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What you'll be creating
You will need Photoshop CS5 or newer to follow this tutorial. You will start by creating a night background, then you will learn how to make lights on the model and how to create these amazing wings. In the end, you will learn, how to make an awesome aura effect.
Tutorial Resources
- Sunny day 1 - arca-stock
- Grass 01 png - gd08
- Castithan Stock - mirish
- Thorny Locust - stock-by-kai
Battlefield Skies - missstark(Alternative)
Step 1
Start from creating 1122x1600px canvas.
Step 2
Place "Sunny day" Into your file. Switch transform to warp mode. Then warp it as is shown. It will make the foreground bigger.
Step 3
Now you will adjust the whole layer to rest of the idea. Add Adjustment layer with Brightness/Contrast. Set it as is shown.
Step 4
I think this layer is too saturated. Fix it with adjustment layer - Hue/ Saturation.

Step 5
Place sky stock into your file. Mask bottom of this layer with a big brush.
Step 6
Sky is too bright and with big contrast. Fix it, by adding Brightness/Contrast layer. Make it clipping by clicking RMB on the layer with Adjustment and choose Create Clipping Mask.
Step 7
Add more color to this layer by creating an Adjustment layer with color Balance. Also, make it clippy (RMB > Create clipping mask).
Step 8
Set #5e7184 color. Choose from Adjustments - Gradient fill. Set your color to transparent. Pick radial style and make scale larger - to 150%.
Step 9
Change blending mode of gradient layer to Color Dodge. Decrease opacity to 46%. You will make by this light source.
Step 10
Add Exposure layer. I think, that background is still to bright.
Step 11
Add brightness/contrast adjustment. It will make dark mood on your work.
Step 12
Duplicate Layer (Ctrl + J / Apple + J) with gradient and place it above brightness contrast. Change opacity of this layer to 100%.
Step 13
Add new layer. Select horizont line. From filter menu pick Render > Clouds. Use light blue and dark gray colors.
Step 14
Choose Erase tool. Set big, soft brush and erase top and bottom of the rendered layer. Then change blending mode of this layer to Screen.
Step 15
Good job! You've made background :). Now it's time to model. Place stock into the middle of image. Mask her, baby! :)

Step 16
Create new layer and make it clippy. Use soft brush and with #a18d87 color raw lighter parts the models legs.
Step 17
Change blending mode of this layer to Multiply. Lights on leg will be more fitting to whole work.
Step 18
Again add new layer and make it clippy (RMB > reate clipping mask). With soft, light brush (#e1cdc2), draw lights on legs. Don't be afraid of the drawing.


5 comments on “How to Create a Beautiful Moonlight Angel Photo Composite”
amazing
Wow, these are really creative! They remind me of those Chip Fosse drawings from Overhauling’. Great work!
Really great tutorial about photo manipulation.
Can't open battle skies pic!!
opens no problem, they are in a zip file