In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a scene of an emotional dancer in a forest. You’ll learn how to combine and blend different stock photos in a cohesive scene, adjust color, use layer mask, manage lighting, work with group and more.

What you’ll be creating

We’ll start this tutorial by creating an autumn forest scene from two stock photos. Then we’ll adjust color, shade and light as well as make a dreamy effect. Later we’ll add the model and do some retouch to match her with the scene. After that we’ll use two stocks to create lighting effect. Finally we’ll use some adjustment layers to boost the final result. You’ll need Photoshop CS3 or newer to follow this tutorial.

Tutorial Resources

• Forest
• Ground
• Model
• Light 1
• Light 2
• Leaves

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the settings below:

Step 2

Open the forest image. Use the Move Tool (V) to drag it into our white canvas:

Go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal:

Step 3

To create some depth to the background , go to Filter > Blur > Gassian Blur and set the radius to 6 px:

Step 4

To make some light for the background, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves and increase the lightness:

On this Curves layer mask use a basic, soft brush with black color to erase the left:

Step 5

To make the left darker I used another Curves adjustment layer :

On this Curves layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the right to keep its brightness:

Step 6

Open the ground image. Hit Cmd/Ctrl+Option/Alt+Shift+N to make a new layer. Active the Clone Tool (S) and use it to remove some branches on the ground:

Step 7

Press Cmd/Ctrl+Option/Alt+Shift+E to merge the background layer and the clone one. Move the merged layer into our main document:

Click the second button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a mask to this ground layer. Use a soft black brush to remove the trees and blend the ground with the background:

Step 8

Apply Gassian Blur with 4 px to this ground:

On this Filter Mask use a soft black brush to remove the blur effect on the foreground:

Step 9

To change the color of the ground, I used an adjustment layer with Clipping Mask. Go to Layer > New Adjutment Layer > Hue/Saturation:

Step 10

Continue changing the ground color with a Color Balance adjustment layer:

Step 11

I used a Curves adjustment layer to add some light to the ground:

On this Curves layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the left and make the right brighter:

Step 12

Continue using another Curves adjustment layer to darken the left:

Erase the right on this Curves layer mask to keep it brighter:

Step 13

The ground needs some vibrant color so I used a Selective Color adjustment layer to do it:

Step 14

To add a dreamy effect to this ground, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color:

Lower the opacity of this layer to 30%, also use a soft black brush to remove this effect on the higher part and reduce it on the ground:

Step 15

To add some mist to the whole scene, I made a new layer, used a soft brush with white color to paint on the right of the pic. Change the mode of this layer to Soft Light 50%:

Step 16

On a new layer, use this brush with the opacity and flow about 30% to paint over the pic. Alter the mode to Soft Light 100%:

Step 17

Create a Curves adjustment layer on the top of all layers:

Step 18

Use Color Balance to add another colors to the scene:

Step 19

I used Selective Color with the same purpose:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush to reduce the effect on some of the trees below:

Step 20

We’re still in the process of adding color to the scene. On a new layer, I used a soft brush with the color #6e9299 to paint on the right side of the picture. Set the mode of this layer to Hard Light 100%:

Step 21

Make a new layer and use the same brush to paint on the right of the ground. Alter this layer mode to Hard Light 30%:

Step 22

To add more dreamy effect to the ground I used a soft brush with another color (#d2f0bb) to paint on the right of it. Change the mode to Soft Light 40%:

Step 23

Open the model stock photo and extract her from the background:

Step 24

Make a new layer and use the Clone Tool to remove the tattoo on one of her legs:

Step 25

In this step we’ll be adding more hair to the model. Make a new layer and use a basic, hard brush with the color #e9e1cc. Press F5 to change the settings of this brush:

Paint some hair strands on the top of the head and on the back:

On a new layer, change the color of this brush to #f5f2e6. Paint the bigger, flying strands and remember to use the [ and ] key to decrease and increase the size of the brush while painting:

I used a new layer and white color for the brush to paint some highlights for the hair:

Step 26

Merge the model layer, the clone and the hair ones. Place her in the middle section of the current image:

Create a new layer (Clipping Mask) and use a soft brush with the color #ccc8cb to paint on the model dress to reduce the light there. I set this layer mode to Multiply 70%:

Step 27

I used a Hue Saturation adjustment layer to reduce the saturation of the model:

Step 28

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to add some blue to the model. Use a soft black brush to reduce this effect on the model skin:

Step 29

Add a Photo Filter adjustment layer to the model and use a soft black brush to reduce the effect on the skin:

Step 30

I used Curves to reduce the light on the model and apply brushing on the mask:

Step 31

Add a Levels adjustment layer to brighten the right of the model and work on this layer mask after adjusting:

Step 32

In this step I used a soft brush with the color #6e8799 to paint on the hair to add more cyan to it. Set this layer mode to Color 100%:

Step 33

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

Take the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about 20% to refine the shade and light on the model. You can see how I did it with the Normal mode and the result with the Overlay mode:

Step 34

To enhance the lips, on a new layer I used a soft brush with the color #bc8a78 to paint there. Set this layer mode to Soft Light 100%:

Step 35

To make the background light reflected on the legs I created a new layer with a soft brush and the color #6e9299 to paint there. Turn this layer mode into Vivid Light 100%:

Step 36

Open the light 1 texture pack. Choose the starry 6 image and position it at the top right of the scene. Change the mode to Screen 100%:

Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges of this texture.

Step 37

I used a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to change this light color:

Step 38

Add a Levels adjustment layer to this light layer to reduce the light area a little. Erase the center of it (on the model arm):

Step 39

Open the light 2 image. As it has a transparent background so simply drag it onto the raising arm of the model using the Move Tool. Change this layer mode to Screen 100%:

Step 40

Open the leaves images pack. Choose the leaves you like to add to the scene, around the model, try to achieve a random effect. Here is my result:

Step 41

Add some bigger leaves to the edges of the picture and apply Gassian Blur with 8 px to them:

Step 42

Make the leaves layers selected and press Cmd/Ctrl+G to create a group for them. Change the mode of this group from Pass Through (default group mode) to Normal 100%. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to the top of the layers within this group to match their color with the leaves of the background and on the ground:

Step 43

I used Curves to brighten the leaves:

On this Curves layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the leaves on the left to keep them darker than the ones on the right:

Step 44

Right click the leaves group, choose Duplicate Group. Right click it, choose Merge Group and we have a new layer with the leaves selection. Turn off this layer.

Step 45

Make a new layer on the top. Hold down the Cmd/Ctrl key while clicking the leaves selection thumbnail layer to load its selection:

Use a soft brush with the color #a2ced7 to create more light and dreamy effect for them. Change the mode to Hard Light 100%:

Step 46

It’s time for coloring the scene. Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer on the top:

Change the mode of this layer to Soft Light 100% and use a soft black brush to erase the effect on the left side:

Step 47

I used Curves to add some light yellow to the scene:

Step 48

Increase the scene saturation with a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the model legs, arms, head and the ground:

Step 49

Enhance the color and light of the scene with Vibrance:

Here is the result on its layer mask and on the picture:

Step 50

I used Hue/Saturation to correct the color of some leaves on the right of the ground and add more cyan to the scene:

On this layer mask use a soft black brush to erase the parts we don’t want to be affected in this step:

Step 51

Final step: Make a new layer with the same settings in the step 33 but uncheck Clipping Mask option. Use the Dodge Tool to brighten the trees on the left edge as they need more light.

Final Results

Download the PSD

Tutorial by Jenny Le