In this lesson you will learn how to separate a wolf from the background, keep its furry hair and create a beautiful background and color atmosphere.
Final result:
Lesson resources:
Step 1. Cut the wolf
Open the photo of the wolf in Photoshop. Choose a tool Fast selection (Quick Selection Tool) (W), on the top panel, select the add to selection mode.
Select the wolf and the stone on which he stands.
Click the button Refine edge (Refine Edge). Enter the values shown below and set the Output To on the New Layer Mask. Click OK, and you will have a new layer with a wolf and a mask that hides the background.
If you want to return any details of the wolf, select a white brush and paint over it on the mask. Black hides the layer, white returns it.
Step 2. Improving the edges of the wolf
Add a background image behind the wolf to better see its edges. Brush the edges of the wolf with a brush on the mask.
To make the main object in focus, add a blur to the background using the filter Blur at shallow depth of field (Filter> Blur> Blur at shallow depth of field) (Filter> Blur> Lens Blur) with a value of 10 pixels.
Now we will return the wolf his furry fur. Choose a paint brush 
.
Set it up like this:
I advise you to use a graphics tablet to control the angle of the brush pattern. Try to paint this wool:
Step 3. Color atmosphere
Create a new wolf layer with clipping mask (Ctrl + Alt + G). Fill it with 50% gray in the fill menu (Shift + F5). The color code is # 808080. Set the blending mode Overlap (Overlay). Now work the wolf with tools. Clarifier
(Dodge Tool) (O) and Dimmer
(Burn Tool) (O) on the layer to enhance the contrast.
Create another layer above the wolf with a clipping mask (under the gray layer). Set it to overlay mode. Multiplication (Multiply) and reduce the opacity to 42%. Add a dark blue color to the wolf using brushes with different opacities.
A similar color overlay should be made for the background. Create three layers in mode. Overlap (Overlay). On them add two shades of blue and yellow to the background. Reduce the opacity to yellow to 43%. Even after that, the background seemed to me too bright. This can be corrected with the help of correction. Selective color correction (Image> Adjustments> Selective Color Correction) (Image> Adjustments> Selective Color).
You can also create a separate adjustment layer that changes all tones.
Step 4. Completion
Create a copy of the wolf layer and position it directly above the original. Choose a tool Sharpness
(Sharpen Tool) and make your eyes and nose clearer. Then create another layer above the wolf in the mode Overlap (Overlay) with 86% opacity and a soft brush, add a yellow color to the eyes.
Merge all layers into one separate (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E). Apply a filter to the resulting layer. Colour contrast (Filter> Other> Color Contrast) (Filter> Other> High Pass) with a value of 2.5 or less. Set the blending mode Overlap (Overlay). This technique to increase the overall sharpness of the image. Add a mask and erase sharpness where it is not needed.
Merge all layers again and apply filter Gaussian blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur) with a small radius value. Reduce the layer opacity to 52%, and fill to 67%. Add a mask and paint over all the areas where you want to keep the sharpness: the face, some areas of wool, etc.
Final result:
Author: 123rf
