In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a fantasy fairy. You will learn how to create a colorful floral background, retouch the model, adjust the color scheme, create lighting effects, increase the depth of field, and much more.
Final image
Creating a background
Step 1
Create a new 2000 x 2000 px document in Photoshop with the following settings:
Step 2
Open image Flower background. Drag this image onto a white canvas with the tool Move Tool
(Move) (V).
Step 3
We need to blur the background to focus on the model. Therefore go to menu Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) and set Radius (Radius) 60px (or desired value).
Step 4
Open image Branches of flowers 1. Using tool Magic wand tool
(Magic Wand) (W) cut the branches of the flowers, move them to the working document and place on the left side of the background.
Step 5
Apply a filter to this layer. Gaussian blur (Blur according to Gauss) with a radius of 12px. The second blur element will enhance the depth of the scene.
Step 6
Go to menu Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Hue / Saturation (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Hue / Saturation) and change the value Hue (Color tone) at 49:
Step 7
Create an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) and set it as Clipping mask (Clipping mask) to darken the branches slightly. On the mask of this layer, apply a black soft round brush to remove the glow effect on the front of the branches. We aim to add a primary light source to the right.
Step 8
Create an adjustment layer Color balance (Color balance) on top of all layers. Change settings Midtones (Mid Tones):
Step 9
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to make the light on the right stronger. Paint the left side so that this adjustment layer does not affect it.
Add a model
Note: In this part of the lesson, each time you create a new adjustment layer, be sure to convert it to a clipping mask so that the color correction only affects the specific layer.
Step 1
Separate the model from the background using a layer mask (but don’t be afraid to use your own method). Move the extracted model to a new layer. Create a new layer and select a dark golden color from the head of the model (I chose # 6a3017) and paint the missing hair.
Step 2
Choose a lighter color (# b06030) and draw hair around the edges of the head.
Step 3
Hide the background and shading of the layer, and then press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E to merge the selected model and hair layers into a new layer. Place the combined model in the center of the blurred background.
Step 4
Create an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to enhance the light and contrast of the model. The light on the model falls to the right and is more visible on the upper body. On the mask of this layer, use a soft black brush to clarify the light and shadow on the model, which will make the light stronger on the shoulder, cheeks and hair. You can see the results on the mask and on the picture:
Step 5
Apply another adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) to enhance the light on the model. Paint over the lower body and to the left of the model so as not to make them brighter after using this adjustment layer.
Step 6
Create a new layer, change its mode to Overlay (Overlap) 100%, and fill it with 50% gray:
Take the tools Dodge
(Clarifier) and Burn tool
(Dimmer) (O) to draw more light and shadows on the model, especially on the hair. You can see how I did it in mode Normal (Normal) and result mode Overlay (Overlap):
Step 7
You can see that these skin models look a little less saturated than others. To fix this, create a new layer and, using a soft brush of color # aa784b, scroll through these areas and change the layer’s blending mode to Color (Chroma) 100%:
Adding wings
Note: In this part of the lesson, each time you create a new adjustment layer, be sure to convert it to a clipping mask so that the color correction only affects the specific layer.
Step 1
Open image Butterfly 1. Select only the wings and place them on the back of the model.
Step 2
Add a mask to this layer. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the thumbnail of the model layer to load its selection.
Using a soft black brush, develop the hair and make it covering the wings. Also mix the lower part of the wings with the back of the model.
Step 3
Create an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to make the wings brighter. Paint the lower part, making it a little darker than the other wings.
- Add branches
Note: In this part of the lesson, each time you create a new adjustment layer, be sure to convert it to a clipping mask so that the color correction only affects the specific layer.
Step 1
Open image Branches of flowers 2. Via Lasso Tool
(Lasso) (L) select the branches and paste them into the right corner of the working document.
Step 2
Apply filter to branches Gaussian blur (Blur according to Gauss) with a radius of 8 px:
Step 3
Change the color of the branches using the adjustment layer Color balance (Color balance):
Step 4
Use adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to brighten the branches:
We add butterflies
Note: In this part of the lesson, each time you create a new adjustment layer, be sure to convert it to a clipping mask so that the color correction only affects the specific layer.
Step 1
Open image Butterflies 2. Take the Blue Butterfly in the upper left corner and place it on the model’s shoulder so that it fits the direction of the model’s gaze.
Step 2
To make a butterfly shadow, create a new layer under the butterfly. Using the tool Polygonal lasso
(Rectangular Lasso), highlight the left wing of the butterfly and fill the selection with black. Flip it vertically through the menu Edit> Transform> Flip Vertical (Editing> Transform> Flip Vertical). Use Free transform (Free Transform) (Ctrl + T) to stretch this shadow, making it more than the original.
Decrease Opacity (Opacity) of this layer is up to 40% and use a layer mask to reduce the intensity of the shadow .. Apply a filter to this layer Gaussian blur (Blur according to Gauss) with a radius of 4 px:
Step 3
Use the same method to make the shadow of the second wing of the butterfly. Also use a small, semi-rigid black brush to paint the shadow under the body of the butterfly.
Step 4
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to change the color of the butterfly:
Step 5
Continue to change the color of the butterfly using the adjustment layer Color balance (Color balance):
Step 6
Use adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to make the butterfly brighter. Using a brush, make the bottom of the butterfly a little darker than the top:
Main correction
Step 1
Create a fill layer Color (Color) over all layers and select color # 1b0126. Change the mode of this layer to Exclusion (Exception) 100%.
Step 2
Create an adjustment layer Color balance (Color balance) and change the settings Midtones (Mid Tones) and Highlights (Sveta):
Step 3
Use adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to change the color and contrast of the scene:
Draw light on hair
Step 1
Create a new layer, choose a bright yellow color for the brush (I chose # fff08d) and draw light strands on the hair.
Add bokeh and light
Note: In this part of the lesson, each time you create a new adjustment layer, be sure to convert it to a clipping mask so that the color correction only affects the specific layer.
Step 1
Import image Bokeh into our working paper and change the blending mode to Screen (Screen) 100%:
Step 2
Apply filter Gaussian blur (Blur according to Gauss) with a radius of 25px, and using a layer mask, remove the effect on the model’s body so that the effect looks very delicate:
Step 3
Open archive Light texture. Select image Starryfour and place it on the main canvas. Change the blending mode of this layer to Screen (Screen) 100%:
Step 4
Use a layer mask to erase light spots on the left side and on the face of the model.
Step 5
Create an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the effect and make it softer.
Step 6
Use adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to change the color of the light to yellow:
Step 7
Create a new layer and press Ctrl + G to create a group for this layer. Change the blending mode of this group to Color dodge (Lightening Basics) 100%. Change the foreground color to # f3cf85 and press the F5 key to change the brush settings:
Draw small dots around the model, avoiding the face.
Step 8
To add a glow to these points, double click on this layer and select Outer glow (External glow). Select #fcfcfc as the glow color:
Step 9
Create a new layer inside this group. Using a large brush, draw large dots in the bottom and top right of the image. Apply to these points Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur) with a radius of 25 px.
Congratulations! You are done!
I hope you learned something useful for your future projects. Feel free to leave your comments below. Enjoy Photoshop!
Posted by: Jenny Le
Translator: Lebedeva Victoria
