In this tutorial we will create a dark scene in a graveyard. In the course of work, you will learn how to combine objects taken from different photos, work with tools for lightening and darkening, masks, filters and color corrections.
Final result:
Lesson resources:
Step 1. Preparing the model
Open the image of the statue in Photoshop.
Separate the statue from the background. Do it in any way convenient for you. For example, you can use the tool Pen
(Pen Tool) (P). Draw an outline around the statue and transform it into a selection. After that, you can copy the statue to a separate background or apply a mask.
Step 2. Creating a new document
Create a new document in Photoshop (Ctrl + N) with the following parameters:
Transfer the statue to this document, activate the mode Free transform (Ctrl + T) and resize. In warp mode (Edit> Transform> Warp) (Edit> Transform> Warp) correct the shape of the statue.
Add a mask to the statue layer.
Choose a tool Brush
(Brush Tool) (B) with soft edges and black color on the mask paint over the bottom of the statue to hide it.
Result:
Step 3. Modifying the model
Need to draw torn robes. Use the following screenshot to stroke.
Create a new layer and tool Pen (Pen Tool) (P) Draw this shape with # 504e4e:
Name the layer “left cloth”. Then on the new layer, draw another shape on the other side. Name the layer “right cloth”.
Result:
Step 4. Add details
Now we draw the folds on the torn mantle. Do it with the tools Clarifier (
Dodge Tool) (O) and Dimmer
(Burn Tool) (O).
Set up the tools like this:
Select the “right cloth” layer and draw light and dark lines.
Change the size and exposure in the tool settings for different areas.
When done, create a copy of the layer (Ctrl + J) and set its blending mode for it. Soft light (Soft Light) and lower the opacity slightly.
Step 5
Do the same for the other part of the mantle.
Step 6. Connect the mantle with the statue
In order for the mantle to become part of the statue, we will use the tool Finger
(Smudge Tool). Select it and turn on the Sample All Layers option on the top panel.
Create a new layer above the statue layer. Spread the statue, as shown by the arrows in the screenshot.
To increase the contrast and brightness, create a copy of the layer (Ctrl + J) and change its blending mode to Soft light (Soft Light).
Step 7. The contrast of the statue
Create a new layer and work with the brightening and darkening tools on the statue itself.
Step 8. Hood
Open the next photo and select the hood.
Transfer the hood to the main document, change the size, shape and place on the statue.
Create an adjustment layer for the hood. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation).
Connect the hood and the statue in the same way as before.
Step 9. Finger correction
We will replace the brush of the statue on the brush of the skeleton. Select it on the photo with the bones.
Transfer your hand to the main document and position it like this:
Use the mask to hide the excess.
Add another finger and merge it with the rest of the brush.
Create adjustment layers for the brush. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) and Levels (Levels).
Do the same for the other hand.
Step 10. The lower part of the mantle
Create a new layer below the others and draw this shape:
Add creases with lightening and darkening tools.
Open the photo of the witch and select a part of her dress.
Transfer part of the dress to our document, put on the lower part of the mantle and change the shape. Create clipping mask (Ctrl + Alt + G) for convenience. Create multiple copies of this layer, change their shape and place on the mantle.
Step 11
Create a new layer on top of the rest using the Ctrl + Shift + N keyboard shortcut. Select a 50% gray fill and blending mode Overlap (Overlay), enable clipping mask.
On this layer, draw the shadows and light on the bottom of the mantle using the tools Clarifier (Dodge Tool) (O) and Dimmer (Burn Tool) (O). This is how it looks at the normal blend mode:
And so in mode Overlap (Overlay):
Create an adjustment layer Levels (Levels) with clipping mask.
Step 12
Merge all layers (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E) and apply the Color Contrast filter (Filter> Other> Color Contrast) (Filter> Other> High Pass) with a value of 1-2 pixels. Set the layer blending mode to Overlap (Overlay).
Add some more torn pieces of clothing.
Step 13. Main Stage
Create a new document with the following parameters:
Choose a tool Gradient
(Gradient Tool) (G), in the settings, select the radial type and drag the gradient from # 000002 to # 0d101c, as shown in the screenshot.
Step 14. Smoke
Open the next photo in Photoshop.
Do not try to repeat exactly the same accumulation of smoke, as I have, as it takes you a lot of time. At this stage I will use mask, transform and filters. Transfer the photo with smoke to our document and position it like this:
Apply filter Blur on the surface (Filter> Blur> Blur over Surface) (Filter> Blur> Surface Blur).
Add a mask and erase part of the layer.
Create a correction layer for the smoke layer. Levels (Levels).
Create multiple copies of the smoke layer and position them approximately as shown below. Erase the edges and experiment with opacity.
Create an adjustment layer for smoke. Levels (Levels).
Paint his mask like this:
Step 15. Bleach
Discolor smoke with an adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation).
Create a copy of the adjustment layer, set the blending mode Soft light (Soft Light) and reduce the opacity to 85%. On the mask paint over too dark areas.
Step 16. Earth
We will take the land from the following photo:
Transfer the photo to the main document, resize and position as shown in the screenshot. Layer must be under adjustment layers. Hue / Saturation previous step. In this case, it will be immediately discolored.
Add a mask 
and erase the sky and the mountains.
Step 17. Fog on the ground
We will add a nebula with this image:
Paste it into our document under the bleaching adjustment layers.
Add a mask and paint it as shown below. Reduce the opacity to 89%.
Result:
Create a copy of the layer with the nebula, turn it the other way and position it like this:
Change the mask and set the opacity to 90%.
Step 18. Light
Insert another image of the cosmic nebula and tilt it.
Set the blending mode Lightening (Screen) and reduce the opacity to 80%. Leave only the light source.
Step 19. Transfer the character
Transfer our character to this document and position it over the bleaching adjustment layers.
Step 20. Preparing the gravestones
Open the photo of the gravestone and separate it from the background.
Activate mode Free transform (Ctrl + T), right-click on the canvas and select Distortion (Distort).
Pull the anchor points as shown in the screenshot.
Create 2-3 copies of the gravestone and move them. Then combine all layers of the tombstone into one.
Step 21
Transfer the tombstone to the main document. Create a copy, change its shape and place it on the other side.
Add the original plate to the back.
Another stove:
Add the skull to the right side.
Remove the candles and transfer them to the main document. Create multiple copies of different sizes and arrange as shown in the screenshot.
Step 22. Color correction of objects
Gravestones in the foreground
Create two adjustment layers with clipping masks for the two plates at the bottom of the canvas (Ctrl + Alt + G): Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) and Photo filter (Photo Filter).
Create a new layer with clipping mask, fill it with 50% gray (Shift + F5) and set the blending mode Overlap (Overlay). Choose a tool Clarifier (Dodge Tool) (O) and add light to the edge of the slab.
Do the same for the other plate.
Gravestones in the background
Create a new layer with a clipping mask above the layer with a large slab in the background. Choose a soft brush with 10% opacity and white paint the light on the edges of the plate. Apply filter Gaussian blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) with a value of 1-2 pixels. Apply the same filter to the far plate.
Skulls
Discolor the skull on the right side with a correction layer. Colortone/Saturation (Hue / Saturation). Create a copy of the adjustment layer and change its blend mode to Soft Light.
Add light to the edges of the skulls in the same way as on the slabs.
Land
I decided to make the surface of the earth less visible. Reduce the opacity of its layer to 60%. Add a mask and a brush with low opacity to hide conspicuous details. On the sides add more gravestones or crosses.
Character
Create a new layer for the character. Choose a soft brush with 10-15% opacity. In black and white, add more details to the mantle. In the next screenshot, the black arrows show the shadows, and the white arrows show the light.
Create another layer with clipping mask and set the blending mode Lightening basics (Color Dodge). Use a soft brush to add blue color to the character.
Create a correction layer for the character. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast).
Step 23. Common Shadows and Light
Create a new layer at the top. Fill it with 50% gray and set the blending mode. Overlap (Overlay). Tools Clarifier (Dodge Tool) (O) and Shader (Burn Tool) (O) intensify light and shadow.
Step 24. General color correction
Create a new layer and fill it with color # 033335. Set the blending mode Multiplication (Multiply) and reduce the opacity to 45-50%.
Add a mask and paint over some areas of the layer with a soft brush with 10-15% opacity.
Create a new layer and fill it with # 43f6f4. Set the blending mode Soft light (Soft Light) and reduce the opacity to 20%. Add a mask and lightly cover the light source on the right side.
Create an adjustment layer Color balance (Color Balance) with 65-70% opacity. Next, add an adjustment layer. Photo filter (Photo Filter) in mode Soft light (Soft Light) with 20% opacity. After that, add another adjustment layer. Color balance (Color Balance).
Step 25. Candle light
Create a new layer on top of the rest, fill it with black and set the blending mode Lightening basics (Color Dodge). Choose a soft brush with 3-5% opacity and paint the ground around the glow with yellow and orange. In some places you will need to add white color.
To make the glow brighter, create a copy of the layer (Ctrl + J).
Create a new layer and set its blending mode. Hard light (Hard Light). Draw a fire from each candle with the color # fc9502.
Reduce the layer opacity to 70%.
Create another layer and set its blending mode. Linear light (Linear Light). The same color draw the light from the candles on the gravestones. Shadows from the candles, draw a black soft brush.
Step 26. Filters
Select the topmost layer in the layers panel and press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E. All layers will be merged into one separate layer. Convert the resulting layer to a smart object (Filter> Convert for smart filters) (Filter> Convert for Smart Filters). Then apply the filter Oil paint (Filter> Oil Paint) (Filter> Oil Paint).
Apply Custom Filter (Filter> Other> Custom) (Filter> Other> Custom). Reduce the opacity of this filter to 50-60%.
Result:
Paint the smart filter mask like this:
Result:
Finally, create Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer (Brightness / Contrast).
Final result:
PSD file http://www.photoshoptutorials.ws/downloads/psd/Dark%20Queen.zip
