In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a beautiful abstract collage using Adobe Photoshop. In the lesson we will use adjustment layers, methods for masking parts of the image, as well as work with lighting.
Let’s start!
Sources:
Step 1
Create a new file of 1200 x 1500 pixels in size, with a resolution of 72 pixels \ inch, the background color is white.
Step 2
Activate the tool Gradient 
(Gradient tool (G)).
Open the gradient editor window and enter the settings as in the image below.
After adjusting the color of the gradient, drag the gradient line as shown in the screenshot below.
You should get a result similar to this:
Step 3
Activate the tool Rectangular area
(Rectangular Marquee Tool).
Now create a new layer and name it “Line”. Draw a thin long rectangle on this layer and fill it with # 409cf9 color.
Duplicate the stripe layer several times. Move the copies so that you get a grid like the image below.
Step 4
Merge all layers with lines into one layer, name it “Lines”. Then add a layer mask to this layer. 
(layer mask).
Activate the tool Brush
(Brush tool (B)). Set the following settings:
Brush size: 400px
Hardness (Hardness): 0%
Opacity: 40%
Push (Flow): 100%
Color (Color): # 000000
Now paint over the area highlighted in the image.
Reduce the layer opacity to 25%:
At this stage you should have a result similar to this:
Create a new adjustment layer. Color tone \ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) using the icon at the bottom of the layers palette.
After the settings window opens, enter the following values:
Apply adjustment layer Color tone \ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask to the “Lines” layer. To do this, hold down the Alt key, move the cursor between the two layers and left-click when the icon changes shape.
Here is what happened after the steps we took:
Step 5
Activate the tool Oval area
(Elliptical Marquee Tool). Draw a circle shape on a new layer, to do this, hold down the key Shift, to get the perfect shape. Then using the tool Fill
(Paint Bucket Tool), fill the circle with black.
Add to the black circle Styleslayer (Layer style). Double-click the left mouse button on the layer, it will allow you to go to the desired settings.
In the window that opens Styleslayer (Layer style), enter the following parameters:
The result should look like this:
Step 6
Now activate the tool Brush (Brush Tool (B)) with these settings:
Brush size: 3px
Hardness (Hardness): 100%
Opacity: 100%
Push (Flow): 100%
Color (Color): # 000000
Then activate the tool Pen 
(Pen Tool (P)) and draw a line. Next, right-click on the line and select in the submenu “Perform a stroke“(Stroke Path).
In the window that appears, set these values:
Now right click again on the resulting line, this time choose “Delete contour“(Delete Path).
Now you have a similar image:
To add the resulting line Layer style (Layer style), which is listed below.
Gradient overlay (Gradient Overlay):
The result after applying the gradient:
Add another line by simply duplicating the previous layer:
Step 7
Open in the new document the image of the girl:
Then go to Allotment > Color range (Select> Color range):
In the window that appears, edit the parameters so that you get a black selection of the silhouette of the model:
Copy the model’s silhouette to a new layer to separate it from the background. Then activate the tool Move
(Move Tool (V)) and drag the image of the girl into the main working document. Name the layer with the “Girl” silhouette.
Stand on the “Girl” layer and go to transform by pressing the combination Ctrl + T. Hold key Shift and drag one of the corners of the image in order to change its size without losing proportions.
Place the girl on the canvas as shown in the picture below:
Step 8
Now activate the tool Brush (Brush Tool (B)) and open the set of brushes “Grunge brushes”. To load them, simply right-click anywhere on the working canvas, and then click on the drop-down list button, as shown below:
In the menu that appears, select “Download brushes“(Load Brushes).
In the window that appears, specify the path of the folder in which the grunge brushes loaded earlier are located. Now find a set of brushes and click OK.
Right-click on the canvas again ?? (with the active tool Brush ((B)), and now you will notice that you have 15 new grunge brushes at the bottom of the list.
Now add a layer mask to the layer with the girl.
Select any grunge brush you like and then enter the following settings for it:
Brush size: 400px
Hardness (Hardness): 0%
Opacity: 40%
Push (Flow): 100%
Foreground Color: # 000000
Background Color: # 000000
Now paint over the selected area.
After working on the mask you will get a similar result:
Step 9
Open and save an abstract rainbow image. Transfer this image to your working paper.
Stand on the rainbow layer and activate the tool. Move (Move Tool (V)). Using this tool, place the rainbow as you like. Rename the rainbow layer to “Abstraction 1” (“Abstract 1”).
Then use the tool Transform (Ctrl + T) and resize the image “Abstraction 1” as shown in the image below.
This is how a scaled rainbow image should look like:
Now create a new adjustment layer. Color balance (Color Balance) by clicking on the icon at the bottom of the layers panel. Hold down the Alt key and click between the Color Balance adjustment layer and the Abstraction 1 layer to apply the adjustment layer as a clipping mask.
Enter the following settings to correct the Color Balance:
Now the rainbow looks more spectacular:
Duplicate the “Abstraction 1” layer (Ctrl + J).
Step 10
Let us turn to adding bright circles to our work. To do this, open the original image “Bokeh” and transfer it to your work collage.
Using the tool Move (Move Tool (V)) place the bokeh at the top of the image, name the resulting layer “Light”.
Blend mode for layer “Light” set Screen (Screen).
Now the collage looks like this:
Step 11
Now let’s do a general color correction.
Create a new adjustment layer. Color balance (Color Balance). In the window that opens, enter the following parameters:
After applying the correction, the image looks like this:
Now add an adjustment layer. Gradient map (Gradient Map). Click on the “Create New Adjustment Layer” icon at the bottom of the layers panel, from the list you can select the desired adjustment. In the layer settings window Gradient map (Gradient Map) enter the following settings:
Set the blending mode for the adjustment layer to Glow (Luminosity).
After applying the adjustment:
Add another adjustment layer Gradient map (Gradient Map). Settings are listed below:
Blend mode of this layer set Overlap (Overlay).
Now our work is completely ready!
Author:Vik Aadi
