In this lesson, you will learn how to create a winter scene in Photoshop. You will learn how to combine images and textures, as well as to give the image a cold winter hues and much more!
Final result
Source materials:
STEP 1 – Background
Open the image with Background 1 and cut out the part that interests you the most.
Duplicate the background layer and change the blending mode for the duplicate layer to Multiplication (Multiply), reduce Opacity (Opacity) layer up to 80%.
Open an image with Background 2, place this layer with the background on top of all layers. Remove the part with the trees (See the screenshot below).
For the Background 2 layer, change the blending mode to Soft light (Soft Light), reduce the opacity of the layer to 50%. In the screenshot below at the top of the image, you can see that part of the tree is not quite aligned with the rest of the image. Delete this part with the tool Eraser 
(Erase Tool) or using a layer mask (I prefer working with a layer mask, since this technique does not spoil the quality of the picture).
In the screenshot below, you can see the result.
Create a new layer. Choose a soft round brush with low opacity by setting the brush color to black. Using a brush, create a vignette effect, as shown in the screenshot below, and then apply Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur) if you want.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Multiplication (Multiply), reduce Opacity (Opacity) and Fill (Fill) layer up to 80%.
We need to draw a kind of light rays. Create a new layer. You can use a standard soft brush or use Light-ray brushes.
I used the color tint: #ccdffb (Dark background in the screenshot so that you can visually see the rays of light, but you should not repeat this!)
The blend mode for this layer I left Normal (Normal), but I reduced the layer opacity to 80%. Double click on the layer in the layers palette to make the window appear Layer styles (Layer Styles). Go to the option External glow (Outer Glow). Instead of the default yellow color, set the color tint to #ccdffb.
STEP 2 – Model
Open the stock image of the model, separate the model from the background. Create a new layer on top of all layers, then place an image with a model on this layer. Arrange the model as shown in the screenshot below. (Previously, I retouched the skin of the model with a tool Finger 
(Smudge tool) and lightly applied the filter Plastics (Liquify filter) to face model).
To the model layer, add an adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation). Set the value Saturation (Saturation) -60.
Create a new layer below the model layer. Download the Smoke brush, set the color for brush # 999da3 and draw something similar as in the screenshot below.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Linear Dodge (Linear Dodge), reduce Opacity (Opacity) and Fill (Fill) layer up to 50%. At the moment, the result should be as in the screenshot below.
Create a new layer as a clipping mask for the model layer (on top of the adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation), which we created earlier). Choose a soft brush with a low Opacity (Opacity) and By pushing (Flow). Set the brush color to # cad7e7. Draw a light at the edges of the model.
Create a new layer on top of all layers. Let’s draw a little hair to give it volume.
Create a new layer. Using tool Pipette 
(Eye Dropper), take samples of light shades in the background and lightly draw light on the girl’s hair.
STEP 3 – Snow
Open the Snow texture, place the texture layer on top of all layers. Discolor the image, change the blending mode to Lightening (Screen) reduce Opacity (Opacity) up to 50% and Fill (Fill) up to 80%. In the screenshot below, you can see the areas where I removed the snow, because I like the presence of snow in these places.
STEP 4 – Correction
Create a new layer. Select the Smoke brush and paint a brush with smoke at the bottom of the image. Brush color # e2ecf7. Blend mode for this layer Normal (Normal), Opacity (Opacity) 60% and Fill (Fill) 80%.
Create a new layer. Choose a tool Gradient 
(Gradient Tool (gradient type: Linear (Linear), Gradient Color: from # 525869 to Transparent (Transparent). Draw a gradient as shown in the screenshot below.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Multiplication (Multiply).
Create a new layer. Create a texture, as in the screenshot below (if you could not create a similar texture, then use it from the PSD file by downloading the link at the end of the lesson).
Change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (Soft Light), layer opacity 80%
Add a new adjustment layer Curves (Curve) in the window Style (Curves) set ‘Medium contrast’.
STEP 5 – Lightening / Darkening
Create a new layer, change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Next, go: Editing – Fill – 50% Gray (Edit> Fill> 50% Gray).
On this layer, you can now apply the tool Dimmer and Brightener (Burn and Dodge) in areas that you want to darken or lighten.
Choose a tool Dimmer 
(Burn Tool). My settings: Range (Range): Mid tones (midtones). Exposition (Exposure) between 10% and 20%. After adjusting the tool, draw the shadows. In the screenshot below, you can see where I applied the blackout.
Choose a tool Clarifier 
(Dodge Tool). The settings are the same as for the tool. Dimmer (Burn Tool). With only one difference. In the screenshot below, you can see the strokes of white. In this case, I used Range (Range): Sveta (Highlights).
STEP 6 – Light Effects
Create a new layer. Select a hard round brush (5px) and select a sample of the lightest shade from the background image (just not a white tint, I chose # e5edfb). And roughly paint with a brush, as shown in the screenshot below (you can use the tool Pen 
(Pen Tool) if you do not have a tablet). Next, spread the lines with the tool. Finger (smudge) until you line the edges of your arms, dress, and face. Additionally, you can apply Gaussian blur (gaussian blur).
Double click on the layer in the layers palette to make the window appear Layer styles (Layer Styles). Go to the option External glow (Outer Glow). Decrease Opacity (Opacity) up to 39%. Instead of the default yellow color, set the hue you previously selected (I chose # e5edfb). In the screenshot below, you can see where I draw the lines.
Duplicate the CTRL + J light effect layer, change the blending mode for duplicate to Overlap (Overlay). Light effects will become more luminous.
Create a new layer. Once again, select a light shade pattern from the background image (but not the same one that you previously selected, otherwise, the shades will be boring). Lightly paint the light effects on the edges of the hair (again, you can use the tool Pen (Pen Tool) if you do not have a tablet). Overlay mode leave Normal (Normal), but reduce Opacity (Opacity) and Fill (Fill) until that value, until you are happy with the result.
STEP 7 – Final Correction
Create a new layer. Set the brush color to # 999da4. Next, paint with a brush as well, as shown in the screenshot below.
Change the blending mode for this layer to Linear Dodge (Linear Dodge), reduce Opacity (Opacity) and Fill (Fill) layer up to 50%.
Add adjustment layer Curves (Curve) in the window Style (Curves) install ” Linear Contrast ‘. Change the blending mode for this layer to Glow (Luminosity).
Merge all layers together CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + E. Next, go Filter– Distortion – Correction Distortion(Filter> Lens Correction) and in the window Settings(Settings), set the option Custom (Custom). In settings Vignettes (Vignette), set the value Effect (Amount): -50.
Duplicate the last CTRL + J layer. Next, go Filter – Other –Color Contrast (Filter> Other> High Pass), apply a value of 1px. Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay).
Apply the following two corrections to the last layer with the blend mode. Overlap (Overlay).
Let’s go Image – Correction – Levels (Image> Adjustments> Levels). In the settings window that appears, click Auto (Auto).
Next, go Image – Correction – Curves (Image> Adjustments> Curves). We will not touch the RGB channel, adjust the color channels as shown in the screenshot below.
Final result
