In this lesson, you will learn how to create a metallic apple with a reflection of the cityscape. You will also learn how to deform objects, apply tools. Clarifier / Dimmer (Burn / Dodge) and how to add reflection on a metal surface.
Final result
Source materials:
Step 1
Open the “Metal ball” image. Select the Oval Area tool 
(Elliptical Marquee Tool). With this tool, create a selection around the ball image. To create the perfect oval selection, hold down the Shift key. Once you have selected the image of the ball, press Ctrl + C to copy the selected image of the ball.
Next, press the Ctrl + N keys to create a new document. Photoshop is a smart enough program, it will calculate the selection parameters and apply these parameters in the settings of the new document, so all you have to do is click OK. Next, press Ctrl + V to paste the copied image into our new document.
Step 2
So, we pasted the image of the ball on the new document. The reason we did this is the door located in the middle of the reflection, which spoils the whole look of the ball. We need a beautiful round ball and this is the only suitable image of a chrome ball that I could find, except for the fact that it shows a terrible entrance door, which naturally spoils the symmetry of the ball.
Note that the door in reflection is mainly located on the right side of the image, while the left side of the image looks great. To remedy this situation, the only solution is to use a good half to correct the bad half.
This technique, which I am going to use, is very useful when retouching or correcting symmetrical objects, this technique also helps a lot when working with human faces.
Using tool Rectangular area 
(Rectangle Marquee Tool), create a rectangular selection of the ball image.
Step 3
While on a layer with a metal ball, press Ctrl + J to copy the active selection of half the ball to the new layer. I temporarily turned off the visibility of the layer with the metal ball, so that only the half ball layer will be visible.
Step 4
Being on the layer with the ball half, press the Ctrl + T keys to activate the tool Free Transformation (Free Transform). Right-click on the document and in the menu that appears, select the option Flip horizontally (Flip Horizontally). Hold down the Shift + key and pull the ball half to the right side, placing it on top of the original ball half.
Step 5
Add a layer mask to the half ball layer Layer- Layer Mask – Show All (Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All), then hold down the Alt + key and click between the layer with the ball half and the layer with the original image of the ball to convert the top layer into a clipping mask to the bottom layer with the original image of the ball.
This means that the layer with the ball half will only be visible through the visible pixels of the bottom layer, so if you didn’t accurately position the image with the ball half over the right side of the original ball in Step 4, then now you don’t need to worry about it.
Step 6
Choose a soft round brush in black, brush size 100 px. Next, using this brush, paint over the layer mask of the layer to hide the areas that are highlighted in the screenshot below.
Step 7
To get rid of the horribly dark spot in the middle of the image, and also to make the concrete pad look properly, we will repeat the trick from Step 2.
Let’s select a part of the pad at the bottom left of the image, press Ctrl + C to copy the selected area (before pressing Ctrl + C, turn off the visibility of the layer with the white background, and also make sure that you are on the layer with the original layer ball). Create a new layer on top of all layers. Layer- New – Layer (Layer- New – Layer) and press Ctrl + V to paste the copied image of the quarter ball.
Step 8
Now it remains only to place this layer in the lower right part of our image and further, using the tool Free Transformation (Free Transform) apply scaling to this part of the image. Add a layer mask to this layer. Layer- Layer Mask – Show All (Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All), then, using a soft round brush, paint over the obvious edges of the image to create a smooth transition. The result should be as in the screenshot below.
Step 9
The image starts to look great, but it still requires a little correction.
First, there are some elements on the image that repeat each other (for example, the guy in the white T-shirt and the red tape of the barrier). Create a new layer, go Layer- New – Layer (Layer- New – Layer) and using the tool Stamp 
(Clone Stamp tool), delete the indicated elements.
There are a few more defects on the image, this is where the lines intersect on the concrete pad, but I believe that the ball looks quite good, so I will not waste time on making this correction. Make sure that you are on the layer with the original ball, then press Ctrl + click on the ball to form the selected area.
Press Ctrl + Shift + C to Copy merged data (Copy Merged), so we copy all the visible pixels, and not only those pixels of the layer on which we are located.
Step 10
Open the image “Apples”, then press the Ctrl + V keys to paste our metal ball. Name this layer “Metallic Apple”. Remember to save your work document, because in the event of a computer crash, your work will be saved.
Step 11
Next, with the tool Free Transformation (Free Transform) and options Deformation (Warp), warp the metal ball so that it fully fits the middle apple. Do not worry about the tail of an apple (a small branch connecting the apple to the tree)
Step 12
In order to make the image look more realistic, we need to use the texture of the original apple. Turn off the visibility of the metal ball layer and using the tool. Pen 
(Pen Tool), create a selection around the middle apple.
Step 13
Press Ctrl + Shift + C to Copy merged data (Copy Merged), then press the Ctrl + V keys to paste the selected apple image onto a new layer. Since we only need texture, not color shades, then we need to apply bleaching to the layer by pressing Ctrl + Shift + U.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay), and reduce the opacity of the layer to 40%. Move this layer to the top, and then convert it to a clipping mask to the “Metal Ball” layer.
Step 14
Create a new layer on top of all layers (Ctrl + Shift + N), and then convert this layer to a clipping mask to the underlying layer (texture layer). Choose a soft round brush with 40% opacity. Carefully paint the edges of the metal ball.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Multiplication (Multiply), and then lower the layer opacity to about 60%. This action will give a slight shading to the metal ball – from now on, I will call this layer a metal apple.
Step 15
To shade the image a little more and get rid of the flat view of our metal ball, let’s add an adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) on top of all layers, and then convert this adjustment layer to a clipping mask to the underlying layer. Pull the curve down to darken.
Step 16
Click on the layer mask of the adjustment layer, and then press the Ctrl + I keys to invert the color shades, so we fill the layer mask with black. Next, select a soft round brush, using this brush, paint over the edges of the metal apple again to give it a 3D look. Pay attention to my layer mask, as it looks in the screenshot below.
Step 17
So let’s create a small hollow where the stalk connects with the apple. To do this, click on the layer with the background (the original layer with three apples), and then press Ctrl + J to duplicate the image. Move the duplicate to the top, placing it on top of all layers (hotkeys for this action Ctrl + Shift +]), and then apply bleaching (Ctrl + Shift + U).
Step 18
Change the blending mode for the layer you duplicated in Step 17 to Multiplication (Multiply). Fill it with black (press D to set the default colors, then press Ctrl + Backspace to fill the layer with the background color). Using a soft round brush with 100% opacity, paint over white on the layer mask to reveal a dimple or hollow area.
Step 19
We needed a stalk for an apple, and I decided to use an apple stalk on the left. The reason I decided to use this stalk is that the stalk of the apple in the middle is too small and thin, and therefore, the apple does not look very nice.
Therefore, we go further, create a selection around the stalk of the apple, located on the left with the tool Pen (Pen Tool) or any other selection tool you prefer to work with (when creating a selection using the Pen (Pen Tool), first, create a contour around the image of the stalk, and then press Ctrl + Enter to convert the contour into an active selection).
Step 20
Press Ctrl + Shift + C to Copy merged data (Copy Merged), then press the Ctrl + V keys to paste the selected image of the small stalk to a new layer. Move the newly created layer on top of all layers, and then use the tool Free Transformation (Free Transform), place the stalk in the center of the apple. You can also use the tool. Deformation (Warp Tool) in order to deform the stalk, so that it is different from the stalk on the left apple.
Step 21
So, the next lesson trick. Since our metal ball, it should also reflect the apples located on the left and right. In order to create such a reflection, using the tool Pen (Pen Tool), create a selection around the left side of the right apple.
Step 22
Press Ctrl + Shift + C to Copy merged data (Copy Merged), then press Ctrl + V to paste the selected image onto a new layer. Next, with the tool Free Transformation (Free Transform) and options Deformation (Warp Tool) in order to position and deform the half apple, so that it looks appropriately on a metal apple.
Step 23
To the deformed apple halves, add a layer mask, go Layer- Layer Mask – Show All (Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All), fill the layer mask with black (press the D key to set the default colors, and then press Ctrl + Backspace to fill the layer mask with the background color) and notice how all pixels.
But we want to get rid of only those pixels that are outside the image of a metal apple, so what we will do? Ok, so hold down the Ctrl + key and click on the metal apple layer to load the image as a selection, and then click the layer mask again.
Since we set the foreground color to white, press Alt + Backspace to fill the selection with white and thus, only those pixels that are located outside the metal apple image will appear. The apple began to look good, but I’m not happy with what the bottom looks like, so choose a soft round black brush, and with this brush, hide the lower excess area.
Step 24
This reflection looks too light, so let’s add a correction layer to this layer. Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask. Pull the curve down to create a dimming effect. Also add a correction layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation), then convert this adjustment layer to a clipping mask to the previous layer. Curves(Curves). Set the value Saturation(Saturation) at -50. We perform these actions because this image should be a reflection, therefore, it should be less saturated with colors and light than the original image.
Step 25
Add another adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask. Pull the curve down to darken the image. Fill the layer mask with black and then paint it with a soft white brush around the edges of the apple to darken them. The result should be as in the screenshot below.
Step 26
Repeat Steps 21 through 25 to create a reflection on the left side of the metal apple.
Step 27
Now the apple looks great, so let’s start adding details. Please note that the city is reflected on the surface of the metal apple, but our apples are on a white background. It’s not very good. Therefore, let’s add the landscape of the city to the background. Open the “City” image, press the Ctrl + A keys to select the entire image, then press the Ctrl + C keys to copy the selection. Paste the copied image of the city on our working paper (Ctrl + V).
Step 28
Using tool Free Transformation (Free Transform), apply the scaling to the image of the city, hold down the Shift + key and pull the corner of the reference point so that only half of the lower left part of the city is visible.
Step 29
To a layer with a city landscape, apply a filter Blur (Blur), let’s go Filter- Blur- Gaussian Blur (Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur), apply a blur radius of 25 px, so the cityscape will not distract the viewer’s attention from the main element – a metal apple.
Step 30
Turn off the visibility of the cityscape layer, then select the tool Pen (Pen Tool) and using this tool, carefully create a selection, as shown in the screenshot below. Next, apply feathering to the created selection, go Selection – Modification – Feather (Select – Modify – Feather), in the window that appears, apply a feather radius of 2px.
Step 31
Re-enable the visibility of the layer with the city landscape, then add a layer mask, go Layer- Layer Mask – Show All (Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All). Press the D key to set the default colors, then press Ctrl + Backspace to fill the layer mask with the background color, then press Ctrl + D to deselect, then press Ctrl + I to invert. The cityscape will appear beautifully in the background of the apples, and we also created something resembling an angle (on the right side of the image).
Step 32
To add realism to our scene, let’s add a caterpillar caterpillar to a metal apple. First, let’s create a hole. Choose a tool Oval area (Elliptical Marquee Tool), then hold down the Shift + key and drag the selection to create the perfect hole. Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N), fill this selection with any color shade you want (Alt + Backspace).
Step 33
Double click on the layer you just created to activate Layer Styles (Layer Style), in the window that appears, reduce Fill (Fill) to 0 and then apply the options Inner shadow (Inner Shadow), Internal glow (Inner Glow), Color overlay (Color Overlay).
Step 34
Open the Caterpillar image and use the tool. Fast selection 
(Quick Selection), create a selection around the caterpillar image. Next, press Ctrl + C to copy the selected caterpillar image. Next, press the Ctrl + V keys to paste the copied image onto our working document. To the caterpillar image, apply the scaling using a free transformation (Ctrl + T), positioning the caterpillar, as shown in the screenshot below (just above the hole).
Step 35
Next, add a layer mask to the caterpillar layer, go Layer- Layer Mask – Show All (Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All). Choose a black soft round brush and use this brush to paint a layer with a caterpillar on the layer mask over the top of the caterpillar in order to create the illusion that the caterpillar crawls into an apple.
Step 36
Now, let’s create a shadow under our caterpillar. Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N), position this layer below the caterpillar layer. Choose a soft round brush in black and carefully draw the shadows. Change the blending mode for the layer with the shadow on Multiplication (Multiply) and lower the layer opacity to about 80%.
Step 37
For an extra share of realism, I also decided to add a reflection of the caterpillar on the surface of our metal apple. To do this, simply click on the caterpillar layer, and then press Ctrl + J to create a duplicate layer. Place the duplicate layer below the track shadow layer, reduce the opacity of this layer to 64%.
Press key (V) to activate the tool. Move 
(Move) and with this tool, move the caterpillar slightly to the left. The reflection is subtle, but it is very important for the realism of the whole scene.
Step 38
It’s time for a final correction. Let’s take a look at our work, what we have done so far. The composition looks great, but I believe that there are too reddish shades for my taste in the image. We will fix this in the next step.
Step 39
Add adjustment layer Color Balance (Color Balance), reduce the shades of red and increase the shades of blue.
Step 40
Look at the shadow under the metal apple. Note that the shadow has a dark red tint. This is natural because it was the shadow of a red apple. But at the moment, it is the shadow of a metallic apple and the shadow should have a colder shade. To fix this, add an adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance), and shift the parameter slider Blue- Red (Cyan- Red) left (-34).
Fill the layer mask of the correction layer with black color (by this moment, you should already know how to do it) and using a soft round brush of white color, paint over the area with a shadow (it is necessary to paint on the layer mask). So, now we should have a corresponding shadow under the metal ball.
Step 41
To further improve the 3D view of the apple, let’s add a small light reflection in the middle of the metal apple. Create an adjustment layer Curves (Curves), further, pull the curve upwards for clarification. Fill the layer mask of the adjustment layer with black. Next, using a soft white round brush, paint over the center of the apple on the layer mask of the layer.
Step 42
Remember the dimple from Step 17? I think that it looks too faded, so let’s enhance the dark shades. Create an adjustment layer Curves (Curves), then drag the curve down to darken the image. Fill the layer mask of the adjustment layer with black. Next, using a white soft round brush, paint over the layer mask of the layer so that the created effects appear. It is necessary to paint only on the area, which is shown in the screenshot below.
Step 43
Let’s add a small spark to a metallic apple. Create a new layer and using the option Settings Manager (Preset Manager), load the “Sun” brush. Draw a little sun somewhere at the top of the apple. Next, choose a soft round brush of white color, and with the help of this brush, paint slightly above the sun.
Step 44
Let’s add a highlight to make the scene even better. To do this, create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N) and fill this layer with black color. Press D to set the default colors, and then press Ctrl + Backspace to fill the layer with black. Next, go Filter- Rendering – Glare (Filter-Rendering – Lens Flare). Set the value to 105mm and click OK.
Step 45
Change the blending mode for the layer with the glare on Lightening (Screen) to hide the dark pixels, and then lower the layer’s opacity to 73%.
Step 46
Next, add a layer mask to the highlight layer, go Layer- Layer Mask – Show All (Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All). Choose a soft round brush in black. Using this brush, paint over the layer mask to get rid of the sun.
Step 47
As a final step, let’s create a vignette to focus on the center of our scene. Create a merged layer from all visible layers by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E.
Next, apply the filter Distortion (Distort), for this we go Filter – Distortion – Distortion Correction (Filter – Distort – Lens Correction). AT Settings (Settings) set the parameter Custom(Custom) and shift the effect value to – 50. Now take a Step back and you can admire your work Looks good, huh?
Final result
