Dreamy Scene Photomanipulation

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Stock Used

Step 2 - Cutting

We have all pictures we need. In this step we have to cut them out. I used Lasso Tool but there is more ways how to do it so use the tool with which you usually work.

I know it is boring part but be careful. It never will look realistic if you do not cut it properly.

After this step we should have something like these:

You don´t have to care about the grass on the bottom part of boy´s clothes. It will be under clothes.

We need only neck and head of the giraffe. You don´t have to cut out the whole animal.

Step 3 - Placing

Now open the background. It is a picture with star field. Drag there the pictures that you cut out. Open picture with cloud and drag it into star field too.

Step 4 - Blending

First of all we will create the nice cloud which you can see in preview on the top of tutorial.

Click on the cloud layer and then click on the button Add vector mask. Button is on the bottom part of Layers palette (if you don´t see Layer palette press F7 on your keyboard)

Make sure that the vector mask is active (if you´re not just click on it) Now press G on your keyboard (= Paint Bucket Tool) and fill the vector mask with solid black color.

After that clouds disappear but don´t worry we will paint them again.

Press B (= Brush Tool). Choose white color. Make sure that vector mask is still active and start painting on the place where you wish to have clouds visible.

For more realistic effect use the soft round brush. And on the edges use the brush with lower opacity.

After you finish it should look similar to this:

Two more things before we go to next step:

At first - we make the star glowing.

Click on the layer with the star and then on the button Add a layer style

Use the following settings:

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Second - we have to correct contrast and brightness.

I lowered brightness and contrast of the cloud a little (Brightness and Contrast -> Brightness -50, Contrast -30). And then I changed levels of the star (Levels -> Input Levels: 0; 0,80; 255) and of the giraffe (Input Levels: 13; 0,54; 235).

After this step the manipulation should look like this:

Step 5 - Creating of fishing rod

This is little tricky part because now we have to pain the fishing rod. But don´t worry it isn´t hard and you can do it without a graphic tablet (as I did).

Create new layer and name it “fishing rod” or something like that.

Press B for brush tool, pick the light brown color and paint the stick. After you are satisfied with the shape of rod click on the icon Add a layer style and use the following settings:

It gives the rod nice plastic look we need.

Okay, rod is done. Now we paint the fishing line. Create one more new layer. Use the small round brush with white color. It could be little hard to paint it realistic but be patient. Feel free to try it more than once.

Step 6 - Lighting

If you look on the picture above you see that the lighting doesn´t fit. Some parts should be lighter because of the gloving star and some should be darker. In this step we will fix it.

Press M (= Rectangular Marquee Tool) and select the whole image. Then go to Edit -> Copy Merged and then Edit ->Paste. This step allows create lighting of the whole scene. Before we do that click on Create new fill or adjustment layer, choose Hue and saturation and desaturate the image. Don´t worry we will color the manipulation in next steps.

Click on the merged layer and go to Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effect. As a light type choose “Omni”, Intensity 35, Gloss: 0, Material: 69, Exposure: 0 and Ambience: 8.
The source of lighting place on the star.

Now we will fix lights and shadows locally. To do it use the Dodge Tool and Burn Tool (press O on your keyboard). Use exposure about 20% to it will look naturally.

Step 7 - Coloring

In this step we will add colors to our manipulation.

At first we will set the color of the whole scene. Create new adjustment layer Color Balance. Set the mid tones on -59; -20, +2. Picture will be bluish.

Now press CTRL and click on the layer with star. It activates mask of the star.

Click on the on the adjustment layer (which made picture black and white) and create new adjustment layer Color Balance and make the star yellow.
Repeat this step also on the rest part of images.

I used these settings of coloring:

Star: Midtones: -2,-10,-52, Shadows: +3,-17,+8, Highlights: 0,0,-21
Aura around star: Midtones: 0,-5,-49
Clothes of the boy: Midtones: -12,+11,-19, Shadows: -12,+39,-4
Skin: Midtones: +53,+17,-39
Hair: Midtones: 0,0,+46, Shadows: 0,-27+17
Lighting: Midtones: +30,-40,-87

Very well. Now we should have something like this:

Step 8 - Special effects

In this step we will add lens flare and some bokeh texture to create more dreamy effect.

At first we create lens flare. Create a new layer and fill it with solid black color. Go to Filter->Render->Lens Flare. Choose the flare you wish and press OK. Change the blending mode on “Lighten” and lower the opacity on 20%. The brightest part of the flare place on the star.

Now open the bokeh texture and drag it into the manipulation. Change the blending mode on “Lighten” too and lowered the opacity on 20%.

Step 9 - Final touch

We are almost finished. This last step depends on your personal taste.

I applied the “Deep blue” photo filter, increase contrast a little and increase saturation.

Category: Photomanipulation / Tutorials Author: Matt LaceycloseAuthor: Matt Lacey Name:
Email: matt@flashessential.com
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About: Matt is an interactive website designer and technical writer who specializes in Actionscript development. He's written for a number of online training companies and is the founder of both Flash Essential and PSD Essential.See Authors Posts (33)