In this tutorial, I will show you how to create an anti-alcohol concept in Photoshop using photo manipulation techniques. You will learn about combining images, working with masks, highlighting images, lighting, color correction and much more.
Stages of the lesson
At the beginning of this lesson, we will create a working scene, including the sky, paving stones, as well as steps and an arch. Next, we will add a model and carry out a small retouch of the model image. Then we add an image of smoke to create a dark and mystical atmosphere. After adding blood fragments, we will add several adjustment layers to enhance the color and contrast of the whole picture.
Next, we will work on the light effects and create a special “hell gate” effect, using several adjustment layers, a brush and a nebula texture. Finally, we will add an adjustment layer to improve the final result. To complete this lesson you will need a version of Photoshop CS3 or higher.
Final result
Source materials:
Step 1
Create a new document in Photoshop, set the following settings:
Step 2
Open stock image with sky. Using tool Move 
(Move Tool (V), move the sky image to our working document:
To darken the sky, add a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves). Let’s go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Curves):
Step 3
Open the stock image with the image of paving stones. Using tool Move (Move Tool), move this image to our working paper, placing it at the bottom of our scene. Apply the transformation (Ctrl + T), as shown in the screenshot below:
You can see that I turned the pavement to get the angle of inclination in accordance with the concept of this lesson.
Add a layer mask to the paving layer through the bottom toolbar. Using a soft black brush, process the edge of the pavement image to create a smooth transition:
Step 4
To darken the paving, add an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and use a soft black brush. opacity (opacity) and by pushing (flow) approximately 20%, hide the correction layer correction on the left side of the scene (as we plan to add a light source in this part of the scene, see the next steps).
Step 5
Open the image “Steps and arch”. Separate the image of the steps and the arch from the background:
Step 6
To remove unwanted parts in the steps, create a new layer and then select the tool Stamp 
(Clone Tool (S):
Using this tool, hide the indicated details:
Step 7
Turn off the background visibility by clicking on the eye next to the layer thumbnail. Next, press the keys (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E) to create a combined layer of the selected arch and steps, as well as a layer with stamp processing. Using tool Move (Move Tool), move the merged layer to our working document, placing the steps with an arch on the left side of our scene:
To the layer with the arch, add a layer mask. Using a soft black brush, process the edges of the steps, as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 8
To darken the steps and the arch, add an adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask:
Step 9
Separate the model image from the background. Move the selected image of the model to our working paper, placing in the right side of our scene, do not forget to rotate the image of the model in accordance with the angle of the paving stones:
Step 10
Create a new layer on top of the model layer as a clipping mask, change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay), layer opacity 100%, fill with 50% gray:
Using tool Clarifier
/ Dimmer 
(Dodge and Burn Tool (O), install Range (Ranges) on Mid tones (Midtones) value Exposure (Exposure) approximately 15-20%, enhance the contrast on the model’s face. You can see the result of my processing under the mode Normal (Normal) and the end result under mode Overlap (Overlay):
Step 11
We return to the original image with the model. Cut out the bottle cap and the pool of blood by moving them to our working paper and placing these parts next to the model image:
Step 12
Create a new layer below the model layer. Using a soft black brush, varying the opacity of the brush from 40% to 70%, draw the shadows under the model image, as well as under the lid.
Step 13
Select the model layer, the bottle cap layer, and the blood layer, then press the keys (Ctrl + G) to group them into one group. Change the blending mode for the layer with the group from the mode Skip (Pass Through (default group mode) on Normal (Normal), 100%. Inside the created group, create a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) on top of all other layers to darken the model and the corresponding details:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush, hide the correction in some areas, as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 14
Add a new adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to reduce the saturation of the layers within the created group:
Step 15
Next, add an adjustment layer. Curves (Curves), to slightly enhance the brightness of the image of the model:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush, hide the correction in some areas, as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 16
Open the image with smoke (you can use your original images). Go to bookmark Channels (Channels) in the layers palette, and then right-click on Red (Red) channel and in the window that appears, select the option Duplicate channel (Duplicate Channel):
While on the duplicate red channel, press the keys (Ctrl + L) to open the settings window Levels (Levels). Change the highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast:
Result:
Press the keys (Ctrl + Alt + 6) to load the smoke emission:
Switch to the RGB channel, then right-click on the active selection and select the option in the window that appears. Copy to new layer (Layer via Copy). We got a highlighted image of smoke on a new layer:
Step 17
Move the selected smoke image to our working paper, placing it on top of all other layers in the layers palette, and then flip horizontally. Let’s go Editing – Transformation – Flip Horizontal (Edit> Transform> Flip Horizontal):
To a layer with smoke, add a layer mask and use a soft black brush to hide separate parts of the smoke so that other details of the composition become visible:
Step 18
I used Curves (Curves) to darken this effect:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush with a very low opacity (10-15%), hide the correction in certain areas:
Step 19
Separate the blood from the background and then use the tool. Lasso 
(Lasso Tool (V), select the blood stream. Place the selected blood stream near the corner of the model’s lips, and then apply the deformation, go Editing – Transformation – Deformation (Edit> Transform> Warp):
Step 20
To the layer with blood, add a layer mask and with the help of a soft black brush, make a combination with a corner of the model’s lips, and also make a combination with a puddle on the ground:
Step 21
I used Curves (Curves) to darken the blood:
Step 22
Create a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) on top of all other layers to darken the whole scene:
Go to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and use a soft black brush to hide the correction curves in the arch area, since later we will add a slight glow in this area:
Step 23
Using the adjustment layer Color Balance (Color Balance), add a little mauve to the scene:
Step 24
I used an adjustment layer Photo Filter (Photo Filter) to add a turquoise hue to the scene:
Step 25
In continuation of the color correction of our picture, add an adjustment layer. Colour (Color Fill), let’s go Layer – New Fill Layer – Color (Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color):
Change the blending mode for this filled layer to An exception (Exclusion), layer opacity 40%:
Step 26
Add another adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) for color correction of the whole picture:
Step 27
Add adjustment layer Vibration (Vibrance) to enhance color shades:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush with a very naked opacity (20%), hide the red hues on the model’s face:
Step 28
To further reduce red hues, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation). Edit settings only Red (Red):
Step 29
In this step we will work on the arch and steps. Being on the topmost layer in the layers palette using the tool Lasso (Lasso Tool), create an active selection around the image of the arch, set the value Feathering (feather) at 70 (the shading value will depend on the size of your original image):
Next, go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Channel Mixing (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Channel Mixer):
Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Channel Mixing (Channel Mixer) and using a soft black brush, hide the shades of red, leaving only the red glow on the steps that comes from the arch. You can see my processing result in the screenshot below, as well as the final result:
Step 30
Apply the same technique on the layer mask of the new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves), because I decided to lighten the red glow effect:
Step 31
Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Using a soft brush, brush color # af696c, paint over the arch area. Change the blending mode for this layer to Hard light (Hard Light), 100%:
Step 32
Create a new layer. With the help of the same brush, paint over the top of the arch. This time, change the blending mode to Overlap (Overlay), 100%:
Step 33
Create another new layer. Using a soft white brush with an opacity of about 40%, lighten the red glow. Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay), 100%:
Step 34
Open image with nebula. To create a more “glowing” effect, I duplicated the layer with the nebula, and then applied the tool Plastics (Liquify Tool) to warp the nebula. Let’s go Filter – Plastic (Filter> Liquify) and select the tool Deformation (Forward Warp Tool):
With this tool, deform the nebula as you wish. My processing result in the screenshot below:
Step 35
Move the deformed nebula to our working paper, placing it over the arch, having previously reduced the size of the nebula. Change the blending mode for the nebula layer to Overlap (Overlay), 100%:
To hide the black edges of the nebula, double click on the layer with the nebula so that a window appears Layer styles (Layer Style) select the option Overlay options (Blending Options). Hold Alt + drag the black parameter slider This layer (This Layer) until the black edges disappear:
Step 36
To the layer with the nebula, add a layer mask and using a soft black brush, hide the preserved dark edges of the image:
Step 37
I used an adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to change the color of this effect:
Step 38
To make the effect more visible, I used an adjustment layer. Levels (Levels):
Go to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and use a soft black brush to hide the Levels correction in the area shown in the screenshot below:
Step 39
Finally, add an adjustment layer. Vibration (Vibrance) to enhance the final effect:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush, hide the shades of red on the model’s raised arm:
Final result
