This lesson reveals the basic technique of creating photo manipulations. You will learn how to combine stock images, how to carry out color correction, as well as how to apply textures / brushes and much more!
In this lesson, I will show you how to create a beautiful surrealistic picture that will definitely impress your friends. So, it’s time to start the lesson, and also to raise your level of knowledge by one more step!
Final result
Starting materials
Step 1
Create a new document in Photoshop (900X1200px). Fill it with black. Open the ‘Ice’ image and then use the tool Move 
(Move Tool (V), move this image to our working paper, rotate the image to 90 degrees clockwise (Rotate 90 CW), let’s go Editing – Transformation – Rotate 90 degrees clockwise (Edit-Transform-Rotate 90 CW), also apply scaling (Ctrl + T):
I named this layer ‘Underground Ice’.
Step 2
Add a correction layer to the Underground Ice ’layer Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask to darken this image. Let’s go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layer-New Adjustment Layer-Curves):
Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) and using a soft black brush, hide the correction curves at the bottom of the image so that this part of the scene remains light. In the screenshot below, you can see the processing area on the layer mask and the result on the image:
Step 3
Add another adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask to lighten the area we processed in the previous step:
Step 4
Add another adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask to reduce the saturation of the underground ice image:
Step 5
Create a selection around the model image, and then move the selected model image to our working document. Place the model layer on top of the ‘Underground Ice’ layer:
Step 6
Add a correction layer to the model layer. Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask to darken this image.
Add another adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) to make extra shading:
Switch to the layer mask of the second adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) and using a soft black brush Opacity (opacity) and By pushing (flow) approximately 20-30%, hide the correction curves to lighten some parts of the model (hands, face):
Step 7
Add a correction layer to the model layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask to reduce the saturation of the model image:
Step 8
To create a shadow falling from the model to the ground, create a new layer below the model layer. Using a soft black brush with an opacity of about 50%, draw the shadow below the model’s hands:
Step 9
Go to the ‘Underground Ice’ layer. Add a layer mask to this layer through the bottom toolbar. Using a soft black brush, hide part of the image behind the model’s back, combining the model with the black background of the lowermost layer, as well as creating a depth of field to the background:
Step 10
Open the stock image with the image of closed eyes (you can use any other image at your discretion). Create a selection around one eye (use the tool Lasso 
(Lasso Tool – L). Place the selected image of the closed eye over the open eye of the model:
Using a layer mask, hide the hard edges of the image:
Step 11
Add an adjustment layer to the closed eye layer. Curves (Curves) as a clipping mask to darken it:
Step 12
In order to best combine the closed eye with the entire face of the model, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation):
Step 13
To slightly change the color of the whole picture, add an adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color Balance) on top of all layers:
Step 14
Move stock image ‘Winter 1’ to our working paper by positioning it above the model, as shown in the screenshot below. Apply scaling:
Add a layer mask to the image ‘Winter 1’ And then using a black brush with an opacity of about 40-45%, create a soft edge of the earth (try to wavy the edges and do not look hard):
I called this layer “earth 1 ?.
Step 15
Create a new layer as a clipping mask to the ‘earth 1’ layer. Choose a tool Stamp 
(Clone Tool (S), hide the extra areas in the bottom of the tree:
Step 16
Open the stock image ‘Winter 2’. I selected only part of the image. Move the selected part of the image to our working document, placing the “1’ ground ”layer on top, then apply the transformation:
Using a layer mask, draw the combination of this part of the earth with the sky and the tree:
I called this layer “ground 2 ?.
Step 17
Next, we will correct the areas on the left side of the ‘earth 2’ image with the tool Stamp (Clone Tool). To do this, create a new layer as a clipping mask:
Step 18
Add a new adjustment layer Color Balance (Color Balance) to change the color of this piece of land image:
Step 19
Add a new adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to slightly change the color of the earth:
Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation). Using a soft black brush, hide the correction layer correction in the lower right corner, as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 20
Open stock image with icicles. Create a selection around the image of icicles and parts of the ground, and then move the selected image to our working document, placing it above the model, but below the ‘earth 1’ layer.
Let’s go Editing – Puppet Warp (Edit-Puppet Warp) and slightly deform icicles:
If you have a CS4 version or an earlier version of Photoshop installed, instead of the above tool, you can use the tool Deformation (Warp tool).
Step 21
Duplicate the layer with icicles, and then reflect the duplicate horizontally, for this we go Editing – Transformation – Flip Horizontal (Edit-Transform-Flip Horizontal), move the duplicate layer to the right. Apply the tool to this duplicate layer with icicles. Puppet Warp (Puppet Warp):
Add a layer mask to this duplicate layer to hide some parts of the icicles (do not forget to use a hard black brush for this purpose):
Step 22
Select individual icicles, placing them below the layer with the ground. Apply a transform and layer mask if necessary:
I used 10 layers to create this effect.
Step 23
Select all layers with icicles, and then press the keys (Ctrl + G) to group all selected layers into one group. Change the blending mode for this group to Skip (Pass Through (overlay mode for default group) per mode Normal (Normal), layer opacity is 100%. I called the layers with icicles from 1 to 10.
Go to layer 10 inside the group with icicles, then go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layer-New Adjustment Layer-Curves):
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer to hide the correction on some icicles, since I don’t want them to be too dark:
Since we changed the blending mode for the created group to the mode Normal (Normal), 100% (with mode Skip (Pass through), then adjustment layer Curves (Curves) will only affect the layers within this group (layers with icicles).
Step 24
So, it’s time to take care of the model. Create a new layer on top of the adjustment layer. Color Balance 1 (Color Balance 1), but below the layer with the ‘icicle’ group. Tint the Frost brush, also set the foreground color to white. Select brush number 1800 and then paint over the model image:
Change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (Soft Light), 100%. And then using the layer mask, hide the extra areas:
Step 25
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the effect a bit:
Step 26
Open the texture Ice 1. Move this texture to our working paper, placing on top of the model. Change the blending mode for the texture layer to Soft light (Soft Light), 100%:
Using a layer mask, hide the hard edges of this texture:
Step 27
Select the part of the texture Ice 1. Move the selected part of the texture to our working paper, placing in the right area of the model. Change the blending mode to Soft light (Soft Light), 100%. Using a layer mask, swipe:
Step 28
Merge the layers with the Ice 1 texture into one group. Change the blending mode for this layer with the group to Soft light (Soft Light), 100% (it is very important to save the effects even after creating the group). Name the layers with the texture of ice 1 and 2 or name at your discretion. Inside the created group add a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) to lighten the frost effect a bit:
Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) and using a soft black brush with an opacity of about 30-35%, reduce the brightness in some areas, in particular at the edges that should be darker:
Step 29
To enhance the effect of frost on the model, I used the Ice 2 texture. Select a part of the texture, and then move the selected part of the texture to our working paper, placing it on top of the model’s face and hands:
Add a layer mask to this ice texture layer. To get a realistic effect, I used a brush with a granular structure. Go to the menu Brushes (Brush menu), select the option Restore brushes (Reset Brushes) to restore brushes to default. Select Splatter Brush No. 59 to hide the hard edges of the ice texture on the layer mask of the layer, do not forget to vary the opacity of the brush (I used the brush opacity from about 20 to 100%) to get a natural look:
Step 30
Add more ice texture to the model’s body using the same brush for processing on the layer mask:
Step 31
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken some areas of frost:
Step 32
Group the ice texture layers 2 (including adjustment layers Curves (Curves) mode Normal (Normal), 100%. Inside the created group, add another adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to change the color of the created effect:
Step 33
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken all layers with a frost effect:
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer. Curves(Curves). Using a soft black brush with low opacity (20-25%), brush size (from 2 to 10 px), slightly enhance the contrast on the face and hands of the model:
Step 34
Create a new layer above the icicle layer and below the ‘earth 1’ layer. Using a soft black brush with an opacity of about 60%, draw shadows on icicles from the snowy ground:
Step 35
Create three new layers on top of all other layers. On each layer, apply brushes Black birds, then draw the birds in the sky:
I named these layers from 1 to 3.
Step 36
I decided to blur the birds to create a depth of field. Being on layer 1, we go Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur), set the blur radius to 1 px:
Apply to layer 2 and 3 Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur), blur radius 0.5 px:
Step 37
Select the image of the Deer, and then move the selected image to our working document, placing it on the right side of the scene:
Using a layer mask, draw a combination of deer’s hooves with snowy ground:
Step 38
Add adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) as a clipping mask to a layer with a deer to reduce the saturation of the image of the deer:
Step 39
Add another adjustment layer. Photo Filter (Photo Filter) to add blue hues to the deer:
Step 40
The deer looks too dark compared to the background, so add a correction layer. Curves (Curves) to brighten up:
Step 41
To better combine the deer with the entire scene, create a new layer as a clipping mask for the layer with the deer. Choose soft brush, brush color # bfdbf6, opacity (opacity) and pressure (flow) brush about 30-35%. Next, brush over the back, legs and tail of the deer:
Step 42
Open the ‘Footprints in the snow’ image. Select a part of the image, and then move the selected part to our working paper, placing it next to the image of the deer. Apply transformation and scaling:
Using a layer mask, hide the rough edges:
Step 43
Add footprints, placing them on the ground along one line:
Step 44
Traces are too blurred, so apply a filter to each layer with traces. Contour sharpness (Unsharp Mask). Let’s go Filter – Sharpness – Contour Sharpness (Filter-Sharpen-Unsharp Mask). Apply the values shown in the screenshot below:
Step 45
Group layers with traces in one group. Change the blending mode for the created group to Normal (Normal), 100%. Inside the created group add a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) to lighten traces and slightly change their color:
Using a soft black brush, process marks on the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Curves (Curves):
Step 46
Add a new adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation) within the same group to combine the tracks with the image of the earth:
Step 47
Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Choose Brush Snow, brush color is white. Draw snow as shown in the screenshot below:
Convert this layer to a Smart Object.
Using a layer mask, reduce the opacity of the snow in some areas to create a depth of field for this effect:
Step 48
Apply to the snow layer Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur):
On the mask Smart Filter (Smart Filter), using a soft black brush, hide the blur effect, as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 49
Using the adjustment layer Channel Mixing (Channel Mixer) change the color of the snow from white to light blue to suit our scene:
Step 50
Using the adjustment layer Curves (Curves) darken the snow in the model area (underground):
Switch to the layer mask of this adjustment layer and use a soft black brush to hide the correction in the upper part of the earth, on the sky, on the tree:
Step 51
Add a new adjustment layer Gradient Map (Gradient Map) on top of all other layers:
Reduce the opacity of the adjustment layer. Gradient Map (Gradient Map) up to 30%:
Step 52
Using the adjustment layer Curves (Curves), add a slightly yellowish tint to the scene:
Step 53
Add a little lighting to the scene (because the scene looks a bit dull). Apply adjustment layer Levels (Levels):
Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Levels (Levels). Brush as shown in the screenshot below:
Step 54
Add a new adjustment layer Vibration (Vibrance) to complete the color correction of the entire image:
Step 55
Final step: Create a new layer on top of all other layers, change the blending mode to Soft light (Soft Light), layer opacity is 100%. Fill this layer 50% gray (50% gray):
Using tool Dimmer 
(Burn Tool (O), install Range (Range) on Mid tones (Midtones), and the value Exposure (Exposure) approximately 20%, darken the inside of the traces so that they are more visible. In the screenshots below you can see where I applied this tool during blending mode. Normal (Normal) and result in blend mode Soft light (Soft Light):
Congratulations, we have completed the lesson!
Final result
