Create an Underwater Dreamscape in Photoshop

Hide the effect of this filter on areas around the hair by masking the filter.

Step 12

Now we will do some color adjustment to the model to make it be well blended with the whole scene. Firstly, we give it a new fill layer with a clipping mask. Go to layer > new fill layer > solid color. Use the color of #01848c.

Set this solid color layer to soft light at 100% opacity.

Mask this layer on areas around the hair. Use a very soft round brush (B) set to about 20% opacity with 0% hardness.

Step 13

Give another color fill layer with a clipping mask. Use color of #0d6b6a. set this layer to soft light at about 40% opacity.

Step 14

Next, create a new layer with a clipping mask above the two-color fill layers. Name this layer, say, texture 2. Give this layer cloud filter (filter > render > cloud). Use the color as given in the screenshot.

Give this cloud layer another filter: minimum (filter > others > minimum)

Mask some part of this layer on areas in red highlight.

Step 15

Now duplicate the underwater layer. We will use this duplicate as the texture for the model. Move the duplicate layer above the texture 2 layer. Give this layer a clipping mask (Ctrl+Alt+G).

Set this duplicate layer to normal at about 45% opacity. Mask this layer on areas around the face and shoulder as indicated in red highlight.

Step 16

Create another new layer above all the other layers (Shift+Ctrl+N). Name this layer, say, highlight. We will add some highlights to the model. Set this layer to overlay filled with neutral color, 50% grey (#808080).

Take a very soft round brush tool (B) and with white color paint highlight on areas around the face, arms, and dress. Here is the layer set in normal blending.

Here is the result in overlay blending at 100% opacity.

We can duplicate this layer to define stronger highlight.

Step 17

Now select the model later. Go to layer > layer mask > reveal all to give this layer a layer mask. Mask areas on the model’s dress and hair and other parts around where needed.

Step 18

Next we will add some highlight on the building. Create a new layer again above all the other layers. Name this layer, say, highlight 2. Set this layer to soft light. Paint the highlight on areas around the building. This is the layer will look in normal blending at 100% opacity.

And given this amount of color, the result should be like this:

Step 19

Finally, we will set the overall color adjustment to the scene. Create a new fill layer above all the other layer (Layer > new fill layer > solid color). Use color of #0d6b6a. set this color fill layer to soft light at about 60% opacity. Mask this layer on areas around the light rays as indicated in red highlight.

Step 20

Give another new fill layer. Use the color of #070816.

Set this layer to exclusion blending at 100% opacity.

Step 21

Now go to layer > new adjustment layers > brightness/contrasts to give the whole scene brightness/contrasts layer.

Mask this adjustment layer on areas highlighted in red.

Step 22

Give another adjustment layer: selective color. Set this layer to normal blending at about 70% opacity.

Step 23

Finally, give the scene a new adjustment layer again: gradient map.

Set this gradient layer to normal at about 35% opacity. Mask area around the middle of the scene as shown in the red highlight.