image067
image068
image069
image070

With the monk selected, create a new layer mask to its layer to make everything else disappear.

image071

Hit Ctrl/Cmd+T (or go to Edit -> Free Transform) to resize the monk and place it on the left corner of the cave.

image072

We’re going to use the same technique we’ve been using so far to add lighting to the monk. Hit Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+N to create a new layer with these settings:

image073

Grab the Dodge Tool (Shortcut O) and make sure the range is at Midtones and the Exposure around 25%.

image074
image075

Create the lighting of the monk trying to give the impression that the sun is in front of him. Here’s what I did:

image076

And here is the result:

image077

Create a new layer between the monk layer and the Cave Lighting layer. Name this layer “Monk Shadow”.

image078

Clip this layer to the Cave Walls group by holding Alt/Opt and clicking between the Monk Shadow and the Cave Lighting layer.

image079

Now using a soft brush (Shortcut B), paint the shadow of the monk in the cave using pure black. Don’t worry about going over the sky or the monk because the shadow will only affect the cave layer. Try to do something like this:

image080

To improve the shadow, go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur and select a radius of 12px.

image081
image082
image083

Let’s add more shadow above the monk layer. Create a new layer using the same process, name it Monk Shadow again, but this time place it above all the other layers. Also, clip this layer to the Monk Lighting layer.

image084

With the same brush we used before, paint some black in the robes of the monk. Use a soft brush with the opacity set to something around 10~25%.

image085

Here is the final result of this step:

image086

Step 6: Adding the mountains

Place the mountains in our project by going to File -> Place and selecting them.

image087

Add a layer mask to this layer and use black to hide the sky of this image (remember to use a soft brush at least around the peaks of the mountains).

image088

Press Ctrl/Cmd+T (or Edit -> Free Transform) and resize the mountains to make them smaller.

image089

Here is what you should be aiming for:

image090

Now place the mountains between the Cave layer and the Sky/Clouds group.

image091

Select the layer mask of the mountains layer (the one we created before) and keep painting it with black. This time we’re aiming to hide the base of the mountains. Try to give the impression that the clouds are covering some parts of the mountain (set the opacity around 15% when painting these areas).

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29 responses to “Create a Surreal Photo Manipulation of a Monk in the Caves”

  1.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Good job Awesome work

    1. Creator Avatar
      Creator

      u’re wron

  2. MaximImages Photography Avatar
    MaximImages Photography

    Beautifully done.

  3. Dereck Avatar
    Dereck

    Love this TUT! it took me a couple of hours but well worth the end result. Great job!

  4. Ayaan Avatar
    Ayaan

    Please re uploaded PSD file because when i click on download showing 404 error, this is best work for me i want check how did you do this

  5.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Thanks a lot, I learn a lot form this tutorrials

  6. Maidul Islam Avatar
    Maidul Islam

    Wow. Thank you for sharing this experience with us………..and for the challenge.

  7. Mcearnie Avatar
    Mcearnie

    Thanks for this great tutorial. One of the best I found so far. But I do have a question, since one step doesn’t work out like it should. I have finished the cave and put the layers in a Group Folder as the tutorial says. The next step would be the cave lighting layer. But when I try to create it, Photoshop won’t let me add a clipping mask. For some reason it won’t do that above a group folder. To help myself I merged all cave layers into one, that way it works, but of course I can’t change any details now, which is a bit annoying. I would be glad if you or someone else could tell me what I’ve been doing wrong. I use Photoshop CS4.

  8. pepe0390 Avatar
    pepe0390

    Hey man. Thank you so much for this awesome tutorial; thanks for being so specifici with everything. Here is what I did following your instructions, hope you like it:

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=472778602840862&set=a.317236738395050.75554.100003261792559&type=1&theater

    Regards from Mexico.

  9. Valeria Avatar
    Valeria

    Excellent tutorial! I can’t believe I did it! Thank you for such perfect instructions! I learned a lot!

  10. Yusuf Avatar
    Yusuf

    Very nice examples. Thanks.

  11. jerry Avatar
    jerry

    i love u jerry
    muawwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    tzup@x!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. Wind Avatar
    Wind

    Oh great! Thank you.

  13. Gohu Avatar
    Gohu

    Great tutorial =)
    Thanks a lot !

    Here’s my try : http://gohusdesign.com/surreal.html (in the bottom of the page)

  14. Brody Avatar
    Brody

    Thanks Man, Good tutorial it really help with some techniques i already knew and did know :P Thanks!

  15. Steph Avatar
    Steph

    Great tutorial. I loved it, and my end result turned out really well. I learned a tonne about layer masks so thank you :D

  16. Simpshop Avatar
    Simpshop

    This worked ! Could do it as a beginner. Neat description. Great tutorials.Thank you!

  17. Hc Avatar
    Hc

    A bit cheating with the cube but it works. Proper way is to create a cube with isometric transforms.

  18. Joakim Avatar
    Joakim

    <3 <3 <3
    I love your tuts!!

  19. Ganesh Avatar
    Ganesh

    AWESOME

  20. Theresa Avatar
    Theresa

    Thank you for your tutoring.I am very appreciate your time.

    Wish you and your family have wonderful weekend.

  21. Ramster Avatar
    Ramster

    Awesome tutorial…keep them coming..Thanks

  22. Jonas Avatar
    Jonas

    Terrific tutorials, as ALWAYS!

    And trust me, a lot of users see your tutorials, even if they don’t leave feedback.

    Thanks, as always!

  23. Steven Avatar
    Steven

    I always learn something from the great Photoshop Tutorials here.

  24. Benjamin Avatar
    Benjamin

    On the part where you pick random parts from the island, you should have placed the layer inside the main PSD & use layer masks. Duplicate layer, paint in layer mask, repeat.

    1. Lasse Selänne Avatar
      Lasse Selänne

      Better vextor mask to cut out than layer mask to fading edge

  25. Eriks Avatar
    Eriks

    One of the best tutorials- very detailed. Thanks a lot.

  26. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    Awesome work!!!!

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