In this lesson, you will learn how to quickly and easily combine different elements and textures to create dynamic manipulation. You will learn the basics of how to use the gradient and blending options to create light and shade and correct the color shades of the whole picture. In addition, you will learn how to use light highlights, brushes, smoke and sprays. With simple actions, you will learn how to create stunning effects.
Final result
Source materials:
Step 1
First, open the image with the Background. Next, open the Model image. For this we go File – Open (File> Open) or (Ctrl + O).
Using tool Pen 
(pen tool) or using any other selection tool that you prefer to work with, separate the model image from the background. Copy the selected image of the model, and then paste the copied image of the model onto our working paper with the background. (Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V). Name the layer with the model, for example, ‘Model’.
For this lesson, we will use the actual size of our original background image (3888 x 4009 px).
Step 2
Position the model image on our working paper, applying the free transform according to the size of the background. (Ctrl + T). Next, double click on the model layer to activate the option. Overlay options (Blending options).
Apply the settings shown in the screenshot below. Due to this action, we will give the image of the model light shades of the background.
Step 3
To the layer with the model, add a layer mask, then, using the layer mask, hide the bottom of the model’s shoe. Due to this action, we will create an effect, as if the shoes are partially in the water.
Next, create a new layer on top of the model layer. Name this layer ‘Shadow from model’. Change the blending mode for the layer with the shadow on Soft light (Soft Light).
Using a large soft brush with an opacity of about 30%, the color of the brush is black, go around the brush, starting from the shoes and then towards the bottom of the document to simulate a shadow that falls from the model.
Step 4
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer between the model layer and the layer with the background. Name this layer ‘Fog’. Choose a large soft white brush with 100% opacity. Draw a large line along the horizon in the background.
Next, go Filter – Blur – Blur by Gauss(Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) and set the blur radius to 125 px, then click OK. Due to the blur, our line, which we added earlier, will become more uniform. You will notice that the white line creates a fog effect.
Step 5
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer between the model layer and the model’s shadow layer. Name this layer ‘Water Splash’.
Select the Water Splash Brush (662), set a large brush size so that each shoe splashes around. Set the brush color # c1e8ff, brush opacity 100%. Apply a brush in the area of each shoe, see the screenshot below for an example.
Step 6
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer between the model layer and the fog layer. Name this layer ‘Rope’.
Open the png image of the rope, and then duplicate the image of the rope many times so that the rope is long and not thick. Combine layers to make one long rope. Place the created rope behind the model. Choose a tool Puppet Warp (Puppet warp tool), Editing –Puppet Warp (Edit> Puppet Warp) and slightly change the shape of the rope so that it does not look straight and taut.
Step 7
Next, double click on the rope layer to activate the option. Layer styles (Layer Style).
Apply the settings shown in the screenshot below. For option Inner shadow (Inner Shadow), use shade # 000000, and for option Internal glow (Inner Glow), set a transparent gradient and the color of the gradient is # 6093b2. This will help us add 3D volume to the rope, as well as add hues to the entire image.
Step 8
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer on top of all layers. Name this layer ‘Blick Shot’.
Open the stock image Light highlights. Select the 3rd highlight from top to bottom. Move this highlight to the ‘Glare of the shot’ that we just created.
Increase the size of the light flare using free transformation (Ctrl + T).
Change the blending mode for the layer with the light flare to Lightening (Screen).
Step 9
Using the same technique that is described in Step 8, we will add more light highlights to our image.
You can name layers with light highlights, for example, лик Glare shot 1 ’(2, 3, …)
After you have created all the desired light highlights, you can group them together (select all the highlight layers and press Ctrl + G) to make it convenient for you to work with the layers in the layers palette.
Step 10
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer on top of all layers. Name this layer ‘Smoke’.
Choose a brush Smoke, brush color is white, opacity is 100% and further, apply this brush as shown in the screenshot below.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Step 11
If you think that the splashes under the shoes look implausible, then you can add additional effects to make the splashes larger and more natural, since the girl jumped down from a helicopter, or jumped off something else.
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place the new layer on top of the ‘Water splash’ layer. Name this layer “Splash water 2’ ”.
Open an image with a torn candy and cut out only a piece with torn pieces of candy.
Move the pieces of candy to the layer that we created and then change the blending mode to Lightening (Screen).
Using the eraser, remove the extra areas in the image fragments.
Do this with two boots.
Step 12
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer on top of the ‘Smoke’ layer. Name this layer ‘Fire’.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
Open the image with sparks of fire and then move this image to our working paper, placing it as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 13
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer on top of the ‘Fire’ layer. Name this layer ‘Snow’.
Place the snow texture on the ‘Snow’ layer. Next, apply scaling with the Transform tool (Ctrl + T).
Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening (Screen).
With this mode, we eliminate the black background, leaving white snow flakes.
Step 14
Being on a layer with snow, we go Filter – Blur – Motion Blur (Filter> Blur> Motion Blur).
Install Angle (Angle) 55 and Bias (Distance) 80 px.
Now the snow actually looks as if falling in motion.
Please note: you can reduce layer opacityup to about 50%, if you think the snow is too intense.
Step 15
Create a new layer (Layer> New> Layer) or (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + N). Place a new layer on top of the ‘Snow’ layer. Name this layer ‘Radial Blue’.
Choose a tool Gradient 
(Gradient Tool (G), gradient type Radial (Radial). Set a transparent gradient. Gradient color is # 006b6f.
Apply a radial gradient to the entire image. (Center transparent, on the borders of the color shade # 006b6f). Next, change the blending mode to Multiplication (Multiply) and reduce the layer opacity to 50%.
Step 16
Next, add an adjustment layer. Gradient map (Gradient Map). Set the gradient colors to # 003d43 and # ff7c00. Change the blending mode for this adjustment layer to Soft light (Soft Light), and reduce the layer opacity to 50%.
Step 17
It remains to hold the final touches to the image.
In order to add a surrealistic and dramatic touch to our image, select all the layers that you have created at the moment, then duplicate them, merge all the selected layers (only those that we duplicated).
Now your image is on one merged layer.
Next, go Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) and set the blur radius to 1.6 px, and then click ok. Change the blending mode to Light replacement (Lighten) Make sure that this layer is located on top of all the layers we worked with. You can name this layer ‘Soft Blur’.
You can pay attention to the glow on the white areas of the image. Due to this, a sharp imposition of boundaries is excluded.
Final result
