Create an Epic Pirate Sea Battle in Photoshop

Step 27

Create a layer (or more for flexibility) and change the blending mode to Overlay (or Color Dodge). With the standard round soft brush at 20% opacity paint with white over the bumps and forms of the creature to make them stand out. Lower the size of the brush to 1px and paint some hard white outlines in the nose and neck area.

Step 28

Create a new layer and change the blending mode to overlay. Sample a light blue from the sky and paint with 20% opacity over the creature’s head and neck to make it blend with the scene.

Step 29

On a new layer paint with the standard chalk brush at 40% opacity a thin line on the neck of the creature where it supposedly emerges from the water.

Step 30

On a new layer set to Multiply paint some blood near the creature’s mouth using the blood brushes with a dark red (#8b0e16).

Step 31

Open one of the paint splash images and use Select > Color Range to make a selection of the paint splash. Copy and paste the splash in our scene. Use a layer mask to blend it nicely.

Step 32

Create Curves Adjustment Layer with the settings shown below and clip it to the splash layer. By doing this we will do the color correct needed for some imported objects as we discussed at step 8. You can also add clipped Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and drag the saturation slider to -50 to tone down the intensity.

Step 33

Open the image “Hand” and use the Pen Tool to make a selection of the hand. Copy/paste into our document and place the hand inside the creature’s mouth.

Step 34

Create a Curves Adjustment Layer and clip it to the hand. Drag the curve down to darken it. You can also add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and clip it to the hand. Drag the saturation slider to -52.

Step 35

Open the image “Boat”. Use the Pen Tool to make a selection of the boat. Copy/paste the boat in our scene and place it as indicated below. Use a layer mask to partially hide the bottom part of the boat (where it is emerged underwater).

Step 36

Create Curves Adjustment Layer and drag the curve down to darken. Clip it to the boat layer.

Step 37

Now create another clipped Curves Adjustment Layer but this time drag the red curve up to increase the color intensity of the boat.

Step 38

We should tone down the intensity of the boat a little. Create a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and clip it to the boat layer. Drag the saturation slider to -74.

Step 39

Create yet another clipped Curves Adjustment Layer and clip it to the boat layer. This time use the settings shown below to increase the contrast.

Step 40

Create a new layer and set the blending mode to Overlay or Color Dodge. Use a white round soft brush to paint over the boat to make it stand out like we did at step 27.

Step 41

Create a new layer and make a wave line where the water surface hits the boat with the chalk brush.

Step 42

Open the image “Dolphin”. Make a selection of the dolphin and paste it in our scene. Place the dolphin in the background as indicated below and lower the opacity to 69%. Use a splash brush to mark the place where the dolphin jumps from the water.