T) to rotate it as shown below:

Step 3

I used an adjustment layer with Clipping Mask to desaturate the sky color. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation:

Step 4

I used Curves to darken the sky sides:

On this layer mask use a basic, soft brush with black color to erase the middle as I don’t want it to be darkened:

Step 5

Drag the desert image into our main document and transform it, place it at the right side:

Click the second button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges and blend the desert with the background:

Duplicate this layer and flip it horizontally (Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal). Position it at the left side:

Step 6

To add some depth to the scene, on each desert layer, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 3 px:

On the Filter Mask use a soft black brush to remove the blur effect at the top of the desert (background part) and make the blur effect visible only on the foreground:

Step 7

Make a new layer and active the Clone Tool (S). Use this tool to clone on some parts of the deserts to make them less uniform:

Step 8

Select the desert layers and the clone one then press Cmd/Ctrl+G to make a group for them. Change the group mode from Pass Through to Normal 100%. Make a Curves adjustment layer within this group to brighten the background parts:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the foreground:

Step 9

I used Curves to darken the foreground:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the background to keep their brightness:

Step 10

I used Brightness/Contrast to increase the contrast of the scene:

On this layer mask erase the background as I don’t want it to be affected by this adjustment layer:

Step 11

Isolate the man from the background and place him in the space between the grounds:

To create more movement for the man, go to Edit > Puppet Warp. Make the arms and legs wider:

Step 12

I used Hue/Saturation to desaturate the model a little:

Step 13

I used Curves to darken the model . On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the arms and the man contour, leave the dark only visible on his back :

Step 14

Open the lightning 1 image. Take the lightning part and place it over the middle section of the main document and change the mode to Screen 100%:

Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges and the parts on the grounds:

Official Notes

Notes from other sources

Model question papers

Previous year question papers

Useful links