Create an Abstract Sci-Fi Scene with Photoshop

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create an abstract sci-fi scene. You'll learn how to combine different stock photos, create abstract elements, work with groups and adjust lighting effect. We'll start this tutorial by setting up a night scene from a sky, two deserts images and starry textures. Then we'll add the planets, the model, apply some nebula textures as well as create some abstract elements and blend them all together using an adjustment layer, masking and brush. Finally, we'll add more lighting effect and adjust color of the whole scene. You'll need Photoshop CS3 or newer to follow this tutorial.

Tutorial Resources

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the given settings:

Step 2

Press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+N to make a new layer. Hit G to active the Gradient Tool and choose Radial Gradient with the colors #384962 and #09131d. Drag a line from the top center to the bottom of our white canvas:

Step 3

Open the star background pack. I chose the image "starry 1" to drag onto our main document and change the mode to Color Dodge 100%:

Duplicate this layer three times and arrange them around the dark background to make the starry effect stronger and more visible:

Step 4

Place the sky image over the main document and change the mode to Soft Light 100%:

Click the second button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a mask to this layer. Use a basic, soft brush with black color, the opacity about 30-40% to reduce the cloud effect on the background:

Step 5

Drag the background image into our working document:

Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the sky edges and blend it with the starry sky:

Step 6

I used an adjustment layer with Clipping Mask to darken the desert. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves:

Step 7

I used a Color Balance adjustment layer (Clipping Mask) to match the desert color with the background:

Step 8

Open the foreground image and place it in the foreground of our main document, transform it as shown below:

Add a mask to this layer and blend the foreground with the background:

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 8px:

On the Filter Mask use a soft black brush to remove the blur effect on the midground and background and create a depth for the scene:

Step 9

I used Curved to darken the foreground. On this layer mask use a soft black brush with the opacity about 40-45% to reduce the dark effect on the part near the background:

Step 10

I used Color Balance the change the foreground color:

Step 11

To add some misty effect to the scene, I made a new layer, used a soft brush with the color #cadbe7, the opacity and flow about 50% to paint over the image, especially the mountains:

Step 12

Open the planet 1 file. Hide the dark background and press Cmd/Ctrl+Option/Alt+Shift+E to merge all visible layers. Move the merged planet into our main document, place it at the top right of the sky. Position this layer under the foreground and background ones.

Change the mode to Screen 100% and use a layer mask to blend the dark side of the planet with the sky:

Duplicate this layer and resize it to be smaller. Place it beside the first:

14 comments on “Create an Abstract Sci-Fi Scene with Photoshop”

Rebecca Price says:

April 29, 2021 at 3:58 pm

Wow, the topic was explained in a lovely way. Because it explains so beautifully step by step, that angle people can quickly grasp it. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I am also a graphic designer. I was also invited to visit my website once.
My weblink:

chris i dont know says:

April 28, 2021 at 5:16 am

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NancyBrown says:

August 1, 2019 at 3:20 am

Nice tutorial. and the final result was really awesome and mindblowing.

mukulmamun says:

April 2, 2019 at 12:01 am

Wow, this is great! Awesome job, love the final result!

Adlan Tamen says:

December 6, 2018 at 8:43 am

wow this tutorial is epic!

Oliver says:

July 17, 2018 at 12:42 am

How to create ID picture step by step

Dogum gunu pastasi says:

April 6, 2017 at 2:58 am

Thank you so much. Thanks for sharing.

Lovepreet Singh Sidhu says:

April 5, 2017 at 5:03 pm

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Mada says:

January 12, 2017 at 2:55 pm

Thank you very much for this tutorial

gerda says:

September 18, 2015 at 11:50 am

beautiful

Anonymous says:

March 13, 2015 at 1:23 pm

Thank you very much for this tutorial! It was really good. I kinda nailed it, even tho' I am a beginner. xD

juanco tijam says:

March 10, 2015 at 1:18 pm

nooooooooooooooo

Anonymous says:

March 4, 2015 at 5:15 am

I am a student working on Photoshop and i was wondering about how you can get the smart filter?

1. Anonymous says:
  
  March 8, 2015 at 8:57 pm
  
  Hi there, go to the drop down menu that is above with the rest of the filters, and search there. If you are on mac you can always go to the help tool, and type in what you are looking for, and the system will pop up what you have typed in, showing you in the menu. Hope this helps!