Draw a landscape with waterfalls in Photoshop

I quickly sketched my idea on a new document. File – New (File – New) large (7000 x 3138 pixels). After studying all the materials, this is literally the first thing that came to my mind and took 30-40 seconds to make a sketch.

Step 2

Then, on a new layer, I cleaned the sketch a little and added details to see more clearly what I want to get. As in many landscape illustrations, I focus on three planes that allow you to create a depth effect: background, medium and foreground.

2. Adding color

Step 1

Next, I applied the base colors using hard brushes (AT). For the sky, I picked up a pleasant mixture of pale blue, yellow and orange.

For starters, I roughly painted over the sky. At this stage I don’t pay much attention to details. So far I am satisfied with the sketch of the clouds.

Also at this stage I want to decide on the main source of light. I decided that it would be in the upper left corner, so the mountain on the middle ground would be lit most.

Step 2

When I work with drawings that have several planes (back, middle, front), I prefer to start with the one that is furthest from the viewer. Below you can see the background mountains that I painted on a separate layer.

Step 3

I try not to make the edges too blurred. I want them to imitate the tops of the trees in the distance.

Step 4

Further we continue work on the average plan. This part will be clearer and later I will finalize it. I filled the mountain with the same color as the background, but with a darker shade (# 1d1e20).

Step 5

And finally, I fill the foreground with dark gray (# 0f100b). This layer will be the darkest and most detailed.

Step 6

To build in the foreground, I created a new group (to do this, click on the special button at the bottom of the layers panel) and called it “Structure 1.” Here I will create layers that relate to this element of the picture.

Step 7

First, with a stiff brush on a separate layer, I painted over the first pillars.

Step 8

Then the rest in the background.

Step 9

I also painted the mountains between the columns.

Step 10

And finally, I painted over the waterfall on a layer that is above the layer with the mountains in the foreground. These are all basic layers with which I will work.

3. Basic shading

Step 1

Being on a layer with a waterfall, I begin to add shadows. Details and highlights will be added later. I also slightly edited the edges of the waterfall.

Step 2

I switched to the layer with the foreground mountains and selected them (Command / Ctrl + click on the layer thumbnail on the layers panel). With dark shades, I began to shape the outline of the mountains and individual stones. Here I will focus on details and texture, as this is the center of the composition.

Step 3

I also added some orange highlights to create the effect of wet rocks, and more dark shades to emphasize different levels of stones.

Step 4

I drew a few bushes in dark green (# 20261a) in order to slightly dilute the gray color of the mountains.

Step 5

Then in the new group “Structure 2” I created a new layer and filled with color the second construction with columns. In this case, here is just the silhouette of the building, so we will not pay much attention to details. Basic color fill will be enough for now.

Step 6

Having finished with the foreground, I turn to the middle. I begin to apply light shades, not forgetting the source of light (top left).

Step 7

I created a new layer and began to paint over the mountains with a light shade to move them further away from the viewer and to separate them more strongly from the foreground.

4. Detailing the average plan

Step 1

I took a texture brush (from the Rahll Brush Set) and in a light shade I began to detail the shape of the mountains.

Step 2

With the same brush, I added more shadows and filled the treetops along the edge of the mountains.

Step 3

Now we draw waterfalls! On a new layer with a texture brush with a low level of opacity (about 20%), I began to draw a waterfall, dense on top and smoothly dissipating from below, creating the effect of water mist.

Step 4

I continue to detail the mountain, adding cracks and bulges. Having finished with the average plan, you can reduce the opacity of the back mountain to about 50%. The farther the object, the paler it is. After such a simple action, the depth and realism of the image improved.

5. Texturing

Step 1

After finishing with the details, you can start applying textures! The first texture I will use is Rock Texture 1. I opened it in Photoshop and created a new document.

I dragged the texture to the new document and filled it with all the free space (duplicate Command / Ctrl + J), then with the tool Clone tool (S) (Stamp) removed seams and repeating elements.

Step 2

I placed the finished texture above the layer with the central mountains (immediately below the layer with the waterfall), adjusted the size to cover most of the mountains (Command / Ctrl + T).

Step 3

I set the texture blending mode to Soft light (Soft light) and reduced the opacity to 70%. Then I removed the areas that blocked the trees and waterfalls, mostly where there are no rocks. Now the mountain looks more realistic.

Step 4

At the top of the mountains, I added the final details using the matte painting technique. I modified the texture to make it look more harmonious with the background.

6. Background and sky

Step 1

It’s time to work on the background mountain. I uploaded her selection and started forming treetops.

Step 2

I added more light in the place where the mountains go away. At this stage, I decided not to add any more details, since later in this place I will draw the sun’s rays and haze.

Step 3

As with the previous mountain, I added some highlights.

Step 4

Further, on a new layer, I drew waterfalls, but this time not as homogeneous as in the middle ground. I have a little bit lighter waterfalls.

Step 5

Having finished with the details, I reduced the opacity of the layer with the mountain to 87% in order to move it a little further away from the viewer.

Step 6

Next, I turn to heaven. For work, I use the brush Cloud Brush 1. As always, I start with dark shades (orange) and smoothly turn to blue. When working with the sky, you also should not forget where the main source of light is located (upper left corner).

Step 7

Now you can look at the current result.

Step 8

To add depth to the work, I created a new layer above the middle plan and drew a mist rising from the waterfall. For this, I used a pale almost white shade of yellow (# f5edd5). I took the brush the same as for the sky with very low opacity (5-7%).

Step 9

I did the same with the background mountain, but took a blue-gray tint (# c9cbd8).

7. Foreground detail

Step 1

Now it’s time to return to the foreground. I thought that the foreground should take up a bit more space and decided to enlarge it. For this, I selected all the layers on the foreground layer panel and activated the free transformation (Comman / Ctrl + T).

Step 2

The changes are quite small, but this is enough to make the foreground more noticeable.

Step 3

I continue to add details and highlights on the rocks and bushes.

Step 4

It’s time to add a new texture! This time I will use rock texture2.

Step 5

I placed the texture above the layer with the foreground mountains, but under the waterfall and bushes, and enlarged it to cover most of the stones.

Step 6

I set the texture blending mode to Overlay (Overlap) and reduced the opacity to 60%. I also used the tool Clone tool (S) (Stamp) to fill empty texture areas.

Step 7

On a new layer on top of the texture, I added more details.

Step 8

I slightly clarified a small area of ​​the foreground, where the second building is located, in order to distance it from the viewer, but at the same time, I added more details, like other elements of the foreground.

Step 9

Then I switched to the waterfall layer, selected it and began to detail it, adding shadows and highlights in different colors (white, orange and yellow) to depict the refraction of light on water.

8. Structures

Step 1

Now it’s time to move on to the building details. I loaded the selection of the first construction and added shadows on the columns (hold down the Shift key while working with the brush to get straight lines).

Step 2

Then I added highlights. Try not to overdo it.

Step 3

A few more small details on the columns. Do not forget where the light falls from in order to properly apply glare.

Step 4

I added greenery around the columns to dilute the monotone colors a bit.

Step 5

Next, I turn to the columns, which are a little further from the viewer.

Step 6

Here I also added shadows and highlights. I believe that this area does not need to be carefully detailed, so I did not spend much time on it.

Step 7

When finished, I moved to the second building. I cleaned it a little hard first. eraser (E)

Step 8

On the new layer, I added shadows. They are not so noticeable, but this is enough to give volume to this element.

Step 9

And some highlights.

Step 10

Immediately under the layer with highlights, I created a new one and added small details.

9. Light effects

Step 1

As a final touch, I will add light effects to improve the atmosphere. I created a new group right under the foreground and called it “Lighting”. In this group I will add all the layers with light effects.

Step 2

Soft brush (B) with an opacity of 30% in yellow (# fed450), I drew a line from the upper left to the lower right. I then set the layer blend mode to PinLight (Spotlight) and reduced the opacity to about 60%.

Step 3

On another layer, I drew a thin beam (# faa604) and stretched it diagonally. Then I changed the blending mode to Lighten (Replace with light) and reduced the opacity to about 70%.

Step 4

And finally, with a pale yellow color, I added a haze at the bottom of the picture and at the base of the mountain on the middle ground.