Materials for the lesson:
Step 1. Get started by creating a new document with a size of 1000×1500 pixels and a resolution of 300 ppi.
Step 2. Open the stock images you downloaded. Below, I showed how to combine parts of stock photographs so that you can imagine what we will create. As you can see, the shooter has no elbow (a), so cut the missing part from the other image (b).
Step 3. Now you need to remove the excess parts and backgrounds from the images. For this, I used the tool Pentool (P) 
(Pen) and created an outline around the desired elements in the images. When you create a closed loop, right-click on the path and select Make Selection. Delete or hide the unnecessary background on the layer mask. Do this procedure for all images.
The result should be like this.
Step 4. Now you need to adjust the colors on the images so that they look like one. You can use adjustment layers for this. Hue/Saturation (Hue / Saturation), Levels (Levels) Vibrance (Vibration), Brightness/Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) and change the shades and contrast on all parts of Sagittarius. Correct color correction is achieved by trial and error, you need patience for this. I recommend using the image with the body of the shooter as the main one, and to it the image of the horse and the hand should be adjusted to it. The main goal in this step is to obtain the most similar color shades of all components.
Step 5. Create a smooth transition of the body of the arrow into the body of the horse. For this, I used the tool Brushtool (B) 
(Brush) and drew this transition. Take color samples from the body with the arrow using the tool EyedropperTool
(Pipette) and draw the missing pieces. Using tools BurnTool
(Dimmer) and Dodge
Tool (Clarifier), add shadows and light. I emphasized the abdominal muscles and lower ribs of the shooter. In the next steps, we will continue to create a transition between the body of the shooter and the horse, using drawing.
Step 6. In this step, we will remove the unnecessary thin strip from the body of the shooter. Using the tool Patchtool (J) 
(Patch), select a small section of the line you want to delete (a). After that, drag the selected area to the adjacent area without a strip, you will see how this area changes depending on the selected sample (b). Use to replace the area adjacent to the highlighted one. Repeat this procedure until you completely remove the unnecessary line (c). Below is the result that should be obtained.
Step 7. Now you need to extend the wide belt from the bow on the body of the arrow. To do this, take the tool Pentool (P) (Pen) and create an outline of the desired shape, as shown in (a), convert it to a selected area. Then using the tool Brushtool(B) (Brush), draw on the selected area, take a color swatch from the original part of the belt (b). Do not forget to add a small shadow from the belt. The result should be like this (c).
Step 8. Create the missing part of the bow. Using the toolRectangularMarqueetool (M) 
(Rectangular selection area), Highlight a section of the onion, as shown in (a). Click Ctrl + J to copy the selected area to a new layer. Arrange the duplicate area on the top of the bow, creating its continuation, call the transformation (Ctrl + T) to rotate the plot (b). Continue to lengthen the bow in the same way, do the same with the bottom of the bow. Erase the onion parts at the ends, making the edges rounded (c).
Step 9. In this step, add a string for the bow. To do this, take the tool Pentool (P) (Feather) and create a contour as shown in (a). After that, right-click on the contour and select Stroke Path (a-1). Indicate in the window that appears tool Brush (Brush) (a-2). Before creating a contour, put in the settings Brushes Hardness values are 100%, approximately 3 pixels in size, primary color is black # 000000. After contour stroke Brush with the specified parameters should turn out like this (b). Open the window Layer styles for layer with bowstring and add style InnerShadow (Inner shadow) with the parameters specified in (b-1). In conclusion, draw a shadow from the string on the body of Sagittarius, use the tool for this Pentool (P) (Feather) or Brushtool (B) (Brush).
Step 10. When you do all the previous steps to create the Sagittarius, merge all the layers created for this. But before that, I recommend that you duplicate all the layers, merge them into a group and hide the visibility of this group of layers. This will be a backup just in case we want to change something in the future.
After this, correct the merged layer with Sagittarius, use for this Levels (Levels) (Ctrl + L) and Hue/Saturation (Hue / Saturation) (Ctrl + U) with the settings shown below.
Step 11. Create a background for our Sagittarius. Open the image with Mountain.jpg. I used only part of this image shown in (a). Then open the image with Ground.jpg, click Ctrl + T to invoke the transformation. Click with the right mouse button and select the type of transformation. Distort (Distortion), move the corner markers of the transformation grid, as shown in (b). Change Hue/Saturation (Hue / Saturation) (Ctrl + U) for the layer with earth, put the values specified in (c). After that, take a soft Brush (BrushTool) medium size color # 000000, and draw over the areas shown in (d).
As a result, it should turn out like this (e), place the combined layer with Sagittarius over the background.
Step 12. In this step, add the shadow of the Sagittarius falling to the ground. Take the tool BrushTool (Brush), select a medium-sized soft brush with Opacity about 50%, set the main color as # 000000. Draw on the areas shown below, pay special attention to details. The closer a horse is to the ground, the stronger the shadow will be from it, and as it moves away from the ground, the shadow will become more transparent.
Step 13. Using the tool BrushTool (Brush), draw the hair of the Sagittarius and the tail of the horse. When drawing, use different shades of black and gray, hair (mane) and tail should look thick and shiny.
Note translator. If necessary, see the lessons on drawing hair.
Step 14. Our image looks flat. To fix this, we need to add light and shadow to underline the contours of Sagittarius. Before we begin, let’s determine the source of light, in our case it is at the top center.
Knowing the location of the light source, let’s proceed to the drawing of light and shadows.
Step 15. Start by adding shadows. Considering the directions of light, I showed below the areas to add shadows, use shades of black and brown for this. For this step, I recommend using the tool BrushTool (Brush), take soft Brush medium size, Opacity is small – 2-10%. You can enhance the areas of shadow present in the original image.
Step 16. Now add the light areas and highlights. Use Brush Tool (Brush) with the same parameters as when drawing shadows, but choose light shades close to white. Draw over the areas shown below. In this step, emphasize and strengthen the light areas, add light to the head of the shooter, his hands, the horse’s body, legs, neck.
After adding shadows and light, our image began to look more volumetric and natural.
Step 17. In the next steps we will do color correction of the entire image as a whole, creating the right mood in the work. First create a new layer, fill it with color. # 462d00, using for this instrument PaintBuckettool
(G) (Fill). Change the layer blending mode to Overlay (Overlap), lower its Opacity to 30%.
Step 18. Also, as we did in the previous step, create a new layer and fill it with color # 004a6d. Change the blending mode to ColorDodge (Lightening the basics). This step will give the image a fantastic glow.
Step 19, 20. In this step, we need to save a copy of our image in JPEG format. After that, open the saved JPEG file, place this layer on top of all layers.
Note translator. It is more convenient to simply create a combined copy of all visible layers by clicking Shift + Alt + Ctrl + E.
Apply a filter to the merged layer. Filter > Blur > GaussianBlur (Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur), set the value to a radius of 1.3 pixels (a). Then take the tool Eraser
(Eraser) with Opacity about 50%, erase the portions shown in (b). This step will give a small glowing halo to our Sagittarius, adding a fantastic look to the image.
The result should be like this.
Step 21 I further enhanced the light areas of the image. Make it over the created layers for color correction. To do this, take the tool BrushTool (Brush), select a small soft brush with an opacity of about 25%, set the color to white #ffffff and draw over the specified areas.
Step 22 Now using BrushTool (Brush) about 3 pixels in size, paint in white #ffffff at the sites shown below. This will increase the visibility of the folds on the bandana and will give additional volume to the face.
Step 23 Add additional shadows in our work. Take the tool BrushTool (Brush), about 90 pixels in size, Hardness 26%. Set black # 000000 and draw on the areas shown below. Lower the Opacity of this layer with shadows up to 45%.
Step 24 Make the tone of our image warmer. To do this, create a new layer, fill it with color. #ff9600, using for this instrument PaintBuckettool (G) 
(Fill). Change the blending mode of this layer to Overlay (Overlap) and lower its Opacity to about 32%.
Step 25. To complete our work, let’s add small rays of light falling from the upper right corner of the image. To do this, take the tool BrushTool (Brush), Choose a tough little brush. Draw small light points as shown below.
Apply a filter to this layer. Filter > Blur > MotionBlur (Filter – Blur – Blur in motion) with the parameters shown below.
Then click Ctrl + T To call a transformation, right-click and select a transformation type. Distort (Distortion), move the corner markers of the transformation grid as shown below. Rays of light should be located closer to each other in the upper right corner of the image, and as the rays propagate downward, the distance between them should increase.
Finally, apply a filter to the layer. Filter > Blur > GaussianBlur (Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur), Set the options below.
Conclusion
That’s all, we are done. The final result is shown below. I hope you enjoyed performing this lesson and you learned something new for yourself! Thanks for reading!
Click to enlarge
