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Learn how to this surreal photo manipulation of a climber who finds the secret temple above the sky with Photoshop. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create your own mountain cliff landscape using several photos of stones, place a climber in the landscape with realistic shadows and lighting, then complete it with a warm color tone effect. Throughout the tutorial, you'll learn techniques that will help you create better photo manipulations.

What you'll be creating

This image was created to tell you about there is a climber who finds a secret temple that is located above the sky, and there is a flying ship. To create this image, we'll start by creating a sky background. Next, we'll add some stones to create a cliff and add the climber, temples, crows, and trees to the image. Finally, we'll finish it up with a warm color tone effect. You'll need Photoshop CS5 or newer to follow this tutorial.

Tutorial Resources

Step 1

For the first step is skecth your ideas, in this step we will create a sketch of the idea that we have. the purpose of this sketch is to give us a reference for the next steps, so that we can know what kind of photos we will take photos or search.

Step 2

After we know what is going to be made, the next step is taking photos, which must be considered is the perspective and light. These are some photos I took when I hike in the mountains Lawu, Indonesia. you can see my devianArt link for more stock.

Step 3

Now, we work with photoshop to combine the photos into a scene that we want. First step, Create a new document, Go to File > New or the short key Cmd /Ctrl+ N. A blank document with size of 3000 pixels wide and 2000 pixels high.

Step 4

Then, we add the photos. Go to File > Place and select the photos.

Step 5

add the photos "sky2" to document.

Step 6

After add the photos, then stretch, like shown in the image below. When you put the picture it automatically in the transformation. But if not, transform the landscape, press the short key Cmd /Ctrl+ T or go to Edit > Transform > Scale. Pull the black cubes in the corners to formed frame.

Step 7

Then, add the "sky3" to document, Go to File > Place and select the photos. then put the image as like shown in the image below.

Step 8

Add a layer mask to this image by clicking on the icon mask in the Layers panel.

Step 9

Now, with selected layer mask, active the Gradient Tool (Shortcut G), make sure color of foreground default black & wahite (press D) than click and drag from down to top. it will make like shown in the image below.

Step 10

Select all the layers we created so far by clicking in the first one, holding Shift, and then clicking on the last one. Then, drag all of them to that little folder in the layers panel, which will create a new group with all of them. You could also select them and use the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+G. Name this new group "Sky". then delete the background layer with drag layer to trash icon in panel layers

Step 11

Add the photos "stone3" to document. then Use Pen Tool (P) to make selections.

Step 12

After we selection the image, then right click choose make selection and click Ok. it will make only stone areas that selected part as like shown image below.

Step 13

Then Add a layer mask to this image by clicking on the icon mask in the Layers panel.

Step 14

If you done, it will as like shown image below.

Step 15

Use the Free Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T or Edit > Free Transform) to resize the layer and put like shown in the image below.

Step 16

Add the photos "stone1" to document. Then repeat the previous step to selection the image.

Step 17

Now, repeat the previous step. add the all stones stock and selections all of them. then use transform tool to transfrom and put like as image below

Step 18

Use Move tool (V) to put each stone like as shown image below.

Step 19

If necessary, we can duplicate (Ctrl/cmd+G) the stone layer so we get the image as we want.

Step 20

After we've finished set the stone, we can create a new group with all of stone photos. we could also select them and use the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+G. Name this new group "Cliff".

Step 21

Create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 22

Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 23

Select Levels adjustment layer and hue/saturation adjustment layers then right click choose Create Clipping Mask. It will make the effect only apply into group folder "stone"

Step 24

Add the photos "tree1". Go to File > Place and select the photos.

Step 25

Use the Pen tool (P) to selection the image, and mask it (repeat step 11). then use transform tool (Ctrl/cmd+T) right click choose flip horizontal to reflect the image.

Step 26

with selected the layer mask, Use Brush tool (B) then set the brush to soft, size to 175 pixels. Paint over the bottom part of tree like as shown in the image below.

Step 27

Create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 28

Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 29

Select Levels adjustment layer and hue/saturation adjustment layers then right click choose Create Clipping Mask. It will make the effect only apply into tree layer.

Step 30

Add more a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 31

With selected the layer mask, Use Brush tool (B) then set the brush to soft, size to 300 pixels. Paint over the left part of tree like as shown in the image below.

Step 32

If done, the right part of the tree will darker than left.

Step 33

Add the photos "tree2". Go to File > Place and select the photos.

Step 34

Use the Pen tool (P) to selection the image, and mask it (repeat step 11). then use transform tool (Ctrl/cmd+T) to put the image like as shown image below. then repeat step 27+28 to create adjustment layer so we get the same effect with "tree1".

Step 35

Add the photos "Ivy". Go to File > Place and select the photos.

Step 36

Go to Edit > Puppet Warp

Step 37

You will see like as shown image below.

Step 38

This will open the tool and allow us to manipulate and warp the object. Placing points systematically around the image, will create bending/warping points. Place them on your object in the best arrangement to create joints to bend as shown below.

Step 39

Dragging or rotating these points (Alt + Click and move over point) will warp the object in the desired direction. Using this we can drag the stem of the flower/leafs to come from the side, while still allowing the flower/leafs to stay upright.

Step 40

Dragging or rotating these points (Alt + Click and move over point) like as shown image below.

Step 41

Dragging or rotating these points (Alt + Click and move over point) like as shown image below After done press Enter to relase the transfrom.

Step 42

Create a new Vibrance adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance), set the parameters like as shown image below. And Create Clipping Mask.

Step 43

Select all the layers we created so far by clicking in the first one, holding Shift, and then clicking on the last one. Then, drag all of them to that little folder in the layers panel, which will create a new group with all of them. You could also select them and use the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+G. Name this new group "Tree".

Step 44

Add the photos "Crow". Go to File > Place and select the photos.

Step 45

Use the Pen tool (P) to selection the image, and mask it (repeat step 11). then use transform tool (Ctrl/cmd+T) to put the image like as shown image below.

Step 46

Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below, and Create Clipping Mask.

Step 47

Add the photos "Climber". Go to File > Place and select the photos. then use transform tool to rotate and put image like as shown

Step 48

Create a new Vibrance adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance) and Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below. And Create Clipping Mask.

Step 49

Duplicate the climber layer, then use transfrom tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T) right click choose Distrot and transform like as shown. Then change the blending option to soft light

Step 50

Add the photos "Temple". Go to File > Place and select the photos. then use transform tool to rotate and put image like as shown below.

Step 51

Use the Pen tool (P) to selection the image, and mask it (repeat step 11). then use transform tool (Ctrl/cmd+T) to put the image like as shown image below. then Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below, and Create Clipping Mask.

Step 52

Add the photos "Ship". Go to File > Place and select the photos. then use transform tool to rotate and put image like as shown below.

Step 53

Create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation), set the parameters like as shown image below, and Create Clipping Mask.

Step 54

Now, take and duplicate "Stone3" layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) the put the top of layers.

Step 55

Use transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T) to put the stone like as shown image below. then use brush tool to mask bottom part of the stone

Step 56

Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below, and Create Clipping Mask. (do in each layers of stone)

Step 57

Now, we manage the layers, create some group layers to differentiate each category, in this time I make "Climber & Crow" , "Ship" , and "Stone"

Step 58

Create new layer by clicking "new layer icon" in the bottom of panel layer, then name this layer "Fog"

Step 59

With White color on foreground Use Cloud Brush tool (B) then set the brush to soft, size to 50 pixels, opacity 80%.

Step 60

Paint over the bottom part of stone, ship, and temple like as shown in the image below.

Step 61

After we combine all each image, Now we make a final retouch. Create a new Black & White adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White), set the parameters like as shown image below. theh set the opacity into 27.

Step 62

Create a new Gradient map adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient map), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 63

Then set the opacity into 40 and blending option into soft light.

Step 64

Create new layer and give the color like as shown image below.

Step 65

Change blending option into Soft Light and opacity into 30%.

Step 66

Create a new Brightness/Contrast layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 67

Create a new Selective Color layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color), set the parameters like as shown image below. then change opacity into 50%.

Step 68

Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below. Then mask it like as shown image below. so that center part of the image is more lighter.

Step 69

Create a new Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels), set the parameters like as shown image below. Then mask it like as shown image below. so that edge of the image is more Darker.

Step 70

Create a new Black & White adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White), set the parameters like as shown image below. then set the opacity into 25.

Step 71

Create a new Photo Filter adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter), set the parameters like as shown image below.

Step 72

Select all the layers we created so far by clicking in the first one, holding Shift, and then clicking on the last one. Then, drag all of them to that little folder in the layers panel, which will create a new group with all of them. You could also select them and use the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+G. Name this new group "Final Adjusment".

Step 73

The last step is make a lens flare so that image will look more dramatic. create new layer and give the black color.

Step 74

Goto Filter - Render - Lens flare.

Step 75

Set the brightness to 40% and choose lens type 50-300mm zoom.

Step 76

Then change the blending option into Screen and use transform tool (P) to put the lens flare like as we want. After that, put lens flare layers to bottom of e tree layer.

Final Results

Tutorial by Adi Panca Wh

Thank you for following this tutorial. I hope you can learn something and you can apply to your work. if you have any question, critics, suggestions, you can contact my email ([email protected]) or visit my website / facebook, I am open to suggestions and cooperation.

- Adi Panca Wh