Create a Mysterious Underwater Scene with Photoshop

Step 28

On each of these castle layers, make a Color Fill layer and pick the color #033962. Lower the opacity of the castle layer on the right to40%and the rest to 30%.

Step 29

Make a group for these layers and change the mode to Normal 100%and create a Curvesadjustment layer to darken the towers. On the layer mask, use a soft black brush to reduce the effect on some details you feel too dark.

Step 30

Create aHue/Saturationadjustment layer to desatutate the towers:. Bring the Saturation values down to -67.

Step 31

Add a Color Balanceadjustment layer to match the color of the towers to fit the rest ones. Alter the Midtones settings:

Step 32

Create a new layer on top of the layers and use a soft brush with the color #fee9b1to paint on the top middle. Change the mode to Overlay 100%and use a layer mask to erase the castle part and make the effect visible on the sea and the sky only.

Step 33

Duplicate this layer and change the mode to Color 100%to turn the light's color to a warm yellow.

Step 34

Make a new layer and activate the Gradient Tool (G). Select Radial Gradient with default colors (black and white) and drag a line from the middle of the castle on the top to the left or right to get a similar result like below:

Change the mode to Overlay 100%and add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to erase the light on the castle and the part below it so it won't be brightened by this adjustment layer. This step is to change the light and contrast of the whole scene.

Step 35

Make a Color Balanceadjustment layer and change the Midtonesvalues to give the scene some nice blue .

Step 36

Create a Curvesadjustment layer to add some warm tone to the scene.

Make another Curvesadjustment layer to strengthen the shadow and contrast of the whole scene. On this layer mask, paint around the top middle and a part below the water to reduce the dark on these areas.

Step 37

Create a new layer on top of the layers and use a soft brush with the color #451c04to paint around the top castle. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%and use a layer mask to erase the light on the hind of the castle and the sea part below it as they're hidden from the light.

Step 38

Make a new layer and use the same brush to paint on the water part below the both sides of the top castle. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%and use a layer mask to reduce the light above the water's surface and on the rock .

Add a new layer and use the same brush, the same layer mode to paint more light on the both sides of the sea's surface. Use a layer mask to reduce the light on the uneccessary parts.

Step 39

To increase the mysterious feel for the scene, create a new layer and use a medium-soft brush with the color #c30202to paint some red light on some windows of the castles on top and the lower of the water.

Alter this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%and use a layer mask to reduce the light on the windows below the water so the effect appears more subtle.

4 comments on “Create a Mysterious Underwater Scene with Photoshop”

Gigi says:

December 21, 2019 at 6:11 am

Downloading the required materials is way too difficult. Sign up for this, sign up for that, etc., etc. I wanted to give the technique a try, but not at the expense of that much of my time.

1. Anonymous says:
  
  March 22, 2021 at 4:26 am
  
  Simple solution to this is to pay for stock photos. My opinion is that it's not worth using free resources unless it is for practice because when you make a final piece, you can rest assured that everything is rightfully licensed.
Yves Peeters says:

December 21, 2019 at 2:49 am

Dear,
Extraordinary and great work , also a very clear tutorial to follow.
Thaks for sharing , it is a great help .

Kind regards ,
Yves

Su says:

December 19, 2019 at 7:53 pm

Wow! This is so cool!
Thank you for this tutorial!!