In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a mysterious landscape in Photoshop. You will learn about the basic basic techniques that will help you create a picture using the original images. This lesson is designed for beginners and intermediate users of Photoshop, so I will try to describe in detail all the actions for each step, so that they are not difficult to complete this lesson.
Final result
Starting materials
Step 1
Let’s take a look at the concept of the picture that was born in my head regarding the composition of the scene that we will create. This is a sketch.
Step 2
First of all, create a new document 1024 px wide and 1266 px high.
Step 3
In this step we will create the background for our picture. The idea of the picture is a mystical place with a lake, as a background. Open stock image with a landscape. Move this image to our working paper. We need to apply scaling to the image of the landscape in accordance with the size of the working document, and also to hide the unnecessary part of the image. Press the keys (CTRL + T) to activate the tool. Free transformation (free transform tool).
As soon as you activate this tool, a thin line will appear around the image, along the contour of which small squares will be placed, the so-called reference points of transformation. You will also see the toolbar in the top toolbar above the document. Now start to transform the image. First, click the icon with a chain icon. We need to do this in order to maintain the aspect ratio when scaling. Next, hover the mouse over the icon next to the chain icon so that the hand icon appears, click + drag to the right. We will see the image grow. Try to achieve the result, as in the screenshot below.
Step 4
Open the stock image with a rocky shore. Move this image to our working paper, arranging it as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 5
Next, select the tool Rectangular area 
(rectangular marquee tool). Select the clouds (1), press the keys (CTRL + J) to duplicate the selected area to a new layer. Press the keys (CTRL + T) again to activate the tool. Free transformation (free transform tool). Click on the right anchor point, holding the mouse + drag to the right, and then do the same, only this time, pull the anchor point down (2). See result (3).
Step 6
Next, we need to erase some unwanted parts of the duplicate cloud layer. (one). Being on a duplicate layer with clouds, go Layer – Layer Mask – Show All (Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal All). Thus, a white mask layer will appear next to the layer thumbnail. Layer mask is a very useful Photoshop image processing technique. By adding a mask to the layer, we can easily adjust the image.
Next, make sure that the foreground color is set to black and the background color to white. Using a soft round black brush, paint over the edge of the cloud image to create a smooth transition with the background. After staining, you will see that the layer mask thumbnail has turned black, which means we have hidden part of the image.
Council It is very important to know about the layer mask that when we paint with a black brush on the layer layer mask, we hide the staining area (do not delete or erase, as the eraser tool does), and we can also restore any area of staining by changing brush color to white (2).
Once you have processed the image with the clouds, go to the layer with the rocky shore. To this layer, add a layer mask and in the same way, hide unnecessary areas, creating a smooth transition. (3)
Step 7
As you can see, the top of the image still needs to be covered with clouds. It’s not that hard, is it? See Step 6, we can do the same thing as with the first cloud. After adding clouds to the top, group all three layers. With the layers selected, press the keys (CTRL + G) to create a group, and then lower the opacity of the layer with the group to 32%. So we got the result … which looks great, right?
Step 8
Open another stock image with a sheer cliff. Move this image to our working paper. Apply scaling according to the size of the working paper. (You can refer to Step 3 for scaling). Change the blending mode for this layer to Multiplication (multiply), and also reduce the layer opacity to 55%. Using a layer mask, hide separate parts of the image to get the result, as in the screenshot below.
Step 9
In this step we will add another stock image with the islands of James Bond, placing them on the right side of our scene. The decision to add these islands was aimed at balancing the entire composition. We use the same technique in this step as before. The basic steps are the same as the previous steps: scaling, layer mask, and setting the blending mode. For this layer, I changed the blending mode to Multiplication (multiply), and also reduced the layer opacity to 50%.
Step 10
So, it’s time to add the latest image to our working paper, this image completes the process of creating the background for our picture. Open stock image with morning fog on the lake. Move this image with the lake to our working paper. Apply scaling, placing the image in the center of the document. Change the blending mode for this layer with the lake to Overlap (overlay), layer opacity is 100%. Hide the top of the image. Step 6 describes in detail how to hide part of the image using a layer mask. Finally, duplicate this layer once (CTRL + J). The blend mode for the duplicate layer will remain the same. Overlap (overlay), 100%.
Step 11
Great, this is how the background of our picture will look like at the moment.
Step 12
Now, let’s change the mood of the background a bit. Add adjustment layer Color Balance (color balance). Let’s go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance (LAYER> NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER> COLOR BALANCE).
Step 13
Open the stock image with a dwarf bonsai tree. In this step, we will create a truly new tree using the original tree image.
Step 14
We must separate the image of the tree from the background. For this purpose, I used the tool Color range (color range). First, duplicate the layer with the tree. Being on a duplicate layer, go Selection – Color Range (Select> Color Range). When the command window appears Color range (color range), move the cursor over the image with a Bonsai tree, then the cursor icon will switch to the icon Pipette
(eyedropper). Pipette in the background. This means that we selected a background color pattern to highlight it. Pay attention to the color range settings in the screenshot below. As you can see, the tree is highlighted in black, and the background is white. Click OK (1). So, we have highlighted the background with the bonsai (2).
Press (Delete) to remove the background, and then, press (CTRL + D) to cancel the active selection.
Step 15
So, we got a separate image of the tree. See the screenshot below, where you will see how I created a new tree using the original image of the tree.
Step 16
This is a new tree that I created.
Step 17
Copy / paste the created tree onto our working paper. Arrange this image with the tree, as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 18
Next, we will make a color correction of the tree to combine the tree with the background. To do this, add a correction layer to the tree layer. Hue / Saturation (hue / saturation), let’s go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Hue / Saturation (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Hue / Saturation). Do not forget to put a tick in the box Use previous layer to create clipping mask. (Use Previous Layer To Create Clipping Mask).
Step 19
Next, duplicate the tree layer (CTRL + J). Move the duplicate layer to the top, placing it on top of the other layers. Being on a duplicate layer, go Filter – Other – Color Contrast (filter> other> high pass). The image of the tree will turn gray. Apply the filter settings that are shown in the screenshot below.
Step 20
In this step, we will add light highlights to the tree image. First, change the blending mode to duplicate the tree layer to Overlap (overlay), layer opacity is 100%. While still on the duplicate layer, select the tool Clarifier 
(Dodge Tool). Set the following settings for this tool: Range (Range) Sveta (highlight), and the value Exposure (Exposure) 14%. Stroke on separate parts of the tree to add light highlights.
Step 21
Next, we will add a water mill image. Open the original image, and then move the image with the mill to our working paper.
Step 22
Next, we need to separate the image of the mill from the background. For this purpose, we use the tool Pen (Pen Tool (P). Select tool Pen 
(pen tool), click on the edge of the mill image to set the reference point. Continue to set the control points, creating the contour until we close the contour points. Right-click on the created contour and in the window that appears, select the option To form (make path selection). Finally, press the (Del) key to delete the selected area.
Step 23
Flip across the image of the mill. Apply proportional scaling, placing the mill under the tree. Finally, add a new adjustment layer to the mill layer. Hue / Saturation (hue / saturation) as a clipping mask to match color shades with the background. See Step 18, where we performed the same actions.
Step 24
Next, duplicate the mill layer. Move the duplicate layer to the top, placing it on top of all other layers. Being on a duplicate layer, go Filter – Other – Color Contrast (Filter> Other> High Pass). Finally, change the blending mode to duplicate the layer to Overlap (Overlay), 100%. We will add light highlights to the roof, as well as to selected parts of the mill. See Steps 19-20 for how to add light highlights.
Step 25
From this step, we will continue to fill the bottom right of our scene. First, open a stock image with a bonsai tree. Move this image to our working paper. Select only part of the image, as shown in the screenshot below. Finally, position the selected part of the image in the lower right corner of the scene.
Step 26
Copy / paste the image of the tree that we created earlier onto our working paper. Make a color correction of the tree so that it is combined with the background. See Steps 17-18, where we have already performed a similar color correction.
Step 27
Next, duplicate the layer with the tree, move the duplicate layer to the top, placing it on top of all other layers. Being on a duplicate layer, go Filter – Other – Color Contrast (Filter> Other> High Pass). Finally, change the blending mode to duplicate the layer to Overlap (Overlay), 100%. Add light highlights to selected areas of the tree. See Steps 19-20 for more information.
Step 28
Open the stock image with the witch’s house. Separate the image of the house from the background. Move the selected house image to our working paper, placing it as shown in the screenshot below. You can see the same action in Step 22.
Step 29
Next, create a new layer on top of all other layers (CTRL + SHIFT + N). In this step we will add grass to the foreground. Set the background color to # 6b8e5f and the foreground color to # 376034. Choose a tool Brush 
(brush tool (B). Open the brush settings window, select the standard Grass brush. Set the brush size between 90-120 px.
Step 30
In this step, we will add the image of the boat to our working paper. Open the stock image of the boat. See Step 22 for more information on how to separate the image of the boat from the background.
Step 31
Apply scaling to the boat image, placing the spoon in the center of our scene, as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 32
Open the image with the model. Separate the model image from the background. See Step 22 for more information on how to separate the model image from the background. Apply scaling to the model image, placing the model in the boat.
Step 33
Next, open the stock image with a forest fire. We need to emit smoke on this image. Choose a tool Rectangular area (rectangular marquee tool). Select a part of the image as shown in the screenshot below. Press the keys (SHIFT + CTRL + I) to invert the active selection, and then press the (Del) key to delete the selected area.
Step 34
Next, apply the scaling to the selected part of the image, and then add a layer mask (1). Hide part of the image with a soft black brush (2). See the result in the screenshot below (3).
Step 35
Next, we add some birds to our scene. Open the stock image ‘Attack of the Gulls’. See previous steps on how to select objects.
Step 36
Add birds to our scene by scaling. Group all layers with birds. Next, reduce the opacity of the layer with the group to 52%.
Step 37
We have almost completed the creation of a composition for our scene. I decided to add the following adjustment layers to our picture: Gradient map (gradient map), and then Brightness / Contrast (brightness and contrast). See the settings in the screenshot below.
Step 38
To complete the composition, we will add lamps to our scene. Open the stock image with a street lamp. Separate the lamp from the background. See Step 14 for how to separate an object with the tool. Color range (color range). Duplicate the selected flashlight image (Ctrl + J) several times. Place duplicate lights in certain parts of the scene. See screenshot below.
Step 39
To enhance the effect of the lanterns, we will add a glow to each lantern. First, add the light to the lantern near the house on the right. Create a new layer (Shift + Ctrl + N). Do not forget to put a tick in the box Use previous layer to create clipping mask. (Use Previous Layer To Create Clipping Mask). Click OK. So we created a new layer as a clipping mask. Fill (Shift + F5) this layer with black color. Change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening basics (color dodge). Next, set the foreground color to # fce702. Choose a tool Brush (brush tool). Using a soft round brush with a very low opacity of 8%, gently stroke the lamp. The result should be as in the screenshot below.
Step 40
Repeat Step 39 to add light to the remaining two lamps.
Step 41
Create a new layer. This time, do not convert this layer to a clipping mask. Fill this layer with black, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening basics (color dodge). In this step, we will add a gentle glow to the burning lanterns. Since the foreground color is still set to # fce702, then using a soft brush, gently add a glow to each lantern.
Step 42
Repeat Step 41, add a glow to the lanterns that hang on the roofs of the houses. In addition to the color of # fce702, I also used the color of # f9c802 to enhance the glow on these lamps.
Step 43
Finally, we will add an adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (brightness / contrast) to the whole scene.
Step 44
Press the keys (Shift + Ctrl + Alt + E) to create a merged layer. Next, go Filter – Other – Color Contrast (filter> other> high pass). Apply the settings shown in the screenshot below.
Step 45
Next, with the tool Dimmer 
/ Clarifier (dodge and burn tool), add chiaroscuro. Set the value Exposure 8% exposure for both instruments. Using a soft brush, toggle the lightening and darkening tool, add light and shade. Next, change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (overlay), 100%. See screenshot below.
Step 46
Add final adjustment layer Gradient Map (gradient map). Change the blending mode for this adjustment layer to Soft light (soft light), and also reduce the layer opacity to 20%. And we have completed the lesson!
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Thank you for attending the lesson, and I wish you a good time at this lesson.
Final result
