In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a colorful woman portrait using abstract elements and variety of photo manipulation techniques. First we'll create a dark background and import the model. After that, we'll add the flowers, paint some light effect and make a colorful hair with light streaks. We'll use several adjustment layers to complete the final effect.

Preview of Final Result

Tutorial Resources

• Model
• Lips
• Flowers 1
• Flowers 2
• Flowers 3
• Light 1
• Light 2
• Nebula

Step 1

Create a new 2000x2000 px document in Photoshop and fill it with white (feel free to make your own dimension and name the file whatever you want). Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Color Fill and  pick the color #00050f or any similar dark colors you like. 

Step 2

Make another color fill layer and change the color to a purple one (I've chosen #561d82). 
On this layer mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) and select a soft round one with black color. Use this brush with a lowered opacity (about 20-30%) to paint on the middle section to reveal some lightness there, leave the dark shadow visible on the both sides.

Step 3

Create a Curves adjustment layer and increase the lightness. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to paint on the middle area so it won't be affected by this adjustment layer. 

Step 4

Open the model image. Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) or any method you're familiar with to isolate the model from the background . Drag the model into our main canvas using the Move Tool (V) and place her in the middle section. Use the Free Transform Tool (Ctrl+T) to resize the model to be smaller like the screenshot below:

Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add the mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to paint on the neck and top of the head to soften these parts and make them fade into the background. 

Step 5

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and set it as Clipping Mask.  Bring the Saturation values down to -68 to desaturate the model's color.

Step 6

Add a Curves adjustment layer to reduce the lightness. On the layer mask, paint on the front of the model to reveal the light there.

Step 7

Make a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #f5e9ee to paint on the lips to make them lighter a bit. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100%.

Step 8

Make a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray:

Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about 15-20% to refine the light and shadow of the model. You can see how I did it with Normal mode and the result with Overlay mode.

Step 9

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #f5e9ee, the opacity about 20% to paint on the eyes to reduce their contrast. 

Step 10

Use the same brush on a new layer to paint on the model's cheek. Alter this layer mode to Multiply 100% to make it a bit darker. 

Step 11

Open the lips image. Use the Lasso Tool to select the lips area and use Ctrl+T to scale it down to fit the existing one. Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges and blend it with the face.

Step 12

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the lips. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to reduce the effect on the front of the lips or any details you feel too dark.

Step 13

Make a new layer, use a soft brush with the color #f5e9ee, the opacity about 28% and flow about 45% to paint on the teeth inside the mouth to brighten them a bit. 

Step 14

Open the flowers 1 image. As this image has a transparent background so just use the Move Tool to drag it onto the main canvas. Go to Filter > Liquify ans select the Twirl Clockwise Tool (C) to tweak the flowers into a twirl one, like the one below. Place this twirl onto the model face.

Step 15

Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the top and bottom of the twirl and leave the middle visible on the model's cheek and eye.

Step 16

Use the Liquify Tool to tweak these flowers into a different form. Duplicate it and use Ctrl+T to move it lefward a bit. 
Add a mask to each of these layers and use a medium-soft black brush to erase the twirl bottom and leave the flowers visible on the neck area.

Step 17

Select all of the flower layers and hit Ctrl+G to make a group for them. Change this group mode to Overlay 100% and use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the flowers' color.

Step 18

Open the flowers 2 image. Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to select the flowers and leaves only to add to the lower of the model and cover the hard edge.

Step 19

Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to change the color of the flowers and leaves. Alter the Reds and Greens values.

Step 20

Make a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the flowers . On this layer mask, paint on the upper area or any details you feel too bright. 

Step 21

Create another Curves adjustment layer to increase the flowers' contrast. The selected areas show where to paint on the layer mask.

Step 22

Add a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Use the Dodge Tool to paint some light/highlight on the flowers and leaves.

Step 23

Create a new layer on top of the layers and use a soft brush with the color #c3a7be to spot on the canvas. Lower the brush's size and use another brighter color (#ded1d3) to paint on the middle of the previous spot. 

Use Ctrl+T to tweak this light spot into a curve one. Place it onto the neck area and change the layer mode to Hard Light 100%. 

Step 24

Open the light 1 image and drag it into the canvas using the Move Tool. Use the Liquify Tool to tweak this light into a hair shape as shown below.

Change this layer mode to Screen 100% and use a layer mask to erase the part on the face and the flowers 2.

Step 25

Duplicate this layer several times to fill in the hair. Use a layer mask if needed to remove any details you feel unecessary.

Step 26

Make a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask ) for the selected hair part to increase its contrast.

Step 27

Make a group for the hair light layers and change the group's mode to Screen 100%. Use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to change their color a bit.

Step 28

Add a Levels adjustment layer to remove all of the hard edges remained.

Step 29

Make a new layer and place it below the the hair light group. Take a soft brush with the colors #d379cc and #e8c9cc and use the same method as done in the step 23 to make a light spot and tweak it using Ctrl+T.

Step 30

Move it to the hair area and change the layer mode to Screen 100%. Duplicate this layer twice and move them along the hair following the flow of the hair. 

Step 31

Create a new layer and use the colors #749ce1 and #d263a7 to spot around the model. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100% to give this area more color. Use a layer mask to reduce the effect to make it more subtle.

Step 32

Make a new layer, use a soft brush with the color #c3a7be to paint on the lower of the hair. Alter this layer mode to Hard Light 100%.

On another layer , use a soft brush with the color #f5e9ee  to paint on the flowers below the model. Change this layer mode to Overlay 100%.

Step 33

Open the flowers 3 image and take the flower you like (I've chosen a purple one) to add above the model's cheek. Use the Liquify Tool to tweak it a bit as shown below (don't overdo it to keep its natural shape). Add a mask to this layer and remove the big twisted petals .

Step 34

Add this flower again from the original image to the model.'s head and eye. Use the Liquify Tool to tweak it into different forms. Use layer masks to reduce their visibility to match the softness of this area.

Step 35

Create a group for these flower layers and use a Curves adjustment layer to decrease the contrast of the flowers. Paint on the flower on the eye as it's soft enough.

Step 36

Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the flowers. 

Step 37

Open the light images pack. Use the image 4 to add to the model's face. and change this layer mode to Screen 100%.  Add a mask to this layer to erase the light part covered the model's face.

Step 38

Duplicate this layer twice and tweak them using the Liquify Tool.  Place them below the model and use a layer mask to erase most of these parts, leave the highlight inside visible on the flowers 2. 

Step 39

Duplicate this layer several times to add more light and decoration to the hair, especially make the one look like horns and add them to the top of the forehead.

Step 40

Create a Levels adjustment layer for the one on top of the head to remove its unwanted edges.

Step 41

Continue tweaking the light into the shapes below and change the mode to Screen 100%. Duplicate it several times to add around the model. Add a mask to each of these layers to decrease their visibility. 

Step 42

Continue tweaking the light into a shape below. Resize it to be much smaller and duplicate it many times. Arrange them around the model to make them look like tiny drops to decorate the model..

Step 43

Create a new layer on top of the layers and use a soft brush with the color #f8e3f7 to paint on the horns area to brighten it a bit. Alter this layer mode to Soft Light 100%.

Step 44

Add the nebula image to the main canvas and change this layer mode to Screen 100%. Add a mask to this layer to reduce its opacity and lightness.

Step 45

Take different parts from the nebula image to add around the model to add more details to her and alter their mode to Screen 100%.

Step 46

Group all of the nebula layers into a folder and change this group's mode to Screen 100%. Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to make the color of the nebula effect changed. 

Step 47

Add a Levels adjustment layer to remove all of the white edges remained.

Step 48

Make a Gradient Map adjustment layer on top of the layers and pick the colors #e10019 and #00601b. Lower the opacity of this layer to 20%.

Add a Color Balance adjustment layer and alter the Midtones and Highlights settings:

Step 49

Use a Curves adjustment layer to increase the whole scene contrast. 

Create a Selective Color adjustment layer to alter the Reds, Blues and Magentas values:

Step 50

Make another Curves adjustment layer to enhance the final effect.

Final Result

Download the PSD

Colorful.zip

Tutorial by Jenny Le

Thank you for reading this tutorial, I hope that you've enjoyed it. If you want to view my other arts and tutorials you can follow me on Facebook or look at my Deviantart page.