Step 14

Duplicate the layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) then reduce the opacity of this new layer to 70%. The layer should be clipped to the previous layer as well – if it isn’t, right-click on the layer and choose Create Clipping Mask.

Step 15

Open the Brain image then copy and paste it to your main document. Use the Free Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T or Edit > Free Transform) to scale it like shown in the image below. Hold shift to constrain the proportions.

Step 16

Create a cutout of the brain. There are many ways of doing this such as using the Lasso Tool (L).

Step 17

Open the image of the model then copy and paste it to your main document. Use the Free Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T or Edit > Free Transform) to scale the image like shown below then go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.

Step 18

Create a cutout of the model like shown in the image below. Erase her right leg to around the knees.

Step 19

Use the Free Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T or Edit > Free Transform) to scale the model so that it looks seated on the brain.

Step 20

Create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+N or Layer > New > Layer) and position this layer below the layer of the model.

Step 21

Select the Brush tool (B) then load the brush shown in the image below.

Paint the hair by clicking once anywhere. Make sure that your foreground color is black and brush opacity set to 100%.

Step 22

Rename the layer to “Hair” then go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.

Now rotate and position her hair like shown in the image below. Once you’re done, you can duplicate the layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) and resize it to add more hair. If you do this, make sure you merge both of the layers back together by pressing Ctrl/Cmd+E (with the top hair layer selected).

Step 23

Create a new layer below the Sea layer. Set your foreground color to white then select the Brush tool. Using a soft brush (0% feather) with a brush size around 600 pixels, paint around the landscape like shown in the image below.

Step 24

Rename this layer to “White Glow” then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set the radius to 43 pixels then click OK.

Step 25

Duplicate this layer then drag the new layer above the Sea layer. Make sure it is clipped to the layer below – if it isn’t, right-click and select Create Clipping Mask. Set the blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 26

Activate the Free Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T or Edit > Free Transform). Scale the image like shown below.

Step 27

Select the first Dodge/Burn layer.

Use the Burn tool (B) to burn the area shown in the image below. I used a brush size of 1300 pixels with the range set to midtones and exposure at 100%.

Step 28

Select the layer with the model. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance. Apply the settings as shown below.

Step 29

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation. Apply the settings as shown below.

Step 30

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter. Apply the settings as shown below.

Step 31

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast. Apply the settings as shown below.

Step 32

Select the four adjustment layers (Hold Ctrl/Cmd to select more than one layer) then right-click and choose Create Clipping Mask.