In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a mysterious night scene with a house and a mountain landscape in Photoshop. Is this lesson helpful? Well, I will not praise this lesson, so I must tell you that I do not promise that there will be something special or a difficult technique in this lesson. However, after reading this article and completing this lesson, you will be surprised at how simple and important is the technique of performance, such as combining, working with masks, color correction, the basics of the picture, as well as other elements of technology that can be easily applied in his work to create a beautiful scenic panorama.
The idea of this lesson is very simple – it is the creation of a dramatic night scene with a mystical atmosphere, where people can guess (including me) that vampires and ghosts live in a mysterious house among the mountains. To complete this lesson, you will need Photoshop CS3 or higher, a glass of tea or coffee. So let’s get started!
The final result:
Step 1
Open Photoshop. Create a new document by pressing the keys (Ctrl + N). Set the following settings:
At the beginning, I made a sketch that was in my head, of the scene that I was going to create:
Step 2
Make sure that you have downloaded all the source materials and saved to your computer. In such photo manipulations, it is very important to find good source images. Good and appropriate source images will help us to realize the conceived idea. In the very first step, we will create the right side of our scene. Open source image with mountain landscape. Choose a tool Lasso (lasso tool). Using this tool, select the part of the mountain that is marked in red. Name the layer with the selected part of the mountain ‘Rock 1’.
Step 3
Move the selected part of the mountain to our working paper. Choose a tool Free transformation (free transform tool (Ctrl + T)) to apply scaling to the image. Position the image of the rock, as shown in the screenshot below.
Duplicate the ‘rock 1’ layer (Ctrl + J). Arrange the duplicate layer as shown in the screenshot below. Select layers with rocks, then group them. Name the new group ‘Scala’.
Step 4
Next, we will add another part of the rock, this time placing the rock on the left side of our scene. Open the original image with a rocky shore. Create a selection around the rock. The selected area is indicated by a red line, as shown in the screenshot below. I called the layer from this part of the rock ‘Rock to the left’.
Add the highlighted part of the rock to the left side of our scene. Place the ‘Scale on the left’ layer on top of the ‘Scala’ group. Choose a tool Free transformation (free transform tool). With this tool, change the scale of the rock to the desired size. We also need to change the perspective of the image of the rock. To do this, right-click on the working area, while the free transformation tool must be active, and in the appeared window select the option Perspective (perspective). Pull the control points, as shown in the screenshot below, to change the perspective of the rock image:
Duplicate the слева Scale on the left ’layer, move the duplicate layer to the right side of our scene, placing it in the foreground in front of the mountain we created in the previous step 3. I named this duplicate of the‘ Scale on the right ’layer. Using tool Free transformation (free transform), change the shape of the rock using the option Distortion (warp).
Step 5
In this step, we will add a waterfall to our scene. Open the original image with a waterfall, create a selection around the image of the waterfall.
Next, move the selected waterfall image to our working paper. Apply scaling by positioning a waterfall between the left and right mountain. Flip horizontally (Flip it horizontally) image of the waterfall, as well as change the perspective, as shown in the screenshot below:
The result at the moment …
We need to hide the extra areas of the waterfall image. For this, I suppose you know what to do, right? Yes…..! We use a layer mask …! To the waterfall layer, add a layer mask and use a black brush to hide the extra areas that are highlighted in red in the screenshot below.
The result after processing on the layer – mask.
Next, duplicate the waterfall layer. Move the duplicate layer slightly to the right, the result should be as in the screenshot below. The main thing – do not panic, if you did not get the same result as mine in the screenshot, do not despair, you can create your own waterfall composition at your discretion. It’s not so scary, right? Well, let’s continue?
Step 6
OK, let’s move on to the next step. Go to the ‘Scale on the right’ layer. To this layer, add a layer mask. Using a soft black brush, process the areas that are highlighted in red in the screenshot below. The main idea of this treatment is to combine this rock with a mountain landscape in the background. To change the shape of the edges of the rock, we can also process them on a layer mask; for this purpose we need to use a brush. a piece of chalk (chalk) by selecting the appropriate brush in the tool settings.
Step 7
Next, we add another object to our scene. Add a picture of the castle to our scene. Apply scaling to the image of the castle, placing the layer with the lock above the layer with the ‘Scala’ group that we created in step 3.
Use the layer mask to hide the background on the image with the lock.
Step 8
We need to add another piece of rock to our scene. For these purposes we use the following image. Cut a small fragment of the rock, as shown in the screenshot below.
Add a selection of rock to our working paper. Apply scaling, placing this fragment of the rock in the foreground in front of the right rock. Deploy a fragment of the rock, as shown in the screenshot below:
Use layer masks to hide extra areas.
Step 9
Next, we will add a bridge to our scene. Apply scaling by resizing the bridge to the size we need. Place the bridge in front of the waterfall between the left and right mountains.
Step 10
In this step, we will add a tunnel or cave to our scene (I honestly admit, not sure what the caves look like …. LOL). We use the original image with a fabulous house for these purposes. Cut out the part of the image we need.
Add a highlighted image to our scene. To combine the cave with the mountain, add a layer mask, and then process the edges of the image with a soft black brush. I called the cave cave layer слева left ’.
Duplicate the cave layer. Flip duplicate layer horizontally. Zoom out. Place a duplicate cave on the right side of our scene. Using a layer mask hide the extra areas as needed.
Step 11
In conclusion, we will add clouds and the moon as a background for our scene. Open the original image with the clouds, move this image to our working paper. Place the cloud layer below all layers. The image of the moon will add a dramatic nuance to our scene, so to create a mysterious scene, let’s arrange the image of the moon right behind the image of the castle. You do not agree? So be it…..!
Next, we need to fill in the empty space on the left side of the background. This is easy to fix, we just duplicate the cloud layer. Scale to the desired size, and then move the duplicate layer to the left to fill the void. Where did the moon go? The moon is obscured by a duplicate cloud layer.
To duplicate a layer with clouds, add a layer mask and use a soft black brush to process a portion of the moon so that it is visible again:
Step 12
I decided to hide separate areas on the ‘Crag 2’ layer using a layer mask. So, go to the folder we created in Step 3. Inside this group, select the ‘Scala 2’ layer. Add a layer mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to process the areas that are highlighted in red in the screenshot below.
The result that I got:
Next, we need to slightly change the shape of the rock. For this, we will hide the top of the cliff.
To the layer with the Scala ’group, add a layer mask and use a black brush to hide the upper part of the mountain.
Step 13
At the moment, we have almost completed the creation of the composition of our scene. However, if you look at the moon as the main source of light, the frontal sides of the left and right mountains are too bright, while the moon is located behind the background behind these mountains. Not much light from the moon falls on these areas. We will fix this in this step.
To fix the bright areas, we will add to them the texture of the rock. Open an image with a rock texture, select a part of the image, as shown in the screenshot below:
Apply scaling to the selected part of the texture. Place the texture on top of the left rock to hide a bright area in the front.
Next, transform the texture layer into a clipping mask.
In conclusion, I hid some parts of the texture using a layer mask.
Next, duplicate the rock texture layer. Slide the duplicate down to hide the remaining bright part of the rock. In the screenshot you can see my result. Select the layer with the rock on the left, as well as the layers with the rock texture, and then, press the keys (Ctrl + G) to combine them into one group. I called this group ‘Scala left’.
Do the same with the rock on the right. In the same way, hide the bright areas of the rock with the texture of the rock.
Step 14
Next, we will correct some parts of the image of the castle. We will hide the people who are visible in the image, we do not need them. Instead, there should be vampires and Dracula …. Lol
To get rid of people, we can hide them with a tool Stamp 
(clone stamp tool) or Patch 
(patch tool). As for me, I use the easiest way for this purpose. I will cut a section of the castle wall and with this section of the wall I will hide people. Do not forget to convert this layer with a wall section to a clipping mask.
Using a layer mask, draw a combination of a section of the wall with the main wall of the castle.
Do the same with other parts of the image to hide people.
Step 15
Next, we will add a tree behind the image of the castle. Open the original image with the tree, move this image to our working document. Apply scaling to the desired size as needed. Place the layer with the tree below the layer with the lock. Change the blending mode for the tree layer to Multiplication (multiply), and also reduce opacity (Opacity) layer, approximately, up to 50%. Use the layer mask to process the edges of the image where there is a need.
In the same way, add trees to the left and right behind the rock.
Step 16
At the moment, we have completed the creation of the composition of our scene. In the next step, we will conduct a color correction of each individual element of our scene. We use the color palette and background mood (image with clouds) as a starting point for color correction.
Let’s do color correction for layers with mountains within the внутри Scala ’group. Go to the folder ‘Scala’, select the first layer with the rock, then go Layer – Correction Layer – Hue / Saturation (layer> adjustment layer> hue / saturation). Remember to convert this adjustment layer to a clipping mask.
Set the values for this adjustment layer, which are shown in the screenshot below.
Next, to the same layer, add another adjustment layer as a clipping mask. This time apply Color Balance (color balance). Set the values that are shown in the screenshot below.
Next, we need to add light highlights to the top of the mountain. To do this, create a new layer (Shift + Ctrl + N) as a clipping mask. Choose a soft round brush, about 30 px in size and 20% opacity, brush color # c3dbe8. Brush the edges of the mountain to add light highlights.
Next, apply color correction to the second rock. First, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (hue / saturation) with the same settings that you applied to the first rock, and then add an adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast). Set the values that are shown in the screenshot below.
Finally, add a correction layer to the second rock layer. Color Balance (color balance) with the same settings that you applied to the first rock. The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Step 17
Next, we will make a color correction of the rock on the left. Add the following adjustment layers as clipping masks. Do not forget to place these adjustment layers on top of the texture layers inside the ‘Scala on the left’ folder. First add a correction layer. Hue / Saturation (hue / saturation):
Next, add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast). Set the values that are shown in the screenshot below. Next, go to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and use the black brush to hide the effect in the area indicated by the red arrows. We will restore the original brightness of the image. These are the areas where the most light falls from the moon. Therefore, we restored the brightness in these areas.
Finally, create a new layer (Shift + Ctrl + N) as a clipping mask. Being on a new layer, using a soft brush of dark blue color paint over the bottom around the left rock.
Step 18
Using the same technique, apply color correction to the rock on the right.
Hide correction layer correction Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast) on the layer mask in the area indicated by the red arrows.
Finally add a adjustment layer. Color Balance (color balance). Set the same values that you used for the left rock. The result is in the screenshot below:
Further, in the same way, carry out color correction of caves and tunnels. After that, create a new layer as a clipping mask. While on a new layer, draw white lines around the cave / tunnel, and also paint over the inside with a soft dark blue brush.
Step 19
In the next steps we will continue to carry out color correction of the rest of the elements in our scene. All we will do here is repeat the same technique that we applied to the previous objects. Play around with adjustment layer settings Hue / Saturation (hue / saturation), Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast) and Color Balance (color balance) to select the desired result for each individual object. You can see my correction of the rock in the foreground in the screenshot below.
Do the same with the waterfall.
And finally, the result after the color correction of the bridge and the castle. Just play with the three adjustment layers that you have previously applied. The only thing – do not forget to convert adjustment layers in clipping masks.
Step 20
Next, we will conduct a general color correction of the entire scene. Therefore, make sure that all adjustment layers are placed on top of all other layers. Let’s go Layer – Adjustment Layer – Selective Color Correction (layer> adjustment layer> selective colors). Set the values that are shown in the screenshot below. Blend mode Normal (normal) opacity (Opacity) layer approximately 15-20%.
Next, add a new adjustment layer. Gradient Map (gradient map). Blend mode Normal (normal), layer opacity is 100%.
Result.
As you can see, after adding a correction layer Gradient Map (gradient map), our scene has become a bit dark. We need to slightly muffle this effect around the Moon, the sky, the top of the left mountain, the waterfall, the right mountain, as shown in the screenshot below.
Result after processing the effect of the adjustment layer Gradient Map (gradient map).
Next, add a new adjustment layer. Color Balance (color balance). Blend mode Normal (normal), layer opacity is 100%.
Next, add a new adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast).
Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast) and with the black brush hide the effect in the area marked in red.
Duplicate the adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast). Set the blending mode for the original adjustment layer to Normal (normal), the opacity of the layer is 100%, and for the duplicate adjustment layer – also the mode Normal (normal), but reduce the opacity to about 50%.
Final adjustment layer: Selective color correction (selective colors). The blend mode for this adjustment layer Normal (normal), opacity, about 70%. Select all adjustment layers to group them into one group. Name this group ‘General correction’.
Step 21
Next, we will add light inside the tunnel. Open the original image with nebula. Move this image to our working paper. Apply scaling. Place the nebula on top of the tunnel to the left. Change the blending mode for the nebula layer to Lightening (screen), and also reduce the opacity of the layer to about 85%. Choose a tool Free transformation (free transform tool) and using the mode Deformations (warp), warp the image to change the shape of the nebula. Process separate areas of the nebula on the layer’s layer mask as needed.
Result after adding light inside another tunnel.
Step 22
Next, we add a glow inside the tunnels. To do this, create a new layer on top of the layer with the ‘General correction’ group. Fill (Shift + F5) a new layer with black color, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening basics (color dodge), opacity (Opacity) layer 100%. Choose a soft brush, brush size 3-5 px, brush opacity 20-30%, brush color is white. Using a soft brush, paint strokes on the areas where you want to add a glow. In the screenshot below, you can see my brush processing under the blending mode. Normal (normal).
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Step 23
To add a small element of life to the scene, I decided to use the image of a girl.
This is what the girl will look like after the correction.
Add an image of a girl to our scene. Position the image of the girl on the bridge. Apply scaling by changing the image of the girl to the desired size.
Step 24
In conclusion, we will add a flashlight, which the bouquet burn in the hand of the girl. Create a new layer on top of the layer with the ‘General correction’ group we created in step 20. Change the blending mode for this layer to Hard light (hard light), opacity (Opacity) layer 100%. Choose a soft brush, brush size about 10 px, brush opacity 100%, brush color # fe7303. Being on a new layer, click the brush near the right hand of the girl to put an orange dot. Next, reduce the brush size to about 8-9 px. The brush color is white; click the brush again in the center of the orange dot. This will add brightness to the flashlight’s light.
Step 25
In conclusion, we will carry out the last small correction of the elements of our scene. Create a new layer on top of all other layers and groups. Change the blending mode for this layer to Hard light (hard light), layer opacity is 100%. Next, we will add final touches to our scene. Choose a soft brush with an opacity of about 15-20%. While on a new layer, paint over some parts of the scene with a soft dark blue brush, namely the top, bottom of the scene, as well as the right and left edges of the scene. Next, using a white brush, add light highlights to the upper contour of the mountains and the waterfall, for this, use a small soft brush. I also painted the outline inside the tunnel on the right. In the screenshot below, you can see my processing:
Result.
Next, we will perform a bridge correction. Go to the folder with the bridge. Create a new layer as a clipping mask inside the group with the bridge. In this step, we will add light highlights to the upper edge of the bridge, and also add some shading to the bottom of the bridge. Choose a soft brush to paint over the top edge of the bridge, the color of the brush is # eaf5fe. Next, add a shading at the bottom of the bridge, the color of the brush is dark blue.
Then go to the folder with the lock. In the same way, we will add light highlights as well as shading to the image of the castle. Create a new layer inside the group with a lock. Using a soft brush, the color of the brush # eaf5fe, paint over the edges of the castle where the light of the moon falls. Next, using a soft brush of dark blue color, add shading to the walls of the castle, where the light of the Moon practically does not fall.
We have completed the lesson! I hope you liked this lesson, and you learned something useful for yourself! Have a nice time doing this tutorial.
The final result:
PSD lesson
