Photoshop Tutorials: Create This Incredible Surreal Photo Manipulation of a Dancer in Photoshop

Create This Incredible Surreal Photo Manipulation of a Dancer in Photoshop

Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:00 AM PST

Preview of Final Results

Download the PSD

Dancer in the Dark.zip | 91 MB

Tutorial Resources

Water Background – knightfall-stock
Tutorial Resources – Provided by author

Step 1

Create new document (File > New or Ctrl/Cmd+N)

Use the Paint Bucket tool (G) and fill with the color #A1A1A1. Then, add a black to white gradient map by going to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map.

Step 2 – Add Ground Layers

Add the ground layer (GROUND\IMG_6231). Scale the image using the Free Transform tool (Edit > Free Transform or Ctrl/Cmd+T). Now, I will change the shadows and light a bit. Because you never know how it will work with layers and which one will come later, you should convert your layer to a Smart Object. To do this, right-click on the layer and choose “Convert to Smart Object”. Now we are ready to use the Shadow/Highlights adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights).

Note: Every layer name will have the same number as the ones in the tutorial resources.

As you can see, the details of the rock has increased with the Shadow/Highlights adjustment..

Now I will add a layer mask and erase parts of the image that I don’t want. Click on the “Add layer mask” icon on the bottom of your Layers palette.

Info: Cienie / Podświetlenie mean Shadow/Highlights (Sorry about that, I use the Polish version of Photoshop)

Select the Brush tool (B) then paint with black on your layer mask. Usually, I just use the first default brush. You can change the opacity as needed. For this tutorial, I will only be using this brush.

Because the bottom of this photo is too blurry, I will add another ground layer. Add the next ground layer located in the folder Ground\IMG_6232. Using exactly the same step as before, I added a layer mask and painted on it with black.

Step 3 - Add Clouds layers

Now I will add some clouds using the exact same technique we did with the ground layers. Remember, you will get better results if you decrease your brush opacity; I usually work between 30-50%. First, I will add a new Gradient Map adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map). It will be the same gradient map as the previous layer so you can just duplicate the previous layer. To do this, select the layer then press Ctrl/Cmd+J to duplicate the layer. Move the layer to the top of your layer like shown in the image below.

CLOUD 6022 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6022
Blending Mode: Normal
Opacity: 100%

CLOUD 6011 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6011
Blending Mode: Vivid Light
Opacity: 100%

Copy Cloud 6011 then press Ctrl/Cmd+T to activate the Free Transform tool. Change the position and transform then press Enter or double-click on your image to apply the transformation. Set the layers blending mode to Overlay and opacity to 100%.