Create this Breathtaking Photo Manipulation of a Tightrope Dancer in Photoshop

Create this Breathtaking Photo Manipulation of a Tightrope Dancer in Photoshop
Create this Breathtaking Photo Manipulation of a Tightrope Dancer in Photoshop

Learn how to create this dangerous scene of a tightrope dancer over a beautiful twilight cityscape. This tutorial will show you how to blend photos together using color matching and light painting techniques.

Preview of Final Results

final-results

Download the PSD

Equilibrium.zip | 106.38 MB
Download from Website

Tightrope Dancer Photoshop Tutorial


Resources


Step 1

Open the 'City' Stock.

step-001

Step 2

Add a Color balance Layer adjustment:

  • Shadows: -33 0 +14
  • Midtones: -20 0 +26
  • Highlights: -19 0 +5

You'll have this result.

step-002

Step 3

Add a Brightness / Contrast Adjustments Layer with these settings:

  • Brightness: -105
  • Contrast: +64

This is the result.

step-003

Step 4

Now we have to add the 'Sky' to our work. So let's create some space above the city. Go to Image > Canvas Size and click on the arrow I'm going to show you below (1). Then replace the Height with 4912 Pixels (2).

step-004a

This is what we have now.

step-005

Step 5

Open the 'Sky' stock. After cropping the stock rules advise put it in a new layer above everything.

step-006

Step 6

Now resize the sky to fit it in the canvas.

step-007

Step 7

Add a Mask to the Sky layer. We need to blend it with the rest of the manipulation. Choose a soft round brush (Settings: Opacity > 30-40% - Size > 180 - Color > Black) and on the layer Mask start to paint at the bottom of the sky to gently delete the strong contrast between it and the city.

step-008

Step 8

Add a Color Balance Adjustment Layer ONLY for the Sky.

  • Shadows -37 0 0
  • Midtones -43 0 52
  • Highlights -38 0 42

This is the result.

step-009

Step 9

The background looks too saturated. Let's add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer

  • Saturation -14
  • Lightness -4
step-010

Step 10

Add a Brightness / Contrast Adjustment Layer to give more Light. Set the brightness to +20. Here's the result.

step-011


Step 11

Open the 'Lady' stock and cut her off her background. I know there are a lot of methods to do it. In this case I used the Pen Tool to be more precise. Place the Lady above all layers.

step-012

Step 12

Add a Hue / Saturation Layer ONLY for the Lady layer.

  • Master: Saturation -42
  • Reds: Saturation -41
  • Yellows: Saturation -18; Lightness -16
step-013

Step 13

Add a Color Balance Adjustment Layer ONLY for the Lady layer.

  • Shadows -10 0 +24
  • Midtones -14 0 +86
  • Highlights -18 0 +31

And this is the result.

step-014

Step 14

Add a Photo Filter ONLY for the Lady layer.

  • Filter: Cooling Filter 82
  • Density: 11%

Set this layer to Overlay with Opacity and Fill at 50%.

step-015

Step 15

Let's add some light. Create a new layer. Pick the White color and use the Gradient Tool (Radial) in the middle of the manipulation (as you see in the image below).

step-016

Set this layer to Overlay with Opacity at 70%. And this is the result.

step-017

Step 16

To Blend better the Lady we have to add some light behind her. Create a layer under the Lady layer and set it to Soft Light with Opacity 80%. Pick a soft round brush (Opacity > 30%; Size > 900px) and paint some light around her.

step-018

Step 17

Let's work now on the mood. Add a Selective Color Adjustment Layer above everything with these settings:

  • Blues: Cyan 0; Magenta: +6; Yellow: +54; Black +3.

This is the result.

step-019

Step 18

Open the 'Rope' Stock. Create a layer below the one you made for the light behind the Lady and put there the rope. Resize and rotate it (CTRL+T) until it fits the prospective.

step-020

Step 19

Add a Hue/Saturation Layer Adjustment ONLY for the Rope.

  • Master: Hue 180; Lightness -21.
step-021


Step 20

Create a new layer above evrything. We're going to add some shadow where the lady stands. Pick the color #04083b wirh a soft brush (30% Opacity) and paint some shadow on the rope and the girl's hands, then set the layer to Overlay.

step-022

Step 21

Let's go with some other lights! Pick the color #daffff. Chose a round hard brush and paint something like the image below.

step-023

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set 250 px.

step-024

Set the layer to Soft Light and we'll have this result.

step-025

Step 22

Add a Gradient Map Adjustment layer (Colors are shown below). Set the Layer to Soft Light with Opacity and Fill at 80%.

step-026

Step 23

Time to enhance our work. Create a new layer. Go to Edit > Fill > 50% Gray. Set the layer to Overlay. Use the Burn Tool to paint the shadows (Range: Midtones; Strength: 20), the Dodge Tool for lights (Range: Midtones; Strength 20) and highlights (Range: Highlights; Strength 15). Below you can see my dodge & burn.

step-028

And this is the result.

step-029

Step 24

Add a Brightness / Contrast Adjustments.

  • Brightness 5
  • Contrast 20
final-results[1]

Final Results

final-results[2]

Download the PSD

Equilibrium.zip | 106.38 MB
Download from Website

Tutorial by Fabrizio Panattoni

profileThank you for reading my tutorial. I hope it helped you to create your own art. If you want to see more artworks made by me, check my art page braciata.deviantart.com/

- Fabrizio Panattoni

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10 comments on “Create this Breathtaking Photo Manipulation of a Tightrope Dancer in Photoshop”

  1. Beautiful tutorial! I think it would be helpful if you showed where the tools/layers can be found like the other tutorials.

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