This lesson is an example of how using simple methods of working in Photoshop (layers, masking, the Brush tool, lighting effects, standard filters) you can create various artistic photo treatments.
Using this algorithm of actions, you can create your own masterpiece. Let’s start!
Let’s start work by creating a new document (Ctrl + N) in Adobe Photoshop, size 1000px * 1500px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch. Use the tool Fill
(Paint Bucket Tool) (G) to fill a new background layer with black.
Next you need a photo with the model. The author used this portrait of a young beautiful woman from Shutterstock.
Remove the background using the selection tool that is most convenient for you, such as Pen 
(Pen Tool) (P), Magic wand 
(Magic Wand Tool) (W), Magnetic Lasso (Magnetic Lasso) (L) or even simple Filter-> Pull out (Filter-> Extract). Insert the shape of the girl on a new layer in your main document.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and select Soft Round Brush 
(Brush tool) (B).
Use this brush to paint the background with the color # 6D7B93. Move this layer under the layer with the model in the layers panel.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and use again Fill (Paint Bucket Tool) (G) to fill the layer with white.
Using the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers panel, add a mask for the filled layer and apply the following filter to it: Filter-> Rendering-> Clouds (Filter-> Render-> Clouds). Move the layer under the model layer.
Set the Fill to 22% for this layer and change Blend mode (Blend Mode) on Linear Dodge (Linear Dodge).
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and activate Soft Round. Brush (Brush tool) (B).
Use the brush (Color # 121220) to create shadows on the girl’s body. Also use different Opacity values for the brush.
Hold down the Alt key and click between the layers of the brush and the model in the layers panel to create Clipping mask (Clipping mask).
We get the following result.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and select Soft Round Brush (Brush) (Brush color # 111723), before we continue, draw shadows on the model’s body. Remember to change the Opacity value for the brush.
Hold down the Alt key and click between layers in the layers panel to create Clipping mask (Clipping mask).
We get the following result.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and activate Soft Round. Brush (Brush tool) (B).
Use this brush to paint the bottom of the document in black (Opacity of the brush – 20%).
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and select Fill
(Paint Bucket Tool) (G) to fill it with color # 415367.
Apply the following filter for this layer: Filter-> Noise-> Add noise (Filter-> Noise-> Add Noise).
We get the following result.
Change the value Fill (Fill) 44% for this layer and Blend mode (Blend Mode) to Overlay.
Using the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers panel, add a mask for the layer and select Soft Round Brush (Brush) black (Opacity) -20% brush.
Use this brush to hide the noise on the face and hands.
Now we will draw the rays of white. Select Pen (Pen Tool) (P), set the drawing mode Figure (Shape) in the options bar and draw a shape, as shown in the figure below.
Insert mask 
on the layer in the same way as we did before with other layers and hide the edges of the layer using Soft Round Brushes (Brush) black (Brush Opacity -15%).
We get the following result.
Change the value Fillings (Fill) – 50% for this layer and Blend mode (Blend Mode) on Bright light (Vivid Light).
Using the method as in the previous example, we draw a lot of rays. The parameters for all rays are the same.
Now we need to add some rays with different settings shown below using the same Pen Tool (P). Fill (Fill) – 50% for these layers and Blending Mode (Blend Mode) – Normal (Normal).
Click on the icon Add layer style (Add a layer style) at the bottom of the layers palette and select Stroke (Stroke):
We get the following result.
Using the icon Add layer mask (Add layer mask) at the bottom of the layers panel, add a mask for the layer, activate Black Soft Brush (Brush) black (Brush Opacity – 30%).
Draw on the mask with this brush to hide the edges of the layer, as shown in the image below.
By applying the same method described above, we can add several rays with the style Stroke (Stroke):
Now we have to add some white rays above the model, under her arm, using the same tool. Pen (Pen Tool) (P).
Change Fill (Fill) – 50% for this layer and Blend mode (Blend Mode) – Bright light (Vivid Light). Click on the icon Add layer style (Add a layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Stroke (Stroke):
We get the following result.
Using the icon Add layer mask (Add layer mask) at the bottom of the layers panel, add a mask for the layer and hide the edges of the beam on the Soft Round mask. Brush (Brush) black (Brush Opacity – 20%).
We get the following result.
Make four copies of the last layer (Ctrl + J) and select the command Free transform (Free Transform) (Ctrl + T) to place the copies as shown below.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) activate Soft Round Brush (Brush) white (Brush Opacity – 20%) to create the effect of lighting the rays.
We get the following result.
Click on the icon Create a new adjustment layer or fill layer (Create new fill or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Hue / Saturation.
Drag the slider to the left to reduce the color range. Color tone (Hue), Saturation (Saturation) and Brightness (Lightness).
We get the following result.
Next we need to create our own brush. To do this, create a new document (Ctrl + N) with a size of 50px * 50px (RGB color mode) with a resolution of 72 pixels per inch. Remove the background layer and using Ellipse
(Ellipse Tool) (U) draw the next ellipse. Color # 73859D.
Install Fill (Fill) 52% for this layer, then click on the icon Add layer style (Add a layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Stroke (Stroke):
We get the following result.
Let’s rasterize the ellipse layer by selecting it in the layers panel and right-clicking on the layer. Select Rasterize layer (Rasterize Layer). Move on Editing-> Define brush (Edit-> Define Brush Preset). Enter a name for the brush in the dialog box.
Now we need to configure our Brush (Brush) (F5). Select Brush Print Form (Brush Tip Shape). Click and drag the sliders to change The size (Size) and Intervals (Spacing). The preview window shows the change.
Click the tab Form Dynamics (Shape Dynamics) and apply the following settings.
Apply Scattering (Scattering).
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and use the created by us Brush (Brush) (Brush Opacity (70%)) to make lots of small circles, as shown in the image below.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and select the tool again. Fill (Paint Bucket Tool) (G) to fill the layer with # 0A1116.
Install Blend mode (Blend Mode) for this layer Color tone (Hue).
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and select the tool again. Fill (Paint Bucket Tool) (G) to fill the layer with the color # 7B88A1.
Install Fill (Fill) 22% for this layer and change Blend mode (Blend Mode) on Linear light (Linear Light).
Click on the icon Create a new adjustment layer or fill layer (Create new fill or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the layers palette, and select Curves (Curves) to adjust the shape of the curve, as shown, to make some color adjustments.
We get the following result.
Then create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N) and select Soft Round. Brush (Brush) white to create abstract lines, as shown in the image below.
Using the icon Add layer mask (Add layer mask) at the bottom of the layers panel, add a mask for the layer and activate Soft Round Brush (Brush) black (Brush Opacity – 15%).
Draw on the mask with this brush to change the visibility of the layer containing abstract lines.
Make a copy of the last layer (Ctrl + J) and remove the mask from this layer. Select Eraser 
(Eraser Tool) (E) to remove a zone along the edge of the copy.
Install Blend mode (Blend Mode) for this layer Overlap (Overlay).
Paste the mask on the layer by clicking on the icon Add layer mask (Add layer mask) at the bottom of the layers panel, activate Soft Round Brush (Brush) black (Opacity) brush –
15%).
Draw on the mask with this brush to change the visibility of the layer containing abstract lines.
Create a new layer and select the previously created Brush (Brush Tool) (B) (Opacity of the brush – 50%) to draw a lot of circles in the area next to the female head.
Create another new layer and continue to draw other small circles.
Install Fill (Fill) 25% for this layer and change Blend mode (Blend Mode) on Hard mix (Hard Mix).
Click on the icon Create a new adjustment layer or fill layer (Create new fill or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the layers palette, and select Curves (Curves) to adjust the shape of the curve, as shown, to make some color adjustments.
We get the following result.
Create a new layer and activate Soft Round Brush (Brush) white (Opacity) – 20%.
Use this brush to paint the image as shown below.
Install Fill (Fill) 54% for this layer and set Blend mode (Blend Mode) Overlap (Overlay).
Next we will choose Ellipse (Ellipse Tool) (U) to create a white circle.
Install Fill (Fill) 20% for this layer and Blend mode (Blend Mode) Linear Dodge.
Click on the icon Add layer style (Add a layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient Overlay):
Click on the color bar to open the dialog box. Gradient Editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown in the image below. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.
Add Stroke (Stroke):
We get the following result.
Make several copies of the layer (Ctrl + J) containing the last small circle and select the command Free Transform (Free Transform) (Ctrl + T) to resize copies by placing them as shown below.
Our portrait is ready! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Translator: Artemenko Love
