In this lesson you will learn how to create a fantasy warm composition. Learn how to combine backgrounds from different images, work with shadow and light, create fiery and light special effects, such as luminous particles.
What will we create?
In this tutorial, you will learn the basics of Photoshop using layers and the basics of drawing, creating light and shadow. Learn to work with perspective and apply different layer styles. Sounds interesting? Start learning this lesson and find out how easy it is!
Final image
Step 1
Create a new document through the menu. File> New (File> New), specify the following dimensions 1200x1800px.
Step 2
Place the image of the staircase in the working document and resize it to fit the width of the canvas.
Step 3
Then place the grunge texture. Transform (Ctrl + T) and correct its perspective by moving the control points while holding the Ctrl key.
Step 4
Add a mask to this layer. To do this, click on the icon marked in the figure below. Then go to the mask. Select a soft round brush and hide the edges of the texture.
Step 5
Now place the stone clock. Resize and correct the perspective by moving the control points while holding down the Ctrl key.
Step 6
Add a layer mask to this layer and go to it. Take soft round cysts 
b and disguise everything except the circle of hours.
Step 7
Add some light and shadow to your watch. Add adjustment layer Brightness/Contrast (Brightness / Contrast). Now right click on the layer and select Create Clipping Mask (Create clipping mask).
Step 8
You can treat the adjustment layer mask as a mask of a regular layer or a smart object. Switch to the mask next to the layer icon. Take a soft round brush and hide the top of the image.
Step 9
Adjust the texture image on the ground. Reduce saturation first. To do this, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask.
Step 10
Reduce contrast. – Stock Image with the clock contrasts too much compared to the texture of the floor. To do this, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask.
Step 11
At the end, add the adjustment layer again. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask.
Step 12
Now we put in order the entire floor. To do this, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast).
Add adjustment layer again Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast). Then, using a layer mask and a large soft brush, erase the foreground of the background.
Add some color. Add a fill layer via the menu Layer> New FillLayer> SolidColor (Layer> Fill New Layer> Color) and specify the fill color # 18bc7c. Then change the blending mode to Pin light (Spot color) with Opacity (Opacity) 40%.
Duplicate the fill layer. To do this, drag the layer to the icon at the bottom of the layers panel. NewLayer (New layer) or go to menu Layer> Duplicate Layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer). Change the blending mode to Hue (Color tone) and lower Opacity (Opacity) up to 80%.
Add adjustment layer again Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast). Then, using a layer mask, use a large soft brush to erase the background of the background.
Duplicate this layer. To do this, drag the layer to the icon at the bottom of the layers panel. NewLayer (New layer) or go to menu Layer> Duplicate Layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer). Change duplicate by double clicking on it. Decrease Brightness (Brightness), then Opacity (Opacity) up to 40%. By doing this step, you can simply duplicate the layer and layer mask without repeating all the steps.
At the end you should indicate a brighter area in the picture: a small point on the ground where the fire will glow. To do this, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) and adjust as shown below. Then treat the area that should be lighter, using a soft round brush.
Step 13
Place the model on a working canvas. Separate the model from the background in any way convenient for you. You can use a round hard brush to paint over all the details and body shape of the model.
Step 14
In this step, we will erase the leaves on our feet. To do this, create a new layer as a clipping mask. Use Clone stamp tool 
(Stamp) and remove the leaves.
Step 15
Add adjustment layer again Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask. Reduce the saturation of the bottom. Mask the top of the canvas with a soft round brush, changing its opacity.
Step 16
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Choose a soft round brush of color # 515151 (dark gray) of a small size of about 15px. Draw shadows on your legs.
Change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication) and lower Opacity (Opacity) up to 80%
Step 17
Create a new layer, right-click on an empty layer and select Create clipping mask (Create clipping mask). Use Clone stamp Tool (Stamp) to touch up the skin of the model.
Step 18
The light source (fire) will be placed in the hand of the model and on the floor. Draw shadows on her legs. Create a new layer, right-click on an empty layer and select Create clipping mask (Create clipping mask). Choose a soft round brush and set a light gray color (# 827c7d). Draw shadows on the back foot.
Change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication)
Step 19
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Choose a soft round brush and set a light yellow color (# 827c7d). Draw glare on the front foot.
Decrease Opacity (Opacity) up to 32%
Step 20
At night, without light, objects are less contrasted with each other. Show it in your work. Add adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask and adjust as shown below.
Step 21
This step is necessary to create the hand holding the fireball. Create a new layer and use a small white soft brush to draw a few highlights on its fingers. Then reduce Opacity (Opacity) of this layer up to 70%
Step 22
This is another way to make highlights. Create an adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) as a clipping mask. Then use a soft brush to go over those areas in the mask that should be darker. Remember the light source.
Step 23
Repeat this step, but mask the light areas. Use a large brush with varying opacity.
Step 24
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a soft round brush and set the color white. Draw a few highlights on the face, chest, and arms. Thanks to this step, you can apply light to the desired areas more accurately than with a correction layer.
Change the blending mode to Color dodge (Lightening the basics), reduce Opacity (Opacity) up to 73-75%.
Step 25
Do the same with the shadows. Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a soft round brush and set a smoky green (# 5f5529) color. Draw shadows on your hair, arms, skirt, and legs.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Multiply (Multiplication).
Step 26
Heat the colors. Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a large round (very large) soft round brush and set a warm yellow (# e2c306) color. Draw a large soft spot on the arm and face. For a better effect, choose a warm orange (# ff8706) color and draw a few dots on the upper arm and nose.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlay (Overlap) with Opacity (Opacity) 29%.
Step 27
Go back to the original model layer. Duplicate it. Transform this layer (Ctrl + T). Change the perspective of the layer.
Step 28
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask. Set the settings as shown below.
Step 29
Click on the mask icon next to the layer icon. Place a large soft brush and wipe the legs and knees out of this layer.
Step 30
Then go to menu Filter> Blur> GaussianBlur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur). Set the settings as shown.
Step 31
Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush of 30px. Draw something like a rectangle with dots in the corners.
Step 32
Add a layer mask, to do this, click on the icon below. Then select a large soft brush and erase the right side of the layer. For a smooth effect, can reduce Opacity (Opacity) of this layer to 48%.
Step 33
Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush of black color with a low opacity and draw a blurred shadow.
Decrease Opacity (Opacity) up to 60%
Step 34
Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush with Opacity (Opacity) 30% and size 20px. Draw shadows under the foot.
Step 35
Create a new layer again. Take a 120px soft round brush with Opacity (Opacity) 30%. Draw a shadow under the second foot.
Step 36
This step is optional. Create a new layer above all layers. Draw a base for shoes. I used a hard round brush color # 0d050e (dark purple), with varying size.
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a soft round brush size 15px, specify the color # 7a5d54. Draw glare from the fire, which you then put.
Reduce it Opacity (Opacity) up to 36%.
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a soft round brush size of 6px. use the colors # fe8e23 and # fbd888. Draw highlights on the shoe.
Reduce it Opacity (Opacity) up to 25%.
Step 37
Place in the working paper image Fire. Change the blending mode to Screen (Screen). Take a soft round brush in size and erase those areas that do not fit.
Step 38
Change layer blending mode to Normal (Normal), add a new layer as a clipping mask. Take CloneStampTool (Stamp) to fix a little fire.
Now again change the layer blending mode to Screen (Screen).
Step 39
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a soft round brush size of 6px. Using colors # fe8e23 and # fbd888, draw a dripping fire.
Step 40
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Take a soft round brush size 6px white. Draw a liquid substance on the hand.
Step 41
Now we will create a fiery glow. Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush of 30px. Specify the color # ff970f. Draw a glow around the model’s arm.
Change the layer’s overlay mode to SoftLight (Soft light).
Step 42
Now create a glow around the drops of fire. Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush size 15px, specify a lighter color # ffd514.
Change the layer’s overlay mode to SoftLight (Soft light).
Step 43
Now let’s add some light and shine to our hands. Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush size of 10px, specify the light color # ff5d24. For better effect, change the brush opacity.
Change the layer’s overlay mode to Screen (Screen)
Step 44
Now create the biggest glow. Create a new layer. Take a 300px soft round brush. Use the light brown color # 8e1900 and make a point in the center of the fire image.
Change the layer’s overlay mode to Screen (Screen) with Opacity (Opacity) 45%.
Step 45
The image is too bright. Let’s fix it. Create an adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast).
Step 46
Then you have to change the color (if you want). Add adjustment layer ColorBalance (Color balance)
Step 47
Now prepare the ground to create lava. Create a new layer. Grab a 400px soft round brush. Draw a smoky orange dot (# ff7122).
Then draw a slightly smaller point of light yellow color (# ffe65b), the second point is located on the first.
Next, change its perspective with (Ctrl + T) and position it on the ground.
At the end, change the blending mode to Hue (Color tone)
Step 48
Create a new layer. Take a 150px soft round brush. Paint the stain in dark orange (# ff3f08).
Change the blending mode ColorDodge (Lightening the basics), reduce Opacity (Opacity) up to 10-11%
Step 49
Add more radiance to the fire. Create a new layer. Use the same brush settings as before and draw a shine around the model’s hands, fire and drops of fire. You can reduce Opacity (Opacity) brush up to 50%, it depends on the desired effect.
Change the layer’s overlay mode to Screen (Screen) with Opacity (Opacity) 50%.
Step 50
The next glow. Create a new layer. Same colors. A larger brush (soft, 500px,Opacity (Opacity) 50%)
Decrease Opacity (Opacity) to 44%, change the blending mode to SoftLight (Soft light)
Step 51
In this step, we will create something more interesting than before – particles of fire. Create a new layer. Take a small round brush 5px white. For the best effect, use a brush with a dynamic size. Smear the falling particles.
Right-click on the layer, select Blending options (Overlay options). Change parameters Outer glow (External glow) and Inner glow (Internally glow)
Step 52
Now it’s time to create lava on the floor. This is very similar to how we made the particles of fire. Create a new layer. Use the same brush settings as before. Draw the lava base in the form of long strips.
Then go to the previous layer – with particles. Right click on it and select Copy layer style (Copy layer style). Then go to the last layer, right-click on it and select Paste layer style (Paste layer style).
Step 53
Create a new layer. Take a small round brush 1px with dynamic opacity, specify the color # fffa70 and paint the glare on the edges of the clock from the fire.
Step 54
Now you will set the colors around the lava. Create a new layer. Take a small round brush with dynamic opacity and set # fdbe2f. In the first setting Opacity (Opacity) 50%. Draw something like a slice of pizza. Then install Opacity (Opacity) brush 100% and walk along the arc of hours.
Change the blending mode to Overlay (Overlap) with Opacity (Opacity) 26%
Step 55
For a better effect, duplicate the layer with highlights on the clock (see step 53) by dragging the layer onto the icon New layer (New layer) at the bottom of the layers panel or through the menu Layer> Duplicate layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer) and blur it through the menu Filter> Blur> Gaussian blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur), the blur radius is about 0.2px. Then change the blending mode of this layer to SoftLight (Soft light).
Step 56
You can add some shadows to the lava. Create a new layer. Take a 5px small round brush and Opacity (Opacity) 50%. Set the dark color to # ff9f41 and paint the shadows on the lava.
Change the blending mode to Overlay (Overlap)
Duplicate this layer, and then change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication)
Step 57
Go back to the particle layer. Duplicate it and drag above all layers. Specify Fill (Fill) layer 0%, Opacity (Opacity) 61%. Name this layer Top glow
Right click on the layer and select Blending options (Overlay options). Change parameters Outer glow (External glow) and uncheck Inner glow (Internally glow).
Step 58
Do the same with the lava on the floor. Copy the lava base layer. Then go to layer Top glow (step 57) and right click on it. Select Copy layer style (Copy layer style). Then right-click on the duplicated lava layer and select Paste layer style (Paste layer style).
Step 59
We need to create a glare in the eyes. Create a new layer. Take a 2px soft round brush and draw as shown below. I used white for the eyes, light orange and yellow for the iris and white for the highlights.
Step 60
In this step we will make a contour on the face and lips. To do this, create a new layer. Take a 1px soft round brush with a dynamic color from white for illuminated parts, orange for less bright areas, and at the end blue / purple to emphasize darker outlines.
Step 61
In this step, create shadows on the face. Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush with Opacity (Opacity) 60%. Specify color # 5e1d11 and draw shadows on the nose, around the edges of the face and hair.
Decrease Opacity (Opacity) layer to 40-37%, change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication).
Step 62
Create a new layer. Use the same brush size and opacity. Change the color to white. Draw highlights on your nose, chin and cheeks.
Decrease Opacity (Opacity) layer up to 50%
Step 63
Create a new layer above all layers. Do the same as in step 60. Create the outline of the model body using the same color scheme that is specified in this step.
Step 64
Add the falling particles around the model. Create a new layer. Set the # fffc82 – light yellow color in the color picker. Select a small, round brush and paint smaller particles. You can also use the “Rough Round Bristle” Adobe Photoshop brush installed. If you want, you can use any brush particles or dust.
Right click on the layer and select Blending options (Overlay options).
Step 65
This step will take a long time. Create a new layer. Create a purple outline on the background, using a 1px soft round brush.
Step 66
Create a new layer. To create a depth effect, create highlights on the background. Use a soft round brush about 50px in size with the same color.
Change the blending mode to Linear dodge (Add) (Linear clarifier (Add)). Decrease Opacity (Opacity) up to 22%.
Step 67
In this step, you will create something like glow particles. Create a new layer. Use a large soft round brush with Opacity (Opacity) 30%. Use the colors # f9f26c and # f9d16f. Draw an arc.
Change the blending mode to SoftLight (Soft light) c Opacity (Opacity) 61%
Step 68
Place image Dead tree in the working paper. Duplicate it and use (CTRL + T) to flip horizontally. Arrange it as shown below. Select layers with a dead tree and convert to smart objects.
Step 69
Objects in the foreground should be blurred to get the depth of field. Go to menu Filter> Blur> Gaussian blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur)
Step 70
Add a fill layer as a clipping mask to the previous layer via the menu Layer> New FillLayer> Solid Color (Layer> Fill New Layer> Color) and specify the fill color # 0e0912.
Create a new layer as a clipping mask. Change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication). Draw shadows on the branches.
Now make the highlights on the branches. Create a new layer as a clipping mask to the previous one. Change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication). Use the same brush with transparency dynamics. Paint the highlights with the color # ffaa23 (orange).
If there is a need you can add a layer mask. To do this, click on the icon below. Use a large soft brush and erase unwanted parts.
Step 71
Repeat the same steps for the Tree side image. First fill the color (step 70), then add an adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) (266.44.0). Then I painted the highlights in the same color as in step 70.
Step 72
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves).
Then, using a large round soft brush, mask the adjustment layer as shown below.
Step 73
Now add a Gradient fill layer adjustment layer via the menu Layer> New adjustment layer>Gradient (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Gradient), specify a gradient from transparent to # 0e0912, Radial (Radial).
Change the blending mode to Overlay (Overlap) with Opacity (Opacity) 60%.
Step 74
Create a new layer. Take a 300px soft round brush. Color specify # 0e0912 and circle the edges of the picture.
Change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication) with Opacity (Opacity) 45%.
Step 75
Add adjustment layer Exposure (Exposure).
Step 76
Create a new layer. You will draw hair. Take a soft round brush with dynamic opacity (1px). Use the same color scheme as in step 60. This will be your basis for the next steps.
Create a new layer. Choose a soft round brush with Opacity (Opacity) 50%. Use white color. Draw highlights on the curls.
Change the blending mode to Overlay (Overlap), if you think that the effect is not visible, duplicate this layer.
Create a new layer. Take a soft round brush with Opacity (Opacity) about 20%. Set a dark purple color and draw the shadows on the curls.
Final image
