In this tutorial you will create a very interesting fantasy collage. Work with adjustment layers and masks, as well as light and shadow.
Here is the image that we will create.
To work, we need the following images: To take some of them you need to register on the deviantart.com website. Registration will take you a couple of minutes, for that you will have access to a huge selection of clip art for your works.
Materials for the lesson:
Brushes clouds, you can download and on our website.
Step 1. Download the sky image and open it in Photoshop. Now we need to correct it. Go to the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance) and set these settings as shown below.
Step 2. Now go to the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast) or click on the icon of adjustment layers at the bottom of the layers panel and set such settings as in the screenshot below.
Step 3. Now use Curves. To do this, go to the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Curves) and create a curve as shown in the screenshot. Then fill the layer mask with black. Choose white soft Brush 
(Brush) with a diameter of 300 pixels. Swipe the brush on the bottom left corner of the image. See the following image.
Step 4. Open the image with the mountain in Photoshop. Select it convenient for you and with the help of a tool Move
(Move) drag it to the main document. Right click on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object) / Call Free transformation (Free Transform) Ctrl + T and rotate the mount vertically. As an example, see the image below. Name this layer “Island”.
Step 5. Now we will add five adjustment layers and for each of them we will need Create clipping mask \ CreateClippingMask (RMB by layer and select this item). The first adjustment layer will do Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) Brightness 5, Contrast 64. Create a clipping mask for this layer.
Step 6. Add an adjustment layer Color balance (Color Balance), to do this, click on the icon of the adjustment layer in the layers palette. Create a clipping mask for this layer and use the following settings.
Step 7. The next adjustment layer we will add will be Photo filter (Photo Filter). Also enable this layer for this layer. Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask), use the settings as in the screenshot. Put the blending mode (blend mode) for a layer Overlap (Overlay) and lower opacity (Opacity) by 50%
Step 8. Add a new adjustment layer Gradient Map (Gradient Map), then Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask (right click on the layer and select this item)). Use the settings as in the image below and set the blending mode to Soft light (Soft Light) and lower the opacity by 60%.
Step 9. Select Tool Lasso
(Lasso Tool), set the feathering (feather) to 10 pixels. and create a selection as shown below. Now go to Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast and use -103 for Brightness and 63 for Contrast. Also create clipping mask.
Step 10. Select the “Island” layer and all adjustment layers that apply to it. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + G to place them in a group called “Island”.
Step 11 In this step we will align the lighting on the left side of the island, which, after selection, is very different from our drawing. To do this, create a New layer above the others in the “Island” group. Select the island itself (hold down Ctrl and click on the layer with the island), choose a soft brush with color # 140403 and paint over her left side of the island. See the screenshot below.
Step 12. Select a group “Isle” , then go in Layer> Mask Layer> Show All (Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal All). Choose a black, soft tassel and slide along the right side of the island to smooth out the sharply selected edge.
Step 13. Select layer “Isle” in the group, then go to the menu Filter – Noise- Reduce Noise (Filter> Noise> Reduce Noise) and use the settings as shown below.
Step 14. Open the image with the lock in Photoshop. Highlight the castle and buildings and move them to your main document. Right click on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object). Call Free transformation (Free Transform) Ctrl + T, turn the lock so that it is located on top of the island. Name this layer ” Castle”.
Step 15. Select the lock layer and go to Layer> Mask Layer> Show All (Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal All). Choose a black, soft brush and erase the bottom of the lock.
Step 16. Now we will add seven adjustment layers for the “Castle” layer. For each of them will require Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask (right click on the layer and select this option)).
The first will be a correction layer Color balance. To do this, go to the menu Layer – Corrective Layer – Color Balance (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance) Create clipping mask for this layer and use the following settings.
Step 17. The next adjustment layer we add will be Photo filter (Photo Filter). Also enable this layer for this layer. Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask) and use the settings as in the screenshot. Set blend mode for layer Overlap (Overlay) and lower opacity (Opacity) by 50%
Step 18. Add a new adjustment layer Gradient Map (Gradient Map), then Create clipping mask (RMB by layer and select this item). Use the settings as in the image below and set the blending mode to Soft light (Soft Light) and lower opacity by 30%.
Step 19. Now we need to fix the lighting on the right side of the castle. To do this, create a new adjustment layer. Curves (New Adjustment Layer> Curves), right-click on the layer and select the option Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask). Settings for Curves, see below. Then fill the layer mask with black, take a white, soft Brush (Brush) and draw a brush on the right side of the castle. To understand exactly where you need to work with a brush, look at the image below.
Step 20. And now we need to add a little shadow on the left side of the castle. To do this, add the adjustment layer again. Curves. Do not forget to include in the layer options clipping mask. Settings for Curves Use as in the screenshot below. Then fill the layer mask with black, take a white, soft Brush (Brush) and brush with a brush on the left side of the castle. To understand exactly where you need to work with a brush, look at the image below.
Step 21. Add the adjustment layer again Curves. Do not forget to include in the layer options clipping mask. Settings for Curves Use as in the screenshot below. Then choose black soft Brush (Brush) and on the layer mask, draw a brush on the bottom of the lock.
Step 22 Now we do it, let’s go. Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask). Layer Settings Brightness / Contrast Use as in the screenshot below. Fill the layer mask with black color, take a white soft Brush (Brush) and paint with a brush on the left side of the castle.
Step 23 Hold key Ctrl and select the lock layer and all seven adjustment layers you created for it, then merge them into a group Ctrl+G. Name the group “Castle”.
Step 24 Create a new layer; select black, soft Brush (Brush) and draw over the castle as shown below. Install Opacity (Opacity) of this layer 70%.
Step 25. Create a new layer above the others in the group. “Castle”, Select the castle itself (hold Ctrl and click on the layer with the lock), choose a large, soft Brush (Brush) black and draw on the left side of the castle. Put the blending mode (Blending mode) for this layer on Soft light (Soft Light) and lower the opacity by 60%.
Step 26. Download the image of dragons 1, cut out the orange dragon and move it to the main document. Right click on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object). Call Free Transformation (Free Transform) Ctrl + T, reduce this layer and place it below the “Castle” group. Name the layer “Dragon 1”.
Step 27. Now go to the menu Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) and set a radius of 2 pixels. Then fill Smart filter mask black, choose soft white Brush (Brush) and run along the left wing of the dragon, It will give him the effect of movement.
Step 28. Now we do it, let’s go. Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask). Set Brightness 57, Contrast 40.
Step 29. Let’s create New Curves Correction Layer (New Adjustment Layer> Curves), right click the mouse on the layer and select option Create clipping mask. Settings for Curves see below. Then fill the layer mask with black color, take a white, soft brush and brush over the dragon as shown in the picture. Then select the layer “Dragon 1” and the two adjustment layers you created for it and merge them into a group called “Dragon 1.”
Step 30. It’s time to draw lava. For this we go on the menu Layer – New – Group (Layer> New> Group) let’s name the created group “Lava” and put blending mode (blending mode) for a group Lightening basics (Color Dodge). Create a new layer in the group, double-click on the layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings as shown in the screenshot. Then put blending mode for this layer Overlap (Overlay). Now take a white, soft Brush (Brush) with a diameter of 2-3 pixels. and start drawing lava. See the following image.
OuterGlow – External glow, InnerGlow – Internal glow
Step 31 Keep creating lava. Create another layer, add the same layer styles, draw the lava below the castle, add a layer mask, make the lava transition smoother. Also add lava drops using Brush (Brush). See the image to better understand the process.
Step 32 Now we will create the effect of splitting stones from the island. To do this, duplicate the group “Island”, then click PKM by group and convert it to Smart object (Smart Object) and move this layer to the very top in the created Effect group.
Step 33 Choose a tool Lasso (Lasso Tool) shading 0 pix. and make small selections around the edges of the island. Copy them to a new layer. Ctrl+J and move the fragments as if they were splitting off the island. The author made about 50 fragments and each of them is on a new layer. You can do as you please. After this work, you can remove or hide the layer with a copy of the island.
Step 34 Upload the image of dragons 2, select the dragon with the tool Lasso (LassoTool) and move it to the main document. Click PKM on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object). Call Free transformation (Free Transform) Ctrl + T, reduce this layer and name it “Dragon 2”.
Step 35 Now we do it, let’s go. Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask \CreateClippingMask . Set the Brightness -29, Contrast 73.
Step 36 Now we need to fix the lighting on the dragon. To do this, create New Curves Correction Layer (New Adjustment Layer> Curves), right click the mouse on the layer and select the option Create clipping mask. Settings for Curves see below. Then fill those layer mask with black, take a white, soft Brush (Brush) and swipe over the head and wings.
Step 37. You need to add a little shadow to the dragon. To do this, create New Curves Correction Layer (New Adjustment Layer> Curves), right-click on the layer and select the option Create clipping mask. Settings for Curves, see below. Then fill the layer mask with black, take a white, soft brush and run along the tail and legs of the dragon.
Step 38 Go to the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask and set these settings as shown below. Select the “Dragon 2” layer and the adjustment layers that you created for it and group it into (Ctrl+G) under the name “Dragon 2”.
Step 39. Reload the sky image in Photoshop and drag it into the main document. Then go to the menu Layer – Layer Mask – Show All (Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal All) Using the tool Gradient 
(Gradient Tool), color from black to white, draw a gradient from top to bottom. Put the blending mode (blending mode) for this layer Darkening basics (Color Burn) and Opacity (Opacity) 30%.
Step 40. Drag the sky image into the main document again. Call free transformation (Free transform) Ctrl+T and reduce the sky, placing it at the top right. Install Blend mode (blending mode) for this layer Overlap (Overlay). Add a layer mask by clicking on the icon at the bottom of the layers panel and use a soft, black brush to erase the edges of the image with the sky. Go to the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask) and set these settings as shown below.
Step 41 Do the previous step, but this time position the image with the sky at the top left. Merge all layers with the sky into the group Ctrl + G and name it “Sky”.
Step 42 Create a new layer by clicking on the icon at the bottom of the layers palette and fill it with black color. Right click on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object). Then the menu Filter – Rendering – Blick (Filter> Render> Lens). Use the settings in the screenshot below.
Around the highlight, the lighting in the sky took a strong red tint, in order to fix this, go to the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Curves), right-click on the layer and select the option Create clipping mask. Settings for Curves, see below.
Step 43 Now we do it, let’s go. Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast), here create clipping mask not necessary, set the layer settings as in the screenshot. Fill the layer mask with black, select a white soft Brush (Brush) and create some rays. To better understand this process, see the following image.
Step 44. Download cloud brushes or download an image of clouds using the link indicated at the beginning of the lesson, create a new layer above the rest and draw clouds on it as shown in the figure below. Set the blending mode for this layer. Lightening (Screen).
Step 45. Now we do it, let’s go. Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask (Create Clipping Mask). Use the settings as screenshot below. Then we go like this: in the menu Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask and set these settings as shown below.
Step 46 Repeat the previous two steps, place the second layer with clouds just to the left and below (see the figure below), combine the two layers with clouds and the four adjustment layers that you created for the clouds into one group Ctrl+G and name the group “Clouds”.
Step 47. Add another dragon to the main document. Right click on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object). Take advantage of Free transformation (Free Transform) using the key combination Ctrl+T. Shrink the dragon and position it as shown. Then go to the menu Layer – Layer Mask – Show All (Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal All). Take black, soft Brush (Brush) and swipe along the edges of the wings of the dragon, so the effect will be like the wings shine from the bright light. Put the Blend mode (blending mode) for this layer Linear light (Linear Light). Now we go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask. Use the settings as screenshot below. Combine these two layers in a group and name it “Dragon 3”.
Step 48 Add the fourth dragon to the main document. Right click on this layer and convert it to Smart object (Convert to Smart Object). Take advantage of Free transformation (Free Transform) using the key combination Ctrl+T. Shrink the dragon and position it as shown. Then go to the menu Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) and use the settings as in the screenshot. Now again the menu Filter – Blur – Motion Blur (Filter> Blur> Motion Blur) and set the settings as in the screenshot.
Install blending mode (blending mode) for this layer Linear light (Linear Light) Now we go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Brightness / Contrast(Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Brightness / Contrast). In the layer options, enable Create clipping mask. Use the settings as screenshot below. Combine these two layers into a group and name it “Dragon 4”.
Step 49 In this step, we will add a flame to the first dragon, escaping from its mouth. To do this, take any image with fire or use the link at the beginning of the lesson, cut the appropriate element and using Free transformation (Free Transform) Ctrl+T , insert it near the dragon’s mouth.
Step 50. Create a new layer above all the others and use soft, white Brush (Brush), draw a few lines over the fire. Double click on the layer to call Layer styles (Layer Style) and use the settings as shown in the screenshot below.
OuterGlow – External glow,InnerGlow – Inner glow.
Well, that’s it, our flying island is ready. Working with corrective layers is very interesting and useful and I hope you have had the opportunity to practice using them in this lesson. View in real size here.
Author: Constantin potorac
