How to Create a Moon Balloon Scene Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop

Step 38

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 change the Midtones values:

Step 39

Make a Selective Color adjustment layer and change the Blues settings. On this layer mask, paint on the part of the left of the scene to reduce the color and light effect there.

Create a Curves adjustment layer to increase the contrast of the scene. On this layer mask, paint on the middle and left to reduce the effect there.

Add another Curves adjustment layer to increase the light around the moon and on the roof 1. Paint on the rest to keep its lightness and contrast.

Step 40

Open the cat image and cut out him from the background. Place him onto the top of the roof to fit the direction of the moon.

Create a new layer and hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the cat thumbnail layer to load his selection. Fill this selection with black and convert this layer to a Smart Object. Flip it vertically (Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical) and use Ctrl+T to distort the shadow to fit the direction of the moonlight.

Step 41

Lower the opacity of this layer to 70% and apply a Gaussian Blur of 4 px to this layer. Add a mask to this layer to remove the tail shadow as it does not look right. Create a new layer and use small soft black brush to paint shadow for the tail on the roof. Lower the opacity of this layer to 70%.

Step 42

Create a new layer above the cat’s one (set as Clipping Mask) and use a soft brush with the color #aa9d9c to brighten the back bottom and head of the cat. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 50%.

Make another layer and use a soft brush with the color #f4f4f2 to brighten both sides of the back bottom of the cat. change this layer mode to Soft light 100%.

Step 43

Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool with Midtones Range, Exposure about 15% to refine the light and shadow of the cat.