The last month of 2016 is filled with fun and New Year’s mood. Also comes the winter season, so this lesson will bring you back to childhood memories when you played snowballs and sculpted snow angels!
So let’s get started!
The final result:
What you will learn in this lesson
In this lesson we will create a snowy winter portrait of a child! This will be a stylized picture to which we add a magical feeling. This lesson is perfect for any Christmas portrait or just for any child who loves winter. We will also consider the technique of turning day to night. To complete this tutorial, you will need Photoshop CS6 or higher to give the daytime image a night look.
Basic knowledge of working with Photoshop, such as adjustment layers, layer masks and light and shade, is also required to complete this lesson.
Note: The author used paid materials. In the archive you will find an alternative version of the images to perform the lesson.
1. Create a background
Step 1
Open the original snow landscape image in Photoshop. Crop this image.
Create a new layer on top of the layer with the winter landscape, and then use the tool Gradient 
(Gradient tool), drag the gradient from top to bottom. Gradient colors from dark blue to transparent.
Change the blending mode for this layer with gradient to Multiplication (Multiply) and also reduce Opacity (opacity) layer to 43%.
Add a new adjustment layer Curves (Curves). Set the curve as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 2
Choose the original image with a starry sky (any image will do). Align both images with stars.
Using a large-diameter soft eraser, process the edges of each image with a starry sky to better align them. Remove the stars that you do not like or remove the extra stars if the sky looks too congested.
Step 3
Merge layers with a starry sky (Ctrl + E). Next, create a new layer as a clipping mask for the merged layer with the stars. Apply a black and white gradient on the new layer.
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask to the combined layer with the stars. Set the curve as shown in the screenshot below.
Result
Step 4
Change the blending mode for the merged layer with the stars to Lightening (Screen). Remove those stars that are not located in the sky (excess stars located above the mountains).
Duplicate the layer, rotate the duplicate image to add more stars.
Step 5
Group all layers with stars in one group, name the new group Stars (Stars).
In conclusion, we will merge all the layers that have been created at the moment. Then we go Filter – Blur – Blur field (Filter> Blur> Field Blur). Set the settings to your liking. You can duplicate the layers first and then merge duplicate layers as I did.
Layer arrangement in the layers palette.
2. Add snow
Step 1
Create a new layer, fill this layer with black color.
Next, go Filter – Noise – Add Noise (Filter> Noise> Add Noise). Install Distribution (Distribution) Uniform (Uniform), and also tick the box Monochrome (monochromatic). Value Effect (Amount) will depend on the size of your image.
Spread a layer of noise texture, zooming in twice.
Step 2
To the noise layer, add an adjustment layer. Curves (curves) as a clipping mask. Set the curve as shown in the screenshot below:
Result:
Step 3
Change the blending mode for the noise layer to Lightening (screen). As a result, we get the effect of very small snowflakes!
When zooming in:
Step 4
Next, I added more snow using the usual Snow brushes (https://https://photobecket.com/adds/brushes/23404-kisti-dlya-fotoshopa-sneg.html). To add snow, add a new layer. Brushes Snow can be found on stock resources, they are very easy to find!
After you’ve added snow, select the entire canvas with the tool. Rectangular area 
(Rectangular Marquee Tool), and then go Filter – Blur – Radial Blur (Filter> Blur> Radial Blur). Value amount (Amount) will depend on the size of your image. And also install Blur method (Blur Method) Annular (Spin), Quality (Quality) The best (Best).
Group all the snow layers in one group, name the new group Snow (Snow).
Layer arrangement in the layers palette.
3. Background color correction
To complete the creation of the background, we will perform a color correction using just three different adjustment layers that need to be placed on top of the layer with the group Snow (Snow). Adjustment layers are listed from bottom to top.
- Correction layer Color search (Color Lookup): Filmstock, Opacity (opacity) layer 42%.
- Another adjustment layer Color search (Color Lookup): Crisp Winter, Opacity (opacity) layer 69%.
- Correction layer Gradient map (Gradient Map): Set the gradient shown in the screenshot below. Opacity (opacity) layer 49%.
Result.
Layer arrangement in the layers palette.
4. Add a model
Step 1
Choose the original image with the child. Separate the image of the child from the background, and then use the tool Move
(Move Tool), move the selected image of the child to our working document, placing the image in the center of the host.
Step 2
To the model layer, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness and Contrast) as a clipping mask. Set the value Brightness (Brightness) at 4, and the value The contrast (Contrast) at -50.
Step 3
In order to give the image a stylized look, we will conduct light and shade correction. Create a new layer as a clipping mask for the model layer. Change the blending mode to Overlap (Overlay).
Using a soft round brush, with level Push (Flow) about 10%, add bright highlights with a white brush and shadow with a black brush.
Step 4
Create a new layer on top of the overlay layer. Overlap (Overlay). Change the blending mode for the new layer to Multiplication (Multiply).
Using a large brush, the color of the brush is dark blue (# 0c1423), add shadows in front of the image of the boy. Decrease Opacity (opacity) layer to about 50%.
Step 5
Add adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness and Contrast) on top of the overlay layer Multiplication (Multiply) as a clipping mask. Set the value Brightness (Brightness) at -11, and the value The contrast (Contrast) at -29. Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush, hide the correction layer correction over the left side of the image of the boy.
Step 6
Add adjustment layer Gradient (Gradient) on top of the adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness and Contrast) as a clipping mask. Set the black and white gradient and also reduce the value Opacity (opacity) layer up to 35%.
Step 7
Add adjustment layer Color search (Color Lookup) to the model layer as a clipping mask: Night From Day, and also set the value Opacity (opacity) layer 85%.
Add another adjustment layer. Color search (Color Lookup) to the model layer as a clipping mask: Crisp Winter, and also set the value Opacity (opacity) layer 54%.
Step 8
Finally, create a new layer as a clipping mask for the model layer. Change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (Soft Light). Using a large soft brush, the color of the brush is white, paint over the left side of the model image to add more light.
Group all the layers related to the model image. Name the new group Model (Model).
Layer arrangement in the layers palette.
5. Add glow and snow.
Now we will add a little glow to the background, and also add snow to the foreground.
Step 1
Create a new layer below the group layer. Model (Model). Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Using a large soft brush, the color of the brush is white, paint over the background, mainly focusing on the left side of the scene.
Step 2
Create another new layer. Change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (Soft Light). Do the same as you did in the previous step to enhance the light. Reduce the opacity of each layer if necessary.
Step 3
Using the Snow (or texture!) Brush that you used in the background, add a snow effect to the foreground.
Layer arrangement in the layers palette.
6. Add Northern Lights
To add some magic and color to our scene, we’ll add aurora borealis.
Step 1
Pick up a source image with aurora borealis. Place the northern lights on the top right of our scene.
To the shine layer, add a layer mask to hide the bottom of the image, save only the image of the sky. Change the blending mode for the Northern Lights layer to Lightening (Screen).
Step 2
To the Northern Lights layer, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask. Install Brightness (Brightness) at -110, and the value The contrast (Contrast) at 77.
Step 3
Create a new layer on top of the group layer. Model (model). Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Using a big soft brush, using the same green shade of shine, paint over the upper right corner of the boy’s image.
Layer arrangement in the layers palette.
7. Final color correction
Finally, we will add the last two adjustment layers on top of all other layers.
- Add adjustment layer Selective color correction (Selective color). Set the following settings Blue (Blues), Purple (Magenta) 6, Yellow (Yellow) -9, and Black (Black) 11.
- Add adjustment layer Color search (Color Lookup): (Abstract) Cobalt-Carmine, layer opacity 48%.
And we have completed the lesson!
The final layout of the layers in the layers palette.
Do not forget to always experiment and try something new! This is a very versatile effect and can be combined with a million other effects. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
The final result:
