In this tutorial, I will show you how to add surreal effects to a photo. We will consider working with blending modes, use the tool Plastics (Liquify tool), as well as brushes. This effect is useful for creating a beautiful poster or flyer. I suggest you experiment with light effects and color shades!
The final result:
Step 1
Create a new document. Next, add an adjustment layer. Colour (Color Fill) through the bottom of the layers panel. The fill color is dark blue (# 000618).
In this lesson we use a portrait photo of a girl. You can use full-length images or images with objects. Color shades and settings will depend on the selected images.
Separate the image of the girl from the background using the selection tool you prefer to work with. There are many lessons on the selection of objects, so I will not dwell on this point, however, I used and recommend that you use the tool Pen 
(Pen tool).
First, let’s do a little color correction of the image of the girl.
To the girl’s image layer, add an adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) as a clipping mask. Set the following settings:
- Red / red (-22)
- Green / green (+6) and
- Blue / blue (+26)
Next, add an adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) on top of the adjustment layer Color Balance (Color Balance) as a clipping mask. Set the curves for each channel, as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 2
Next, we will work on creating the background, which will require 4 additional layers to create – this is a great opportunity to experiment with light effects, as well as with color!
Create a new layer on top of the fill layer. Colour (Color Fill), change the blending mode for this layer to Multiplication (Multiply).
Using a large soft black brush, paint over the edges of the working paper.
Create a new layer on top of all layers, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Using a very large soft brush, set the color of the brush to a light blue tint (# 305bff), paint right behind the image of the girl.
Create a new layer on top of all layers, change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Using a soft brush of medium size, the color of the brush is white, paint over the image of the girl. The glow should be a bit more concentrated, but the glow should remain soft.
Create a new layer on top of all layers, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Next, using a very large soft brush, the color of the brush is light pink, paint the corners of the working document, as shown in the screenshot below. Decrease opacity (Opacity) of this layer up to 40%.
Group all layers in one group, including the adjustment layer fill. Colour (Color Fill). Name the new group “Background”.
Step 3
Next, we will add light effects to the girl’s face / image.
To the girl’s image layer, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask. Set the value Brightness (Brightness) -18, and the value The contrast (Contrast) 64.
Create a new layer on top of the adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask. Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Using a soft brush of medium size, the color of the brush is blue, the same shade with which you painted around the girl’s image (# 6392ff), paint over the edge of the girl’s image. I used opacity (Opacity) brush 40%, so I could gently apply color.
As soon as you add a blue tint, further, in the same way, add a little pink tint (# ff2267), but slightly reducing the treatment area.
Create a new layer on top of all layers as a clipping mask to the last layer you created in the previous step. Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Now do the exact same thing you did before! Paint it blue and pink along the edge of the image of the girl, brightening the image.
Step 4
Now, go to the bubbles. They are incredibly easy to create!
Using tool Oval area 
(Elliptical Marquee tool), create a circular selection.
Create a new layer, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Using a large round soft brush, the blue color is the same color that you used when creating the background, opacity (Opacity) brush about 25%, paint about 1/3 of the round selection. Focus more on the edges and also in the middle to make it look like a crescent.
Using the same brush, brush color is white, set the mode for the brush Overlap (Overlay), (the mode can be changed in the upper brush settings panel to the left of the option Opacity (Opacity)), in the same way as in the previous action, paint over the bubble by adding light highlights. Continue to apply color and glow as the opacity decreases and brush pressure is applied.
As soon as you are satisfied with the result, cancel the active selection. Name the layer with the drawn bubble “Bubble. Original”.
Now, let’s create an abstract bubble shape!
Duplicate the bubble layer. Turn off the visibility of the original bubble layer.
Create a square selection around your bubble. Next, go Filter – Plastic (Filter> Liquify). Next, the filter settings window will appear, as in the screenshot below:
Note: Pay attention to the settings and also make sure that the option is turned on. Advanced mode (Advanced Mode).
You can deform the bubble in different directions.
If necessary, change the brush size, but do not reduce the brush size too much, otherwise, your bubble will not look smooth. Once you have completed the process of creating an abstract bubble, click OK.
Repeat the process of creating an abstract bubble several times, the more bubbles the better! To create another abstract bubble, simply duplicate the original bubble layer by applying a Plastic filter to the duplicate layer.
Next, place the abstract bubbles in size and in order at their discretion. You can duplicate the already created abstract bubbles and further transform duplicates. Try to keep your abstract bubbles from looking the same.
Group all layers with abstract bubbles into one group after the creation of bubbles is complete. Name the new group “Bubbles”.
Step 5
Now, let’s add a glow to our abstract bubbles! We will create this effect using 4 layers.
Create a new layer below the “Bubbles” layer. Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Using a round soft brush, the blue brush is the same color that you used when creating the background, Opacity (Opacity) brush 70%, Pressure (Flow) brush 21%, paint over the bottom of the abstract bubbles. This will help make abstract bubbles more solid. Do not forget to add pink shades to the bubbles located next to the pink glow!
Create a new layer on top of the “Bubbles” layer. Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Using the same brush, only this time brush color is white, paint over the bright areas of the bubbles.
Create a new layer on top of the previous layer, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Now, with a rich pink tint, paint over the ends of the bubbles.
Create another last layer on top of the previous layer, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Using the same brush, the color of the brush is blue, add soft lines to the abstract bubbles, creating a feeling as if they are leaving behind a strip of light (translator’s note: light tail, most importantly do not overdo it).
Group all the layers in one group (including the layer with the “Bubbles” group). Name the new group “Bubbles – Fully Completed”.
Step 6
Next, we will add light rays, placing them behind the image of the girl.
Create a new layer below the girl image. Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Using a large soft brush, the color of the brush is blue, click once to create a soft blue circle.
Next, with the tool Rectangular area 
(Rectangular Marquee tool), select the half of the drawn blue circle and delete it.
Warp the rest of the circle to make the circle a little narrow.
Now, rotate the created beam of light diagonally, and then, duplicate the given beam of light several times. Place duplicate rays of light in different places behind the image of the girl.
Next, we add the final touches to combine the entire composition:
Create a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) on top of all other layers. In the screenshot below, you can see my settings that I applied:
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) on top of all layers. Set the following settings:
- Red (red) 38
- Green (green) +5
- Blue (blue) -22.
I also added a water surface texture to the background. Create a new layer on top of the layer with the “Background” group, change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay). Paint the Surface Water Texture with the Surface Water Brush (you can find these brushes on the stock resources), and then blur the texture with a filter. Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur), blur radius, approximately, 60 px.
Step 7
In conclusion, we will create a glow on the hair of the model, and also add a glow effect on the outline of the girl’s image!
Create a new layer below the girl image. Name this layer “Hair Curls”.
Now you can pick up a brush with curls of hair or paint your own hair curls. You can use any method. Draw curls of hair, where the hair could develop. Think about where the hair will develop, because they will fall on the light from the rays of light in the background.
Create a new layer on top of the layer with the image of the girl as a clipping mask.
Using tool Pen (pen tool), draw light reflections. For this, using the tool Pen (pen tool), create a contour, then select the Brush tool, set a small hard round brush, brush color white, then switch back to the pen tool, right-click on the created contour and select the option in the window that appears Outline the contour (stroke path). Do not forget to put a tick in the box Simulate pressure (Simulate Pen Pressure). I also added light reflections to a bunch of hair on the girl’s head. Add light lines where most light falls; for example, on the contour of the image of the model.
Create a new layer below the previous layer and using a small soft brush, brush color is white, add a glow along the edge of the hair.
Create a new layer below the hair curled layer. Using the same brush, but slightly increasing its size, add a glow around the model image – mainly focusing on the hair, as well as on the bright edges of the model image. Create a soft and organic glow. Install opacity (Opacity) brush 30% and gently add a glow.
The final result:
