How to Create a Retro Surreal Photo Manipulation using Photoshop

In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to create a retro image inspired by surrealism. Using several images, a few brushes and some textures, we’re going to make a seamless image of a girl holding a picture of an open mouth while half of her body is underwater together with a fish. We’re going to learn how to blend these images together so that they would really look like they’re underwater. Also, we’re going to learn how to make the viewer see both underwater and above-water and then we’ll learn how to blend textures and adjust the colors to give it a retro feel and many more.

Preview of Final Results

Download the PSD

Retro Surreal Photo Manipulation.zip | 135.23 MB Download from Website

Retro Surreal Photo Manipulation Photoshop Tutorial

Resources

36 underwater stock – winkstock
Sunny Field – frozenstocks
Bubbles – hawksmont
Bird Brushes II – lpdragonfly
Scary Fish – xNickixstockx
Model 36 – night fate stock
Mouth Detail Front – Della-Stock
Paper Texture 1 – wojtar-stock
Old Paper 37 stock – ofruin-stock

Step 1: Create a New Photoshop Image File

Okay, to start, let’s create a new image file, go to the Menu bar and click File > New, and then input the following values on their respective fields:

Width: 3000px
Height: 3000px
Resolution: 300pixels/inch
Color Mode: RGB Color; 8 bit
Background Contents: Transparent

STEP 2: Create the Sea In this step, we will be creating the sea which is the foreground of our picture. To start, open the image “36 underwater stock” by winkstock. Once you have it open, simply activate the Move tool (V) and drag it to our canvas. See the images below:

Once done, rename this layer to “water”. To rename a layer, simply double-click on the words: “layer 1” (that is our sea image) to prompt a text box to appear. Once that appears, you may now rename the layer.

Now that you’ve renamed it, we will resize this image. To resize it, activate the Transform tool by pressing Ctrl/Cmd + T. Follow the instructions on the image below:

The result should be similar to this:

After you’ve transformed it, we will now make the viewer feel that he/she is seeing both underwater and above-water. To start, activate the Polygonal Lasso tool by pressing L on your keyboard.

Once you’ve done that, follow the instructions below:

The result should be similar to the following:

After doing that we would have to make this cut look seamless, so we would need to blur the edge of this sea. To do that, activate the Blur tool by pressing R on your keyboard.

When its activated, change its settings to the following:

Brush size: 150px
Hardness: 0%
Mode: Normal
Strength: 100%

The result:

Now, let’s change the water’s color. To do that, click on its layer and go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance. Once open, use the following settings:

Color Levels: -20, 0, +35
Tone Balance: Midtones
Preserve Luminosity: Checked

The resulting color should be similar to the following:

Again, let’s adjust its color, this time we will be dealing with the tones of the water’s shadows. Start by clicking on the layer again and go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance. Once open, use the following settings:

Color Levels: -45, +25, +18
Tone Balance: Shadows
Preserve Luminosity: Checked

The result:

Step 3: Create the Sky

Now, it’s time we added the sky. Open Sunny Field by frozenstocks and once open, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M).

To use this tool and select the sky, simply point and drag the mouse from one point to another. Now create a selection area over the sky on the “Sunny field” image. See image below:

4 comments on “How to Create a Retro Surreal Photo Manipulation using Photoshop”

Kimmer says:

August 7, 2013 at 1:10 pm

It would have been much more helpful as a beginner if I could see what the layers looked like on the right side of the screen. As it was, the lasso tool at the very beginning working with the water lost me. Please don't assume you're dealing with experts when directing these tutorials!

kr en says:

January 9, 2013 at 12:30 am

koji si ti bumbar?????? ke je slika ud une pičke???? mamu ti jebem!!!

Xyh says:

September 21, 2012 at 7:22 am

The pic of the woman got deleted :(

Mladen says:

August 24, 2012 at 2:19 pm

I'm beginner , so I'm stuck on sky. When I put them on main picture (canvas) they are so small , and when I resize sky, resolution is changed and it looks really ugly. Any help ?