How to Create a Retro Surreal Photo Manipulation using Photoshop

Now activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 125px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 15%
Flow: 100%

Note: Use the default brushes and not the previous ones. Now, let’s paint:

The result:

Step 10: Add the textures

In this step, we will be adding some textures to give our image a grungy feel. Let’s open the first texture: “Paper Texture 1” by Wojtar Stock. Once opened, activate the Move tool (V) and drag this to our canvas. Position it this way:

Now, transform it to this size:

Once that is done, change its Blending Mode and Opacity to the following:

Blending mode: Soft Light
Opacity: 70%

The result of that would look like this:

Next, let’s open the “Old Paper 37 stock” by ofruin stock Move it to our canvas using the Move tool (V) and transform it to the size of our canvas.

After that, change the Blending mode and Opacity values to the following:

Blending mode: Color Burn
Opacity: 50%

Step 11: Adjust the feel of our image

Now we’re going to enhance the colors of our work. Let’s start by creating a Solid Color adjustment layer. To do that, click on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button located on the Layer Window. See image below:

After clicking on the Solid Color adjustment layer, the Color Picker box would appear. Once it appears, input the following:

#: 070937

Once you’ve done that, use the following:

Blending Mode: Exclusion
Opacity: 50%

After that, create a new Solid Color adjustment layer and input the following:

#: 503929

Apply the following:

Blending Mode: Soft Light
Opacity: 30%

Create a new Solid Color adjustment layer again, input the following:

#: d68230

Blending mode: Soft Light
Opacity: 10%

Now, let’s create a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button. See image below:

Once the box opens, input the following:

Brightness: -15
Contrast: -5

The image should now be looking like this:

Now, let’s create a Gradient Map adjustment layer:

Once the Gradient Map menu opens, choose the following gradient:

Now, you’ll see that your image is Black and White, what we do now is we change the Blending mode and Opacity to the following:

Blending Mode: Color
Opacity: 15%

Next, let’s create a Photo Filter adjustment layer.

When the box opens, input the following:

Warming Filter (81)
Density: 25%
Preserve Luminosity: Checked

Next, let’s create a Curves adjustment layer.

When it opens, input the following:

Input: 109
Output: 135

Next, create another Solid Color adjustment layer and input the following:

#: dca145

Then use the following:

Blending Mode: Hard Light
Opacity: 40%

Finally, create another Photo Filter adjustment layer and then use the following filter:

Cooling Filter (LBB)
Density: 25%
Preserve Luminosity: Checked

The final image should be similar to this:

Author’s Comment

This is where my head goes a lot of times. I hope you’d enjoy creating this tutorial and I hope this would help you in whatever you’re doing. Anyway, thank you for visiting this page and using my tutorial, if you want to see more of my art works, give me a shout at my website:https://www.wix.com/theflickerees/michaelVmanalo - Michael Vincent Manalo

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 ?