“The Pain” – Create this Eerie Abstract Photo Manipulation

To remove the dark parts of this bandage ( from dark background in original) we’ll use Blend If tool. Right click this layer, choose Blending options. Hold down the Alt key while dragging black button of This Layer to get the value below:

This is what we have so far:

Step 20

Duplicate this layer, apply Flip Horizontal and move it to the left:

Step 21

Name them as “bandage 1”, “bandage 2”. With bandage 1 layer, I add layer mask and use hard black brush ( remember to choose brush with very big hardness, 90-100%) erase unecessary parts as shown below:

With bandage 2 I use transform tool ( hit Cmd/Ctrl+T) and choose warp mode to warp it around model head:

Add layer mask and use hard black brush on layer mask to clear unecessary parts:

Step 22

Now we will group bandage layers to be easier to edit them together. Choose bandage 2 layer, hit Cmd/Ctrl+G to make a group with this layer inside.

Choose bandage 1 layer and drag it into new group. Name this group as “bandages”. Change the mode of this group from Pass Through( default mode of group) to Normal.

Step 23

On bandage 2 layer, create two new adjustment layers to change color and reduce saturation of bandages. Because the mode of group is changed to Normal ( no Pass Through) so these two adjustment layers only affect the layers inside this group ( bandages).

Step 24

To make the bandages look more realistic, we will add shadow for them. Create a new layer under bandage group. Use soft black brush with different opacities to paint under them.

Step 25

Now we’ll add some blood to model face. Create a new layer above bandage shadow one ( and under bandage group) and set foreground to #c99ca1. Use soft brush to paint along the cheeks. This step is to create some blood stains:

Step 26

Create a new layer and use glossy blood splatter brushes with color #970314. Use any blood one you like and paint on left model cheek and transform it to be fit.

Add layer mask to clear any parts you don’t find suitable.

Create a new layer again and continue painting on the right side of model cheeks. I use a smaller brush and transform it as I usually do.

Step 27

In this step we’ll add some soaked blood effects on bandage ( blood from the eyes). Create a new layer above bandage group, name it ” blood wet” or whatever you like. Use soft brush with color #979314 paint on the eye parts covered by bandage. Change the mode to Soft light 100%:

Step 28

You can see some highlights on model lips. With this tutorial concept we need to remove it. Create a new layer on the top. I use brush with similar color with model lips ( #bbbebd) and paint on lips. Set the mode as Darken 100% ( it’s the best mode in this case).

Make a new layer and continue painting this brush over model lips, but with Soft light mode 100% to make a pale look for lips:

Step 29

To remove highlights on model nose I use brush with color #dedede. Paint and put the mode as Darken 100%:

Step 30

I use some adjustment layers to change color of picture. Go to Layer-New adjustment layer-Gradient Map:

Change the mode of this Gradient Map layer to Soft light 80%. Layer-New adjustment layer-Color Balance: