How to Create a Gothic Photo Manipulation of a Brave Warrior in Photoshop

Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light, decrease opacity to 50%.

Step 48

If colors are too flat – let’s fix it. Add new adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut) with Color/Balance settings. Set it as is shown.

Step 49

Let’s put “background_59” stock. Change blending mode to Screen.

By using big soft round brush, mask unnecessary parts of stock (see thumbnail). Click on white canvas next to layer thumbnail and draw where you want to remove things.

Click on layer thumbnail. Next, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur. Set it as is shown.

Step 50

Great! Now you should strengthen shadows on swirl. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick soft round brush, around 300 px. Draw with #00040d (dark blue) color on swirly thing’s shadow.

Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light.

Step 51

Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose soft round brush, around 30px size, #00060f color and set its opacity to 50%. Draw some strokes on smaller shadowed parts of swirl.

Change blending mode of this layer to Soft light. It will enhance shadows and lights.

Step 52

Now we’ll make more darker things. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick soft round brush, around 300 px. Draw with #00040d (dark blue) color aside from swirl.

Decrease opacity to 10%. Change blending mode to Soft light.

Step 53

We’ll play with colors. Set in your color picker: #4ab4a8 and #01040d colors. Add new adjustment layer with Gradient map and set it as is shown. Change blending mode of this layer to Color dodge. Decrease its opacity to around 25%.

Step 54

Duplicate created layer. Drag it and drop on “New layer” symbol. Change blending mode of duplicated layer to Soft light.

Step 55

Add new adjustment layer with Hue/Saturation (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Set it as is shown.

Step 56

Now you’ll make blurred particles. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Choose brush tool. Set soft round brush and use around 8 px size. Go to brush presets (right side, three brushes icon). Click on “Brush Tip Size” and set Spacing around 1000%.

Then, set “Shape dynamics” as shown.

Next, set “Scattering” as shown.

Set also “Color dynamics”.

With prepared brushes, you can draw some particles, as is shown. Play with brush size and colors. I used colors from #fff to #1cc3b9 and sizes from 8px to even 20px.

Then, use blur tool (Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur) and set it to around 3-4px.

Step 57

You can repeat step 56 on new layer for deeper effect. Use wider spectrum of colors.

Step 58

Next, You will take care of light source. Our eyes are focusing on light source – so show it. Add new layer (Layer > New > Layer …, Shift + Ctrl + N or marked shortcut). Pick sharpen tool. Set its size to around 300 px and strenght around 61%. Use tool on light source.

For better effect, use on this layer another soft round brush (set its size to 30 px and its opacity to 50%). Draw lights on trees and characters.

Step 59

Add new adjustment layer with Selective color (Layer > New Adjustment layer > … or marked shortcut). Set it as is shown (neutrals and black).