How to Create a Flower Portrait Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop

Learn how to create a flowery purple-hued fantasy portrait in Photoshop. This tutorial will show you how to blend flowers to the top of a model’s head, create a soft floral background, and color grade with adjustment layers.

Preview of the Final Result

Tutorial Resources

• Bokeh
• Branch 1
• Branches 2
• Branch 3
• Branch 4
• Branch 5
• Model
• Flower
• Leaves
• Petals

Step 1

Create a new 1847×2000 px document in Photoshop and fill it with white. Hit Ctrl+Shift+N to make a new layer and press G to activate the Gradient Tool. Choose Radial Gradient with the colors #413473 and #BFA0D8. Drag a line from the left to right to get a similar result like below:

Step 2

Go to Layer › New Adjustment Layer › Curves and increase the lightness. On this layer mask, hit B to activate the Brush Tool and select a soft round one with black color. Use this brush to reduce the effect on the right and the bottom left.

Step 3

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to give some warmer color to the canvas. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to reduce the effect on the top and bottom of the canvas.

Step 4

Create another Curves adjustment layer to brighten the canvas again. On the layer mask, use a soft black brush to decrease the light effect on the left and the top right.

Make a new layer and use a soft white brush with the opacity about 50% to paint around the middle right and bottom of the canvas to make the main light source there.

Step 5

Open the bokeh image and drag it into the main document  using the Move Tool (V). Change the layer mode to Screen 100% and convert this layer to a Smart Object. Go to Filter › Blur › Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 66 px:

Step 6

Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to this layer.  Use a soft black brush brush to reduce the bokeh effect on the lower part and both sides.

Step 7

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer and set it as Clipping Mask. Alter the Midtones and Highlights settings. 

Step 8

Isolate the branch 1 from the background and add it to the top right of the main canvas. Convert this layer to a Smart Object..

Apply a Gaussian Blur of 10 px to this layer:

Step 9

Make a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to brighten the lower part of the branch. On this layer mask, paint on the upper part to keep its lightness. 

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