In this tutorial, we will create a design based on the concept of a steampunk style, but with a slightly different approach. Instead of rust and the effect of antiquity, we will use more pure and shining elements. We will also use natural elements, vector elements and some brushes.
During this lesson, you will learn:
- cut elements from image
- use tools effectively
- retouch photos
- make collages
- create scripts
- use corrective layers effectively
Complexity: average
Lead time: 2 hours
Instruments: Photoshop
Source materials:
Preview of the final image:
Step 1
Create a new document sized 1680x1050px. in RGB color mode with By permission (Resolution) 72 dpi.
Step 2
Go to menu Layer (Layer)> New layer fill (New Fill Layer) – Colour (Solid Color). Set the color to # 8e6535 (brown). Why use a fill layer instead of a tool? Fill 
(Paint Bucket)? The fact is that if you move a layer or change its size, the background will remain unchanged. If you just fill with a fill and move the layer, you will see that only the visible area of the layer is filled. The rest will be without color.
Step 3
Open the file “Dirt texture”. Select it with Ctrl + A, copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) into the document. Change its size according to our document by pulling the corners. Hold down the Shift key to maintain the proportions. Go to menu Picture (Image) –Corrections (Adjustments) – Discolor (Desaturate) (Ctrl + Shift + U).
Step 4
In the Layers Palette (F7) set Opacity (Opacity) by 10%. Then click on the button Add vector mask (Add Vector Mask). Then take the tool Brush
(Brush) (B), set Rigidity (Hardness) at 0%, press the number key 3 to set it Opacity (Opacity) by 30%. Press D to set black as the base color and paint over the center and darkest areas of the texture.
Step 5
Go to menu Layer (Layer) – Duplicate layer (Duplicate Layer) (Ctrl + J) then move it to the right. Repeat this command and move the second layer to the left.
Step 6
Select the mask of the first copy layer, take the tool Brush (Brush) (B) and paint over the black edges to make a smooth transition. Do the same with the second copy. Then go to menu Layer (Layer)>New adjustment layer (New Adjustments Layer) and add the following adjustment layers: Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast), Gradient Map (Gradient Map) and Exposition (Exposure). Apply the settings below:
Step 7
Open the “heart” image from the selection. Take the tool Pen
(Pen) (P), set it to Contours (Paths) and circle the heart. Then right-click> Create selection (Make Selection). Copy it (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) into our document.
Step 8
Go to Editing (Edit)> Free transformation (Free Transform) (Ctrl + T), reduce it, keeping the proportions, then right-click> Flip horizontally (Flip Horizontal) and slightly reduce its height. Press Enter.
Step 9
Go to menu Layer (Layer)> New adjustment layer (New Adjustments Layer)> Color balance (Color Balance). Use settings like mine or similar. Make sure that the parameter Use previous layer to create a clipping mask (Use previous layer to create Clipping Mask) is activated.
Step 10
Go to menu Layer (Layer)> New adjustment layer (New Adjustments Layer)> Gradient Map. Select the gradient shown below, remove the specified colors from it and click OK. In the layers palette (F7) set Opacity (Opacity) by 30%.
Step 11
Open the “Black tubing” image. Cut it out according to the same principle as the cut heart, and paste it into our document. Press Ctrl + T to bring up the mode. Free transformation (Free Transform), make the image smaller. Use Eraser
(Eraser) (E) to remove excess areas.
Step 12
Place it as shown below. Then take the tool Rectangular Selection 
(Rectangular Marquee) (M), select the area as shown below, then right-click and select Copy to a new layer (Layer Via Copy).
Step 13
Go to menu Layer (Layer)> Duplicate layer (Duplicate Layer) (Ctrl + J), press Ctrl + T, slightly rotate and position as shown below. Press Enter.
Step14
Repeat step 13 until you have something similar:
Step 15
Select a layer with a plastic pipe, take the tool Pen (Pen), set it to Figures (Shapes) and draw a shape like below:
Tip: There is a good way to quickly select layers: tool Move (
V) tick the parameter Auto selection (Autoselect) and select Layer (Layer) from the drop down menu. Now you do not need to switch to the layer, just click on the image you want to work with.
Step 16
In the layers palette (F7), click on the Fx button and select Overlay options (Blending Options). Apply the settings below:
Step 17
Select all the layers related to this pipe and press Ctrl + G to place them in a separate group. Double click on the group name and name it “black tubing”. Then go to menu Layer (Layer)> New (New)> Layer (layer) (Ctrl + Shift + N).
Step 18
Install Blend mode (Blending mode) for a new layer on Multiplication (Multiply). Then take the tool Brush (Brush) (B), set Rigidity (Hardness) at 0%, Opacity (Opacity) at 40% and draw the shadows for the pipe, as shown below:
Step 19
Open the “pipes” image, cut the faucet using the same method that you cut out the heart before. Place in our document as shown below:
Step 20
Go to menu Layer (Layer)> Duplicate layer (Duplicate Layer) (Ctrl + J). Place the second copy as shown below. Repeat this operation, and arrange the third copy according to the instructions below:
Step 21
In the layers palette click on the button. Add vector mask
(Add Vector Mask). Then take the tool Brush (Brush) (B), set Rigidity (Hardness) at 0%, Opacity (Opacity) at 100% (to do this, press the 0 key). Paint over the areas where the tap should not be visible. Do the same with the second image.
Step 22
Open the spark plug image. Cut it out by a method you already know, copy and paste into our document. Resize as shown below:
Step 23
In the layers palette (F7) click on the button Add vector mask (Add Vector Mask). You can also call her by going to the menu. Layer (layer)> Layer mask (Layer Mask)> Reveal All (Show all). Take the tool Brush (Brush) (B), set it Rigidity (Hardness) at 0%, press the D key and paint over the areas shown below.
Step 24
Go to menu Layer (Layer)> Duplicate layer (Duplicate Layer) (Ctrl + J). Press Ctrl + T to activate the mode. Free transformation (Free Transform), expand and place a copy as shown in the image below.
Step 25
Open the “camera” image and cut the lens out of it. Copy and paste it into our document, place it as shown in the image. Also go to menu Picture (Image)> Corrections (Adjustments)> Discolor (Desaturate) (Ctrl + Shift + U), then press Ctrl + T, right-click and select from the context menu Flip horizontally (Flip Horizontal). Press Enter.
Step 26
Take the tool Move (Move) (V). Go to menu Layer (Layer)> Duplicate layer (Duplicate Layer) (Ctrl + J), then press the left and right arrow keys to “pop out” the object a little. Repeat these steps until you reach the optimum thickness for the lens.
Step 27
Select all layers except the top one and go to the menu Layer (Layer)> To drain layers (Merge layer) (Ctrl + E). Then go to menu Layer (Layer)> New layer (New Layer) (Ctrl + Shift + N) and place above the current layer. Set for it Blend mode (Blending mode) on Multiplication (Multiply).
Step 28
Take the tool Brush(Brush) (B), set Rigidity (Hardness) at 0%, Opacity (Opacity) at 40% (press 4). Press D and draw the shadows as shown below. Make a smaller brush to create a more intense shade around the lens.
Step 29
Using the already familiar technique, import even more additional objects into our document: Spiral tubing, Jack plug, gears and drain.
Step 30
Open the image of Bonsai. In the layers panel, double-click on the layer lock icon next to its thumbnail, click Ok in the dialog box that appears.
Step 31
Take the tool Cropping (Crop) and crop the image so that only the tree remains.
Step 32
Go to window Channels (Channels) (Window (Window)> Channels (Channels)) and by clicking on Blue (Blue) channel and drag it to the button Create a new channel (Create New Channel).
Step 33
Go to menu Picture (Image)> Corrections (Adjustments)> Curves (Curves) (Ctrl + M) and adjust the graph as shown below.
Step 34
Take the tool Dimmer 
(Burn) (O) and paint over the remaining gray areas inside the tree. Repeat the action until the leaves turn black.
Step 35
Take the tool Brush (Brush) (B), press D, then X to paint over the roots of the tree. Make sure that Rigidity (Hardness) set to 100%.
Step 36
In the layers palette Ctrl + click on the thumbnail copy Blue (Blue) channel. This action creates an object selection. Turn on the RGB channel and turn off the copy. Blue (Blue) channel. Go to the layers palette (F7) and press delete. Then go to menu Allotment (Select)> Remove selection (Deselect) (Ctrl + D).
Step 37
Drag this layer into our document and press Ctrl + [to place it under the previous layer. Press this key combination several times until your layer is under a layer with a heart. Then press Ctrl + J to duplicate it. Change the size and position of the copy to create a nice backdrop for the heart.
Notice that the lens has changed? To do this, I created a new layer above the lens, took the tool Brush (Brush), pressed 5, chose a light yellow color and clicked the brush several times. Change the brush size using the [and] keys.
Step 38
Select the texture layer, then go to the menu Layer (Layer)> New (New)> Layer (Layer). Now take Brush(Brush) (B), set Rigidity (Hardness) to 0%, set the primary color to bright yellow, press 4, then draw two strokes, as shown below. Install Blend mode (Blending mode) on Linear Dodge 
(Linear Dodge (Add)) and Opacity (Opacity) by 20%.
Step 39
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N), go to the layers palette (F7) and set Blend mode (Blending mode) on Multiplication (Multiply). Repeat the previous step, but instead of yellow, use black and draw a shadow under the heart.
Step 40
Create another new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N), open Cloud brushes (just click on them twice, they will automatically load), take Brush (Brush) (B), press D, then X, select a brush and draw clouds. Click 4 to also create translucent clouds.
Step 41
Create several layers like this with other clouds of different opacity.
Step 42
Open the image of the ravens. Take the tool Rectangular area (Rectangular Marquee Tool) (M), select one of the crows. Copy (Ctrl + C) and paste it into our document. Resize it to fit the overall scene.
Step 43
Create a new layer. (Create a new layer) (Ctrl + Shift + N), then take the tool Circuit (Path) (P), set it to Contours (Paths), then draw the outline as shown below. Take the tool Brush ( Brush) (B), set its size to 3 pixels. and set a dark color (black is also suitable), switch back to the tool Circuit (Path) (P) and right-click, choosing from the context menu Circle Outline (Stroke Path). Select a brush in the window that appears, activate the parameter Simulate pressure (Simulate Pressure). Click OK.
Step 44
In the layers palette (F7), select Add vector mask (Add Vector Mask). Take the tool Brush (Brush) (B), set the base color to black (press D) and paint over the area shown below.
Step 45
Repeat steps 42-44 to add more ravens.
Step 46
Those who have a tablet can create a new layer, take Brush (Brush) (B), set its diameter to 1 pix., Take bright colors and draw arbitrary strokes and lines. Using the mouse, such lines can create lines using step 43.
Step 47
Go to the spark plug image and copy the selection again. Paste into our document, resize and place as shown below. Duplicate (Ctrl + J), press Ctrl + T, then right-click, select Flip horizontally (Flip Horizontal) and place on the opposite side. Place these layers under the heart layer.
Step 48
Create a new layer and draw a line 2 pixels thick, as shown below, using the tool Brush (Brush) (B). In the layers palette (F7), press the Fx button, select Overlay options (Blending Options). Settings use the ones shown below.
Step 49
Take the tool Ellipse
(Ellipse) and draw two circles above the spark plugs. Then in the layers palette (F7) set the parameter Fill (Fill) at 0%. Overlay options (Blending Options) use as shown below.
Step 50
Open Spray Paint Brushes 1, select a brush and resize it using the [. Hold down the Alt key to take a dark color sample from the heart, press Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new layer and click on the canvas. Do as shown below.
Done!
