Photoshop Tutorials

How to Create a Dreamlike Scene of a Man with White Lights in Photoshop

How to Create a Dreamlike Scene of a Man with White Lights in Photoshop
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create a powerful scene with a man holding a light. You'll learn how to combine different stocks together by using adjustment layers, masking and brush tools. Furthermore, you'll learn how to work with groups, perspective and create a lighting effect. We'll start this tutorial by creating a surreal environment with sky and desert images. Then we'll add the model and do some retouch on him as well as blend him with the background using adjustment layers and brush. Later we'll add the rocks, particles, lightning and create some light effect. We'll finish it up with some adjustment layers. You'll need Photoshop CS3 or newer to follow the process.

Tutorial Resources

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the given settings:
falling1

Step 2

Open the sky image. Drag it into our white canvas using the Move Tool (V) and use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd/Ctrl+T) to rotate it as shown below:
falling2

Step 3

I used an adjustment layer with Clipping Mask to desaturate the sky color. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation:
falling3
falling3a

Step 4

I used Curves to darken the sky sides:
falling4
On this layer mask use a basic, soft brush with black color to erase the middle as I don't want it to be darkened:
falling4a

Step 5

Drag the desert image into our main document and transform it, place it at the right side:
falling5
Click the second button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges and blend the desert with the background:
falling5a
Duplicate this layer and flip it horizontally (Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal). Position it at the left side:
falling5b

Step 6

To add some depth to the scene, on each desert layer, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 3 px:
falling6
On the Filter Mask use a soft black brush to remove the blur effect at the top of the desert (background part) and make the blur effect visible only on the foreground:
falling6a

Step 7

Make a new layer and active the Clone Tool (S). Use this tool to clone on some parts of the deserts to make them less uniform:
falling7
falling7a

Step 8

Select the desert layers and the clone one then press Cmd/Ctrl+G to make a group for them. Change the group mode from Pass Through to Normal 100%. Make a Curves adjustment layer within this group to brighten the background parts:
falling8
On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the foreground:
falling8a

Step 9

I used Curves to darken the foreground:
falling9
On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the background to keep their brightness:
falling9a

Step 10

I used Brightness/Contrast to increase the contrast of the scene:
falling10
On this layer mask erase the background as I don't want it to be affected by this adjustment layer:
falling10a

Step 11

Isolate the man from the background and place him in the space between the grounds:
falling11
To create more movement for the man, go to Edit > Puppet Warp. Make the arms and legs wider:
falling11a

Step 12

I used Hue/Saturation to desaturate the model a little:
falling12

Step 13

I used Curves to darken the model . On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the arms and the man contour, leave the dark only visible on his back :

Pages: 1 2 3

Create Dot Grid Art in 1 Click
Sponsored

Turn any photo into a dot grid artwork with these Photoshop actions. You'll get great results with dots that change size. They get larger in brighter areas and smaller in darker areas. Free download available.

9 comments on “How to Create a Dreamlike Scene of a Man with White Lights in Photoshop”

Leave a Reply to arun Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Special FX Photoshop Actions

Free Photoshop Actions

Get 10 free Photoshop actions when you subscribe to our newsletter.
Close
cross