In this lesson, we will learn how to create a fascinating, fantastic, as if drawn photo manipulation. You will learn how to create this scene by combining images using Photoshop brushes, and finally giving a soft effect to the image.
Final Result
Source Materials:
Step one: Create a new document
Before we begin, let’s create a new document, go Menu (Menu) choose File – New (File> New), and enter the following values in the appropriate fields:
Width (Width): 1900 piх
Height (Height): 1080 pix
Resolution (Resolution): 300pix / inch
Color Mode (Color Mode): RGB; 8 bit
Content Background (Background Contents): Transparent (Transparent)
Step 2: Create a lake and sky
In this step, we will create the main element of our image – this is the lake and the sky. Open the image “Nature of Norway 1”. Once the image has opened, activate the tool. Rectangular area 
(Rectangular Marquee tool) by pressing M. See the screenshot below:
After activating the tool, click on the edge of the image and hold down the left mouse button and drag to select the area (rectangular selection) as shown below:
Once you have selected the area, you can move the selected image to our document. To do this, activate the tool Move 
(Move tool) pressing the V key. Once you have done this, the mouse cursor will change, a small cross will appear to the right below the cursor. Move the image as in the screenshot below.
Before we continue, we need to rename this layer to “Lake”. To rename a layer, simply double-click on the text: “layer 2” and enter the text.
Next, we transform the image to the size of our document. To resize or transform the image, activate the tool Free Transformation (Transform tool) by pressing Ctrl + T. When the tool is activated Free Transformation (Transform tool), you will see a rectangular selection with squares around the perimeter of the image.
Scale the image, just pull the square to stretch the image, as shown in the screenshot.
After the transformation, it is time to make a quick correction of the lake. In the lower tool palette, click the window Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create New Fill / Adjustment layer). See screenshot below:
After clicking the window, a menu will pop up – select Gradient Map (Gradient Map).
Next, when the window appears Gradient Map (Gradient Map), follow the steps as in the screenshot below:
After you press OK, you will see that the image has become black and white, but it should not look like that. To give the image a contrast and dramatic sunset lighting, we need to make it colorful. To do this, simply change the layer blending mode. Gradient Cards (Gradient Map) on Multiplication (Multiply).
In our layers palette, in the blending mode menu, select the blending mode for this layer. Multiplication (Multiply).
The result will be the following:
Next, let’s reduce the contrast of the layer with the lake. To do this, in the bottom toolbar, click the window Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create New Fill / Adjustment layer). When the menu pops up – select Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast).
When the window pops up, enter the following values:
Brightness (Brightness): 0
Contrast (Contrast): -15
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
We are done with the lake, let’s go to the sky. Before you start, open the sky image. As soon as the image with the sky opened, activate the tool Move (Move tool (V) and move the image with the sky to our document, make sure that the layer with the sky is located on top of all layers that we have already created. Once you have moved the image with the sky. Name this layer “sky.” Next, let’s reduce sky dimensions with a tool Free Transformation (Transform tool (Ctrl + T), note that the image is large, so you need to adjust the sky to the size of our document at the beginning. See the screenshot below:
Next, activate the tool Eraser
(Eraser tool (E), because we need to erase part of the sky when going to the lake. After you have chosen the tool Eraser (Eraser tool (E), set the following settings for this tool through the settings window.
The size brushes (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 100%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
We set up the eraser to work. Use the tool Eraser (Eraser Tool) in the areas that are shown in the screenshot below:
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
To ensure a smooth transition of the sky, let’s reduce the layer opacity to 70%.
Result:
Next, let’s enhance the light in the sky. Before we start, let’s create a new layer by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl + Shift + N keys. Name this layer “Light 1”. Next, select the tool Brush 
(Brush tool (B) and set the following settings:
The size brushes (Brush size): 700px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 45%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
Before we start we need to set the color of the brush, click on the main color in the tool palette. See screenshot below:
When the window pops up Color palette (Color Picker), it will look like this:
The brush is ready to go! See screenshot for how to apply a brush:
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, select all the layers you created and press Ctrl + G to group all the layers. You noticed that we have a new folder to see the layers, just click on the layer button to reflect the layers in the group. Name this group “Background”.
Note: You can also rename a group as well as rename a layer.
Step 3: Waterfalls Creation
In the next step, we will add waterfalls. To do this, at the beginning, we need to create a new layer Ctrl + Shift + N. Name this new layer: “Waterfall 1”.
After that, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B) and further open the “Waterfalls” brush set – before continuing, be sure that you have loaded these brushes through the folder Brushes (Brushes) in the Photoshop directory (Adobe Photoshop> Presets> Brushes).
Next, to open the brush, right-click on our document, and the tool should be active. Brush (Brush tool (B), and go to the set management via the drop-down menu. See the screenshot below:
Next, we need to load the brushes from the directory where we saved our brushes.
Apply the following brush:
Once you have selected a brush, apply the following settings for the brush.
The size brushes (Brush size): 100px
Rigidity (Hardness): Default
Opacity (Opacity): 100%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Apply the brush on the specified area.
Next, let’s create another layer Ctrl + Shift + N, but we will call this layer “Waterfall 2”. We will still use the Waterfalls brushes, so don’t throw off those brushes yet. Right-click on the document, the tool should be active. Brush (Brush tool (B) and select the following brush:
Once you have selected a brush, apply the following settings for the brush.
The size brushes (Brush size): 700px
Rigidity(Hardness): Default
Opacity (Opacity): 100%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Apply the brush on the specified area:
To make this waterfall look more realistic, we will remove unwanted parts. For this, we need a tool Eraser (Eraser tool (E). Select this tool and make the following settings:
The size brushes (Brush size): 20px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 15%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
Apply the eraser on the specified area:
Next, we are going to add a spray to make our waterfall look like a real one. To begin with, create a new layer Ctrl + Shift + N and name it “Waterfall Splash 2 ″. After we have created a new layer, we need to open the “Water brushes and splashes”.
Remember: Right-click on the document, the tool should be active. Brush (Brush tool (B) to bring up the brush settings menu. As soon as the brush settings window appears, go to the set management and load the splashes brush. Once you have loaded the brushes, then in the brush set menu, select this brush:
Once you have set the brush, apply the following values to the brush:
The size brushes (Brush size): 150px
Rigidity(Hardness): Default
Opacity (Opacity): 50%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Apply the brush on the specified area:
Next, let’s create some more spray. Create a new layer, only this time name it “Splash 2 Waterfalls 2”. We will use the same brush we already used (Brush 662 Water brushes and splashes). Apply the following settings for Brushes (Brush tool (B):
The size brushes (Brush size): 150px
Rigidity (Hardness): Default
Opacity (Opacity): 50%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Apply the brush on the specified area:
Next, we are going to remove the superfluous composition. Choose a tool Eraser (Eraser tool (E) and apply the following values:
The size brushes (Brush size): 80px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 50%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
After you have done this, select all the layers you created in this step and press the Ctrl + G keys to group them. Call this group “Waterfalls”.
Step 4: Add ship
In this step, we will add the ship. Before you start, open the ship image. You have noticed that this image has a transparent background, which means that you can simply move this image to our document. Once you have opened the image, select the tool. Move (Move tool (V) and move the ship to our document.
Once you have moved the image of the ship, name this layer “Ship”, activate the tool Transformation (Transform tool) Press Ctrl + T, then click the right mouse button on the ship to call the options menu. As soon as the menu window appears, select Flip horizontally (Flip Horizontal). See screenshot below:
Further, we will reduce the size of the ship so that it can be seen that he is walking along the lake. Activate the tool Transformation (Transform tool) by pressing Ctrl + T, and reduce the size of the ship, as in the screenshot below:
Next, we will correct Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) of the ship, so that it is combined with the rest of the images. Click on the ship layer and then go Image – Correction – Brightness / Contrast (Image> Adjustments> Brightness / Contrast) and apply the following values:
Brightness (Brightness): +15
Contrast (Contrast): -10
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, select the tool Eraser (Eraser tool (E). To make our ship look as if it is really submerged in water, we will remove the back of the ship or its bottom. Apply the following settings to the tool Eraser (Eraser tool (E):
The size brushes (Brush size): 10px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 100%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
Now, in order to accurately process the eraser, we need to enlarge the image. To do this, go to the window Navigator (Navigator) and set the scale to 100%. See screenshot below:
Using the eraser, delete part of the ship, as shown in the screenshot below:
Next, as a final touch, so that the ship matches the entire image, let’s reduce the layer opacity to 80%.
Behind the ship, let’s add shadows from the ship. Create a new layer Ctrl + Shift + N. Name it “Ship Shadow”. After you have created the layer, move this layer below the “ship” layer. Next, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B) and Recover (Reset) your brushes. To restore your brushes, do the same operation that you did when loading brushes.
After you have restored the brushes, apply the following settings:
The size brushes (Brush size): 30px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 15%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
Window Navigator (Navigator): 100%
Apply the brush as shown in the screenshot below:
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, group all the layers you created in this step and name this group “Ship and Its Shadow”.
Step 5Create waves from ship
To give the ship the impression that it is moving, we will create waves that will emanate from the ship. Before you start, create a new layer Ctrl + Shift + N. Name this layer “Waves from Ship 1”. Thus, the ship will look realistic, be sure that this layer and the other layers that you create in this step were located below the “Shadow of the ship” layer. Next, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B), load the “wave” brushes from anaRasha. Once the brushes have loaded, select the following brush:
Once you have set the brush, apply the following values to the brush:
The size brushes (Brush size): 100px
Rigidity(Hardness): Default
Opacity (Opacity): 50%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Be sure that the scale is 100%. The brush is ready to create waves! Apply the brush as shown in the screenshot:
Obviously, the waves are not like the waves that come from the ship, so we need to transform / rotate them. Activate Transformation (Transform tool) Ctrl + T, right-click on the image and select Turn (Rotate).
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, create another layer. Call it “Waves from Ship 2”. We will use the same brush (brush 461 “waves brush” from anaRasha). After you select a brush, set the following settings:
The size brushes (Brush size): 175px
Rigidity(Hardness): default
Opacity (Opacity): 50%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Apply the brush as shown in the screenshot:
Activate Free Transformation (Free Transform) Ctrl + T and rotate as shown in the screenshot:
Create another layer, name it “waves from ship 3”. Choose a tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Once you have selected the brush tool, restore the brush. After that, apply the following settings:
The size brushes (Brush size): 40px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 25%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Brush color set: # ffffff
Be sure that the scale is 100%. The brush is ready to go! Apply the brush as shown in the screenshot:
We have finished working with waves, select all the layers we have created and press Ctrl + G to create a group of layers, name this group “Waves”.
Step 6: Image Retouch
In this step, we need to retouch the image to enhance the beauty of the image. First, let’s create a new adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) through the lower settings panel Create New Adjustment or Fill Layer(Create New Fill / Adjustment layer).
When the window pops up Color Balance (Color Balance), apply the following values:
Levels (Levels): -20, +5, +20
Tone Balance (Tone Balance): Mid tones (Midtones)
Save Glow (Preserve Luminosity): tick
Next, create another adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) and apply the following values:
Levels (Color Levels): 0, 0, -15
Tonal Balance (Tone Balance): Sveta (Highlights)
Save Glow (Preserve Luminosity): tick
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Photo Filter (Photo Filter).
When the window pops up, apply the following values:
Filter (Filter): Warming Filter (81)
Density (Density): 25%
Preservation Glow (Preserve Luminosity): tick
Next, let’s create another adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) when the window pops up, apply the following values:
Levels (Color Levels): 0, 0, -5
Tone Balance (Tone Balance): Mid tones (Midtones)
Preservation Glow (Preserve Luminosity): tick
Create another adjustment layer Photo Filter (Photo Filter), this time apply the following values:
Photo Filter (Photo Filter)
Filter(Filter): Yellow (Yellow)
Density(Density): 25%
Preservation Glow (Preserve Luminosity): tick
Finally, create a new adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) and apply the following values:
Color Balance (Color Balance)
Levels(Color Levels): +10, 0, +5
Tone Balance (Tone Balance): Mid tones (Midtones)
Preservation Glow (Preserve Luminosity): tick
The image should look like in the screenshot:
After correction, we will merge the layers. Right click on any layer and select Execute Rollup (Fatten Image).
(Translator’s Note: You can simply create a merged layer on top of all other layers, to do this, go to the topmost layer and press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E).
Step 7: To make the image look like a picture
Next, we will give the image the effect of the drawn picture. Duplicate our Merged layer (Flattened layer), pressing Ctrl + J. After duplicating a layer, apply a filter to this duplicated layer, go Filter – Filter Gallery – Imitation – Watercolor (Filter> Filter Gallery> Artistic> Watercolor).
When the window pops up, apply the following values:
Detailing(Brush Detail): 12
Depth shadows(Shadow Intensity): 1
Texture (Texture): 1
The result should look like in the screenshot:
After that, we need to reduce Opacity (Opacity) of this layer to show details. Reduce the opacity of the duplicated layer to 50%.
Step 8: Give the image a soft glow
In this step, we will give the image a glow. To do this, at the beginning merge layers or swipe Run down (flatten the image). After you have finished mixing, duplicate the layer with Ctrl + J. Select the duplicated layer and then go Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur). When the window pops up, apply the following values:
Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur): Radius 16.0px
Lighter (Lighten)
Opacity (Opacity): 35%
The image will be blurred, but we just do not want this to give a soft glow, change the blending mode to Lighter (Lighten) and change the layer opacity to 35%.
The result should look like in the screenshot:
At the end, when you have finished, right-click on the layer and select Run down (Flatten image).
By Michael Vincent Manalo
