Download Lightroom presets and LUTs, absolutely free. Use the presets to add creativity and style to your photos.

Step 31
You'll adjust this texture. It is beige and really don't fit to whole picture. Add adjustment layer with Hue/Saturation (shortcut or Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation). Then, click on this layer with RMB. Click "Create clipping mask".
Step 32
For more dramatic crack, add Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer (shortcut or Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast). Then, click on this layer with RMB and choose "Create clipping mask".
Step 33
Now you'll blend crack texture with skin by Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer. Also with clipping mask.
Step 34
Place "Dragon stock" to your image. Transform it as is shown.
Step 35
Mask unwanted parts of stock.
Step 36
Cool. I think, that hue of dragon's scales isn't good at the moment. For fixing it add Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (shortcut or Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation), and set it as shown. Then click on Adjustment layer with RMB and choose "Create clipping mask".
Step 37
Now you will create her tattoo. Place and mask dragon stock.
Step 38
You are the best! :) Now go to Filter > Filter gallery. Click "Poster edges", then set it as is shown. This effect posterizes whole layer and draws its edges to black (Like ink! :]).
Step 39
After that, change blending mode of dragon's layer to Multiply.
Step 40
Three next steps are optional - it depends of your vision of tattoo. Add Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (shortcut or Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation), and set it as shown. Then click on Adjustment layer with RMB and choose "Create clipping mask".
Step 41
Add Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer. Create clipping mask.
Step 42
Add again Brightness/Contrast layer. Also create clipping mask.
Step 43
Now you should add lights on dragon. For making it, add new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N, Layer > New > Layer..., or shortcut). Pick 1px soft brush and draw outline of light on his back and head. I used light-blue color, because dragon is on "neutral light" field.
Step 44
Dragon also have shadow. Add new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N, Layer > New > Layer..., or shortcut). With soft brush, draw some black strokes on his stomach (or something he have :D).

Step 45
Back below hairs layer. Add new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N, Layer > New > Layer..., or shortcut). Pick soft, 15px, black brush and draw shadow under body of dragon.

Step 46
Add new layer. You will draw harder shadows. Pick smaller, soft brush (ex. 5px).
Step 47
Add new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N, Layer > New > Layer..., or shortcut). Pick soft, 40px black brush and draw bigger shadow.

Step 48
Back on the top of the layers. Add new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N, Layer > New > Layer..., or shortcut) and pick soft, 1px light-orange brush. Draw outline of model's body. Remember about laces and dress frills.
Step 49
Again add new layer (or make it on this one). Pick the same brush. Use light-blue color. Draw the outline on model's body. I also drew some strokes on branches on the right side.
16 comments on “Born of the Dragon - Create this Symbolic Gothic Composite in Photoshop”
Hi, this tutorial helped me learn things, and was cool. The only 3 things about it made me frustrated.
1. You only used one specific color code and the rest of the colors were hard to get right.
2. The 1px soft brush for the hair strands did not work for me. It was too big and pixelated and I wasn't sure what effects you used..? Maybe I missed it.
3. I couldn't use trees. it was hard to follow the tutorial properly. I use a different door. One you used not available.
thank you for this tuorial and keep up the good work.
This tutorial was cool, but frustrating for me because it was hard to find the exact colors, because you only gave one specific color code. Also I'm not sure exactly how you did the hair, mine wasn't working well at all. I was using a soft round 1px brush and it was too pix-elated and it was too big . Here is what I came up with . I didn't use the trees because It didn't go well
with the door (because the one you used wasn't available) . Thank you for making this tutorial. Keep it up.
Amazing tutorial!
Great tutorial, I tried to make Something like that. Thanks
nice tut, just lost a bit in translation, if you know what i mean.
But thanks anyway !!!!
This is really fantastic. The unlimited access makes it even better
Great tutorial. Thanks!
Looks amazing. Thank you, I want to try this and have read through the tutorial. Can you please tell me what you mean by click RMB. I know all the tools in Photoshop (using CS5) but RMB is new to me. thank you.
RMB = right mouse button
I think RMB = right mouse button :)
Great tutorial, thank you. I tried it, but I got some trouble with the orange color, it isn't like yours. Can you tell me the color-code? It looks really dark and it is not "shining" on my manipulation.
Thank you for this tut :)
very nice
(y) Thanks
Very nice article. I will learn from this a huge resource. Thanks for share.
lel
so nice thanq i learned a lot of the tutorial love al your work on this site
so cool.Thanks for your tutorials