How to Create Dramatic Sci-Fi Photo Manipulation in Photoshop

How to Create Dramatic Sci-Fi Photo Manipulation in Photoshop
How to Create Dramatic Sci-Fi Photo Manipulation in Photoshop

After you're done make Master Diameter of the brush smaller (2 - 4 pixels) and higher its Opacity on about 50%. Paint thin orange lines on the edges of buildings. Below you can see exactly what I mean.

19_2[3]

Paint the same way around all flames you put in the image. Below you can see few more examples to give you the idea of what to do.

19_3[3]
19_4[3]

Step 20 - Increasing Contrast of Background

According to me background would deserve bit more contrast. To increase it add new adjustment layer Levels and set the Input Levels on 23; 0,93; 235.

20_1[3]

You don't want to adjust the woman. To avoid that make selection of woman - press Ctrl and click on the Layer thumbnail of WOMAN.

20_2[3]

It activates mask of the woman.

Click on the layer mask of the adjustment layer Levels you've just added (with mask of woman still activated). Grab the Brush Tool (B), set the Opacity on 100% and pick black color. Paint inside the mask to hide the adjustment there.

Below you can see how your image looks so far.

20_3[3]

Step 21 - Global Adjustments

Blue and cyan tones would suit better to the atmosphere of this picture. You'll add them in this step.

Let's start with gentle desaturating. Add new adjustment layer Hue/Saturation on the top of all layers and set the value Saturation on -25.

21_1[3]

For colder color palette add new adjustment layer Color Balance on the top of all layers and set it as shown below.

21_2[3]

Step 22 - Adding Moon

I think that the right part of sky is too empty. That's why you'll add moon there in this step.

Download the stock photo of moon listed in the beginning of this tutorial and drag it into your photo manipulation. Place it on the top of all layers and name it MOON.

To get rid off the black background around grab the Magic Wand (W), select the black part and then simply press Delete on your keyboard to delete it.

To blend the moon even better with the rest of the image change its Blending Mode from Normal to screen.

22_1[3]

There also should be some aura around the moon. Add new layer under MOON and name it MOON'S AURA. Grab the Brush Tool (B), select some big soft round brush and lower the Opacity on 15%. Pick some very light cyan or blue color and paint one big dot under the moon to create the aura. Below you can see what I mean.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

90% Off Cyberpunk Preset Bundle
Sponsored

Make your artwork look like they're from an alternate universe. These Cyberpunk presets work with Photoshop (via the Camera Raw filter) and Lightroom. Download all 788 presets for 90% off.

5 comments on “How to Create Dramatic Sci-Fi Photo Manipulation in Photoshop”

  1. Amazing photo manipulation tutorial in Photoshop. Local adjustment, global adjustment, fire and light effects are raeally art work.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cross