Sunday, April 18, 2010

Create a Floating Island Scene

preview
In this photo manipulation tutorial, you will learn how to create a realistic composition of a sunset in a world with floating islands! We will cover professional-level Photoshop tricks such as adding accurate shadows and highlights, various blending techniques such as giving the image a soft focus effect and altering luminosity and shadows of the scene, adding haziness, and much more



Step 1 – Create a new file

Create a new file The image that we would be creating may be used as a high-resolution desktop wallpaper thus the following settings to begin with:
  • Width: 1800px
  • Height: 1500px
  • Resolution: 300 dpi
  • Color Mode: RGB Color; 8bit
  • Background Contents: Transparent
step1_create_new

Step 2 - Create the scenery

To begin, let’s open “River Stock 3”. Use your Move tool (V) and drag it to our canvas, with the image in place, activate your Transform tool by pressing Ctrl/Cmd + T and rotate the image.
step2a_rotate
The sky of our present image doesn’t look that good, so we have to change it. Open “Field of dreams”, then select its sky using the Marquee tool (M) and drag the selected region to our canvas using the Move Tool (V). Once it is on our canvas, transform the image by pressing Ctrl/Cmd + T. Flip the image horizontally once the transform menu pops up and rotate that selected sky.
step2b_rotate_2
We would need to erase the unwanted parts of our sky to bring out the mountains. Activate the Eraser tool (E) and use the following option values:
  • Brush size: 300px
  • Hardness: 0%
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
Note: The brush hardness can be activated by pressing the drop-down menu on the Brush size tab.
step2c_brush_hardness
Now that you have your Eraser tool ready, we can now erase parts of the sky that covers our mountains.
step2d_erase
We will be increasing the hazy effect on the mountains. Create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) then name that layer “hazy”, you may rename it by double clicking on the word “layer” and typing a new name for it. Activate your Brush tool (B) and enter these values:
  • Brush size: 175px
  • Hardness: 0%
  • Opacity: 15%
  • Flow: 100%
Use the Brush Tool on the region indicated by the image below.
step2e_brush
We would need to darken a small part of the sky to make the sky look a bit more dramatic. Create a new layer and name it “Darken” then activate your brush tool and use the same Brush values above.
step2f_darken 

Step 3 - Add the floating islands

In this step, we will be adding the floating islands. Open “James Bond island 1.2” and drag it to our canvas. We would need to resize this image due to its size. Activate your Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) to resize and to rotate the image.
step3a_transform
Now that the first floating island is in place, we would need to separate it from its background. Activate your Magic Wand (W) tool and select the regions you want removed and after selecting those just press delete. Notice that the Magic Wand tool doesn’t totally remove all those unwanted areas, so we would have to erase it manually. Activate your Eraser tool (E) and erase the areas that have not been removed. For more accuracy, I suggest you increase the zoom to 400%. You can do that by going to the Navigator window and increasing the Zoom slider or the Zoom level. Erase those areas and come up with an image similar to the one below:
step3b_after_erasing
Next, we will fix the shape of the island. Activate the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and see reference below for the area we need to remove.
step3c_polygonal_lasso_tool
Now the image should be similar to this:
step3d_output
To thoroughly fix the shape of the island we would need to transform it. Activate the Transform tool and click on Warp from the contextual menu.
step3ea_warp
After doing that rename the layer to “island 1” and reduce its Opacity to 90% to make it blend with the background.
To make it more seamless, we would need to decrease the opacity of a small part of the island. Activate your Eraser tool (E) and use the following values:
  • Brush size: 200px
  • Hardness: 0%
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
step3eb_seamless
For the second island, we would need to duplicate (Ctrl/Cmd + J) “island 1” then rename the duplicated layer as “island 2”. Resize “island 2” through the Transform tool and after resizing it, flip it horizontally. We would need to flip it horizontally to give variety over the islands.
step3f_island2_resized
Then after that, reduce its Opacity to 80%. Now duplicate “island 2” and rename that layer “island 3”. Activate your Transform tool once again because we need to reduce its size.
step3g_island3_resized
Now we would need to make this small island different from the two other islands. Activate the Eraser tool (E).
step3h_island3_erased
After that, reduce its Opacity to 55%. Duplicate “island 3”, rename it “island 4” and then scale it down using the Transform tool.
step3i_island4_transform
Reduce its Opacity now to 40%. Click on “island 2” and duplicate it. Rename that layer “island 5” and resize it using your transform tool.
step3j_island5_resized
Now we would need to erase some parts of it to make this island distinctive. Now activate your Polygonal Lasso tool (L) and follow instructions on the image below:
step3k_island5_distinct
After that just press Delete to erase the region within the Polygonal Lasso tool’s selection then reduce the Opacity of “island 5” to 60%. Now let’s put the big floating island in our picture. Click on “island 1”, duplicate it, and then rename that layer as “island 6”. We want this island to appear massive because it is near the viewer so let’s increase its size using the Transform tool.
step3Laisland6_resized
Because it has been resized to a large scale, the island now has gotten blurry. We would need to sharpen that. Click on the “island 6” layer and go to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. That doesn’t do much good, so we would need to sharpen it a bit more by using the Activate your Polygonal Lasso Tool (L).
step3Lb_sharpen_with_lasso
After deleting the selection, you’d notice that it now has gotten too sharp and very uneven. To fix that, let’s use the Eraser tool (E) to fix the unwanted sharpness.
step3Lc_smoothen_using_eraser
Duplicate “island 1” once again and rename this layer “island 7”. We would need to increase its size again, so activate your transform tool and scale it.
step3m_island7_resized
Then change its Opacity to 100%. After that, group all the island layers. Click on Layer > New > Group and it would appear on top of all the layers present in our canvas. Select all the island layers and drag them to the new Group. Rename that Group as “Islands”
step3n_group 


Step 4 - Create the ambient light

Now it is time we deal with the lights and shadows. Activate your Dodge and Burn tool (O) and click on “island 1”. (Note: To change to the Dodge tool or to the Burn too, simply left-click and hold on the respective button to bring up the menu) Activate the Dodge tool and use these values:
  • Brush: 125px
  • Range: Midtones
  • Exposure: 15%
step4_dodge
We’ll also need to add in some shadows to “island 1”. Activate your Burn tool and input these values:
  • Brush: 200px
  • Range: Midtones
  • Exposure: 30%
step4_burn
Now let’s edit the light on “island 2”. Click on that layer and use the same Dodge tool values above.
step4a_dodge_2
For “island 3”, use the same Dodge values.
step4b_dodge_3
The light on the 3 islands should be similar to the image shown below.
step4c_output
The light on “island 4 and 5” is acceptable so there is no further need to edit its light condition. Now focus on “island 6”. We will give it a hazy effect so activate your Eraser tool (E) and use the following values:
  • Brush size: 200px
  • Hardness: 0%
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
step4d_hazy
We would need to adjust the shadows of “island 6”. Create a new layer and activate your Brush tool then use these values:
  • Brush size: 300px
  • Hardness: 0%
  • Opacity: 50%
  • Flow: 100%
step4e_burn
Now let’s make the light more ambient. Click on the “island 6” layer then go to Filter > Render > Lens Flare and then input these values:
  • Brightness: 80%
  • Lens type: 105mm Prime
step4f_lens_flare
To increase that effect, create a new layer and name it “light1”. Activate your Brush tool (B) and use these values:
  • Brush size: 400px
  • Hardness: 0%
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
step4g_light1 

Step 5 - Create the roots

To make the floating islands look like they’ve come from the ground, we would need to put some roots on the bottom of the island. Let’s create a new layer outside the “Islands” group and name that “roots 1”. Activate your Brush tool (B) and right click on the image to bring up the Brush tool menu then click on the drop down menu to bring up the contextual menu, and then click on Load Brushes. Once the Windows Explorer box opens, locate the brush “Rons Winter Collection” and press load.
step5_load_the_brush
Let’s now change its color, click on the Set foreground color and input this value on the # box:
  • #: 22320d
step5b_color_picker
We would be applying the roots on “island 6”. Make sure that the currently active layer is “roots 1” then set the Brush values to:
  • Brush size: 200px
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
step5c_apply_roots_brush
Now after transforming it, activate your Marquee tool (M). See image below for instructions.
step5d_marquee_duplicate
Rename the duplicated layer as “roots 2”.
Next we would have to move and erase some parts of our roots. See image below.
step5e_move_erase
When erasing the excess, I would recommend using these Eraser tool (E) values:
  • Brush size: 50px
  • Hardness: 100%
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
The result now should be similar to this:
step5f_result
Now let’s put some roots on “island 7”. We won’t need to put any roots on the other islands for it would just be too hard to see. Select “roots 1” and “roots 2” and right click on any of those layers then when the contextual menu pops up, just click Duplicate layers and press OK then rename them as “roots 3” and “roots 4” respectively. Move those layers up to where “island 7” is located.
step5g_duplicate_and_move
Group those layers and rename the Group as “Roots”.

Step 6 - Add a flock of birds

Now to add some color or life, let’s add some birds. Create a new layer and name it “Birds” then open “Bird Brushes” from the Brush tool’s menu.
step6a_pick_this_brush
Use these brush values:
  • Brush size: 100px
  • Opacity: 100%
  • Flow: 100%
step6b_apply 

Step 7 - Retouch the image

Now let’s enhance the overall image by changing its tones and color. Click on the “Create new fill layer or adjustment layer”.
step7a_click_this
From the “Create new adjustment layer” button pick Color Balance. When the box pops up input these values respectively:
  • +13, 0, –27
  • Tone Balance: Midtones
  • Preserve Luminosity: Checked
step7b_color_balance
Next, add a solid color and from the “Create new adjustment layer” click on Solid Color from the contextual menu. Input this value when the Color Picker box opens:
  • #: 443523
When the color appears on our canvas, change the following settings in the Layer window:
  • Blending mode: Soft Light
  • Opacity: 40%
Apply another Solid Color on our image and input this value:
  • #: f1820b
Then use these settings:
  • Blending mode: Soft Light
  • Opacity: 15%
Create a Gradient Map from the Adjustment Layer button.
step7c_gradient_map
As it appears on our Layer window, change the settings to:
  • Blending mode: Luminosity
  • Opacity: 100%
Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the New Adjustment Layer button then set its values to:
  • Edit: Master
  • Hue: 0
  • Saturation: 7
  • Lightness: 5
Next, we create a Curves adjustment layer. Then use these values:
  • Channel: RGB
  • Input: 122
  • Output: 134
step7d_curves
Create a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer then input these values:
  • Brightness: 4
  • Contrast: 10

Step 8 - Make the image look dreamy

Now let’s add a dreamy effect to our scenery. Right click on any layer then press Flatten Image. Then duplicate our image (Ctrl/Cmd + J). While the duplicated layer is selected, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and input this value:
  • Radius: 16.0
step8a_gaussian_blur
Then press OK. Now on the Layer window, use these settings:
  • Blending mode:
  • Screen Opacity: 25%
Now, you’d probably notice that the image lacks dark tones, so let’s fix that. Create a Selective Color adjustment layer and then input these values:
  • Colors: Blacks
  • Cyan: 0
  • Magenta: 0
  • Yellow: 0
  • Black: 5
  • Method: Absolute
step8_selective_color 
Now that that’s done, let’s Flatten the image.

Step 9 - Sharpening and saving as PSD

Before anything else, you may want to save it as PSD file so you may edit the image again in the future. After that, let’s sharpen the image. Go to Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen and input these values:
  • Amount: 125%
  • Radius: 1.0
  • Remove: Gaussian Blur
  • More Accurate: Checked

Step 10 - Saving the file to TIFF and Jpeg

After you’ve done the sharpening, you may flatten the image by right clicking on any layer and clicking Flatten Image. You may want to save it as a TIFF file first, which would allow you to do some quick changes to the image, like adjustment layers and fill layers without reducing its quality. You can view cracks in the image through the Histogram. Finally, save it as a .jpeg image.
Note: Over edited .Jpeg files would reduce the image’s quality, especially in print.
Floating Islands