Starting in CS5, Photoshop contains several features that will help improve your workflow. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create the cosmic goddess of love using some of the new Photoshop CS5 tools, including the Refine edge (Refine Edge), which really helps to optimize the process of masking and removing objects from their background.
- Download the archive with materials for the lesson
- Lesson in format PSD
Source materials:
- Some images are missing from the source of the lesson. In the archive you will find an alternative version of the materials for the lesson.
- Please note, the author used photos of the model in the style of nude.
Step 1
As a rule, I would ignore this step, because it is quite simple, but a new function Refine edge (Refine Edge) in Photoshop CS5 is extremely easy to use and will help you save a lot of time.
All right, let’s get started! Open stock image with model. Choose a tool Fast selection
(Quick Selection Tool) (W), it can be hidden under the tool Magic wand
(Magic Wand Tool). Depending on the resolution of your photo, select the appropriate brush size and then start selecting the model as shown below.
How to complete the work with this tool, without removing the selection, click on Refine edge (Refine Edge) on the options bar. When the tool options window appears Refine edge (Refine Edge), select View: On layers (On Layer) (Hotkey: L). Use the following settings:
- Edge detection (Edge Detection): set the radius: 6 pixels
- Smoothing (Smooth): 20
- Contrast (Constrast): 20%
- Shift edge (Shift Edge): + 20%
- Color cleaning (Decontaminate Colors): 70% for the amount.
Do not click OK yet! In the parameters window Refine edge (Refine Edge) click on the tool Refine radius (Refine Radius Tool) (E), expand the selection on the left side. Then draw this tool on the edge of the image, do it several times to get the desired result.
At this stage, save the image in PSD or PNG format to maintain a transparent background. We will need this image later.
Step 2
Open the image “Sky 1”. Next, go to Image> Correction> Curves (Image> Adjustments> Curves):
Place image “Sky 1“ in our work and with the help of transformation select the desired size. Place it on top of the background layer and set the blending mode to Overlap (Overlay).
Now place the photo “Wave”. Go to menu Editing> Transform> Flip Vertically (Edit> Transform> Flip Vertical). Put a layer “WaveBetween two layers with clouds. Change the blending mode to Multiplication (Multiply).
Step 3
Now place the PSD / PNG model image from step 1 into our work. Place it on top of the other layers (name the layer “Model”). Press the Cmd / Ctrl + T key combination to resize it and rotate as shown below.
Place image “Wings’ in our work. Resize and rotate it, then duplicate this layer. Place one below the model layer and the other above.
Note: The author renamed these two layers in Wings. front and Wings back.
Select the “Wings front” layer, then select the tool Eraser
(Eraser Tool) (E), set the hardness of the brush to 100%. Erase the left wing, so that you can see the body of the model. Do not worry, since we have a backup of the wing.
Step 4
Place the image “Helmet” in our work, call it “Helmet” and place it on top of all layers. Use the selection tool Lasso
(Lasso Tool) (L), to cut it into 2 parts (the back and front part – back and front), then divide into 2 different layers.
Place the “Helmet back” layer under the “Model” layer and reduce opacity (Opacity) layer up to 60%. Resize these two pieces and rotate them as shown below.
Choose a tool Clarifier
(Dodge Tool) (O) and use a small soft brush, set Range (Range): Mid tones (Highlights) Exposition (Exposure): 80%. Lighten up the helmet from the front and back until it is shiny.
Step 5
Place the image “Necklace” in our work on top of all layers. Resize, rotate and distort it until the necklace fits the neck of the model.
Step 6
Let’s add some hair to the model using the Hair Brush kit.
Use the technique described in step 3 to show the hand of the model.
Step 7
Now create multiple tapes with the tool. Pen
(Pen Tool) (P). Create a new layer on top of all the others, name it “Ribbon 1”, select the tool Pen (Pen Tool) (P), then draw the outline as shown below (don’t forget to use the tool). Node selection (Direct Selection Tool) to correct the contour where it is needed).
Using the tool Node selection 
(Direct Selection Tool), right-click on the contour, then select Fill contour (Fill path) and fill it with any color, then click OK. We will fix this later. Apply a layer style to this ribbon layer as shown below, with a gradient overlay.
Step 8
Now let’s draw some stars. Take the tool Brush
(Brush Tool) (B), select a 15 px soft brush, and then open the Brush palette.
Draw the stars as shown below. Use the function scattering (scatter) and size fluctuations (size jitter) to vary the size and location of each star.
Set the layer blending mode with stars to Overlap (Overlay), then select the tool Eraser (Eraser Tool), take a big soft brush and erase the stars that you do not need.
Step 9
Open the image with a rose, cut one petal, trim it, and then go to Editing> Define brush> Name it “Roses” (Edit> Define Brush> Name it Rose).
Now go back to our work, select the tool. Brush (Brush Tool) (B), select the created rose brush, open the palette Brush (Brush) and use the settings below.
Create a new layer and place it above the rest of the layers. With the help of red and orange, draw the flying rose petals that follow the model’s body after her hand.
Step 10
Go to Layers> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance). Do this three times to create three adjustment layers. Color balance (Color Balance). Use the settings below.
Now click on the thumbnail of the layer mask of the second adjustment layer Color balance (Color Balance 2), select instrument Eraser (Eraser Tool), set the opacity to 50% and use a soft, large brush to erase the center of the image. Do the same with the third adjustment layer. Color balance (Color Balance 3) and you are done!
Final result:
You will see the final result below.
Authorthe lesson: Nhan Trung Hoang
