In this lesson, I will show you how to create a night scene in the light of the moon with a girl staring at the flowers.
We will start the lesson by adding images of the sky and landscape, and then add an image of the moon, including its reflection. We will apply corrective layers, as well as work with a mask and brushes. After that, we will add other elements of the scene, such as the floor, balcony, model and flowers, and combine them together using a combination technique. Finally, we will add some adjustment layers.
In this lesson, you will also learn about working with lighting effects, working on enhancing the depth of field, and more.
Are you a fan of Adobe Lightroom? We have a huge collection of Lightroom presets that are available on the GraphicRiver website, they will save you time if you want to add effects or styling to your photos.
The final result:
1. Add sky and landscape
Step 1
Create a new working document in Photoshop with the following dimensions: 1500 x 1500 px. Set the settings that are shown in the screenshot below.
Step 2
Open the original image with the sky. Using tool Move 
(Move Tool (V)), move the image of the sky to our working paper, placing it in the upper half of the canvas.
Next, go Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur). Install Radius (Radius) blur at 8 px:
Step 3
Using the adjustment layer, darken the sky a little. Let’s go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Curves):
Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brushes
(Brush Tool (B)) paint over the left part of the image, hiding the dimming correction, since we plan to add an image of the moon to this area.
Step 4
Add another adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) to brighten the sky, particularly on the left side of the image.
Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and use a soft black brush to hide the effect of the adjustment layer on the right side of the image that we plan to darken.
Step 5
Open the original image with the landscape. Move this image to our working paper, placing it in the bottom half of our scene.
To the landscape layer, add a layer mask and use a soft black brush to remove hard edges to create a smooth transition and align the sky with the existing sky. Save haze at the edges at the top of the mountains. Decrease opacity (opacity) brush, when you paint over the top left of the mountain, creating a smooth shading with the sky.
Step 6
There are unwanted details near the lake. Create a new layer and then convert this layer to a clipping mask. Using tool Stamp 
(Clone Tool (S)), remove the specified parts.
Step 7
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask to the landscape layer to darken the landscape. Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush, remove the darkening effect in the area that will be illuminated by moonlight.
Step 8
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask to the landscape layer to match the saturation of the landscape image to the sky:
2. Add the moon
Step 1
Open the original image with the moon in Photoshop. Using tool Oval area 
(Elliptical Marquee Tool (M)), separate the image of the moon from the background. Move the selected image of the moon to our working paper, placing it in the upper left of our scene.
Step 2
To make the depth and softness of the moon match the sky, apply a filter. Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur) to the layer with the moon. Let’s go Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur). Install Radius (Radius) blur at 8 px:
Step 3
Double click on the Moon layer to apply the layer style. Internal glow (Inner Glow). Set the glow color to #ededed:
Step 4
To create a reflection of the moon on the surface of the lake, use the same technique that is used in one of my lessons. Create a fantastic landscape with a lake in Photoshop. The result should be like in the screenshot below:
Step 5
Create a new layer and use a soft brush, color #ededed, paint over the lake area to show the reflection of the moonlight. Change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (Soft Light), opacity (opacity) layer 100%.
3. Add the floor
Step 1
Open the original image with the floor texture. Using tool Move (Move Tool), move this texture to our working paper, placing it in the foreground. Using tool Free transformation (Free Transform Tool (Ctrl + T)), make the floor already.
Step 2
To the floor texture layer, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask to discolor the texture. Reduce value Saturation (Saturation) to -85:
Step 3
The floor looks too bright, so add a correction layer. Curves (Curves) to completely darken the floor.
4. Add a balcony
Step 1
Open the original image with a balcony. Separate the balcony image from the background with the tool. Polygonal Lasso 
(Polygonal Lasso Tool (L)). Now select the lower middle part of the balcony to move the selection to our working paper. Place a fragment of the balcony over the floor on the right side of the scene.
Step 2
Duplicate the layer with the balcony fragment, and then flip the duplicate layer horizontally, for this we go Editing – Transformation – Flip Horizontal (Edit> Transform> Flip Horizontal). Place a duplicate image of the balcony on the left side of the scene:
Step 3
Now select both columns. Move the selected columns to our working paper, placing them on the balcony, just do not close the moon.
Step 4
Select all four layers with a balcony and columns, and then press the keys (Ctrl + G) to group them into one group. Change the blending mode for a layer with a group with a mode Skip (Pass Through) to mode Normal (Normal), opacity is 100%. Inside the created group, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation). Decrease Saturation (Saturation) for all tones Everything (Master) -86:
Step 5
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the balcony.
Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and use a soft black brush to restore the brightening on the contour plots (which are illuminated by moonlight), while maintaining other areas in the shade.
Step 6
There are some details that need to be retouched, let’s start with the lower right side of the balcony. Create a new layer on top of the balcony layer as a clipping mask, change the blending mode to Overlap (Overlay), opacity (opacity) layer 100%, and also perform fill 50% neutral gray (fill it with 50% gray):
Choose a tool Clarifier 
/ Dimmer 
(Dodge and Burn Tool (O)) in the control panel of this tool, set Range (Range) on Mid tones (Midtones) value Exposure (Exposure) approximately 20-30%. Now add a little glow to the front contours of the balcony, and also strengthen the shadows. You can see my processing at mode. Normal (Normal) and result in mode Overlap (Overlay) in the screenshot below:
Step 7
Do the same with the other elements of the balcony. The column on the right should be much lighter than the other elements of the balcony, because most illuminated by moonlight.
Step 8
To create a shadow falling from the balcony onto the floor, create a new layer below the layers with the balcony. Hold down the keys (Ctrl + Shift) and click on the thumbnails of the layers with balcony elements to load the active selection.
Fill the selected area with black, and also reduce the value Opacity (Opacity) layer up to 60%. Apply the transformation (Ctrl + T) to change the perspective:
Apply to the shadow layer. Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur). Install radius (Radius) blur 4 px:
Now go to the smart filter mask and use a soft black brush to hide the softening at the base of the balcony, as in this part of the scene the shadows should be clear and more saturated.
To the shadow layer, add a layer mask to slightly reduce the opacity of the shadow in the upper part closer to the foreground:
5. Add Fog
To create a fog effect on the lake, let’s go Layer – New Fill Layer – Color (Layer> New Fill Layer> Solid Color). Set the next fill color to # 2d2d2d.
Now go to the mask of this layer with a fill and use a soft black brush to create a light fog effect that will be visible only on top of the lake.
6. Add a model
Step 1
Open the original image with the model. Separate the model image from the background with the tool Polygonal Lasso (Polygonal Lasso Tool), and then move the selected image of the model to our working paper, placing it on the right side of our scene.
Step 2
Add a shadow to the model just as we added a shadow to the balcony.
Step 3
Create a new layer above the shadow layer and below the model layer. Using a soft brush, color the #ededed brush, add the reflection of moonlight to the floor. Change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (Soft Light), opacity 100%:
Step 4
Create a new layer as a clipping mask for the model layer and using the tool Stamp (Clone Tool), delete the tattoo image on the model’s back:
Step 5
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to reduce model saturation:
Step 6
Add adjustment layer Photo filter (Photo Filter). Set the following color for this filter # 87d5f9:
Step 7
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the model, in particular, the back area, as well as the dress. Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and using a soft black brush paint over the frontal part of the image, face and shoulder contour to maintain the brightness on these images.
Step 8
Create a new layer on top of the model layer as a clipping mask, change the blending mode to Overlap (Overlay), the opacity of the layer is 100%, and also perform fill 50% neutral gray (fill it with 50% gray). Using tool Clarifier / Dimmer (Dodge and Burn Tool (O)), add light to the frontal part of the image, and also strengthen the shadows in the back area, in particular, it concerns the details of the dress.
7. Add flowers
Step 1
Open the original image with colors 1. Separate the flowers from the background with the tool Magic wand 
(Magic Wand Tool (W)). Move the selected color image to our working paper, positioning it on the right side of the scene behind the column. Place this layer with the flowers below the group with the balcony.
Step 2
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to reduce color saturation:
Step 3
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the flowers. Next, go to the mask of this adjustment layer and with the help of a soft black brush hide the darkening on the areas of colors that are facing the light source:
Step 4
Add flowers 2 to the upper right side of the scene, placing this layer of flowers on top of the layer with the group with the balcony.
Step 5
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to this color image:
Step 6
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the flowers. The areas of flowers that are highlighted in the screenshot below must be processed on the mask of the adjustment layer:
Step 7
Using tool Dimmer (Burn Tool) on a separate layer, correct the shadows on the leaves and petals, in particular on those that are hidden behind the column in the corner:
Step 8
Add 3 flowers to the left side of the scene:
Step 9
Add a few adjustment layers to repeat the same technique that we applied earlier to other colors:
8. Final correction
Step 1
Add adjustment layer Color Balance (Color Balance) on top of all other layers. Change the settings for Medium tones (Midtones) and Light glare (Highlights):
Step 2
Add two adjustment layers Curves (Curves) to change the focus of lighting and contrast of the whole picture. Next, on the masks of the adjustment layers, using a soft black brush, paint over the selected areas.
Step 3
Add adjustment layer Gradient map (Gradient Map). Set the gradient colors to # 766f64 and # fde9ae. Change the blending mode for this adjustment layer to Soft light (Soft Light), opacity (opacity) 100%
Step 4
Add a fill layer, set the fill color to # 230000. Change the blending mode for this filled layer to An exception (Exclusion), 100% layer opacity:
Step 5
Add adjustment layer Color Balance (Color Balance) on top of all other layers. Change the settings for Medium tones (Midtones).
Step 6
Add adjustment layer Photo filter (Photo Filter). Set the following color tint for this filter # abccf8:
Step 7
Add adjustment layer Vibration (Vibrance) to enhance the final effect:
Congratulations! We have completed the lesson!
I hope that you liked this lesson, and you learned something new for yourself. Thank you for attending the lesson, and I wish you a good time at this lesson.
The final result:
