Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation

In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a Dark dreamy emotional photo manipulation. We’ll come through techniques of manipulating, retouching, layer mask, adjusting light and shadow as well as other several techniques.


Final Image Preview

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation

Resources


Step 1

Create a new file with a width of 4500 px and a height of 4500 px at 300 dpi (Dots per Inch). Background should be White.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 2

Let’s start with our background (sky).

Let’s open the desolate storm in Photoshop. We will be using the sky from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the desolate storm image and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “sky”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 3

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “sky” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 4

Now Create new color balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Fill values see as below :

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Now Create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 5

First off, let’s open the Clevedon Pier – sxc.hu stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Clevedon Pier from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Click the Clevedon Pier and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the Clevedon Pier and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Clevedon Pier”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 6

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Clevedon Pier ” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 7

First off, let’s open the Swan IV – IQuitCountingStock stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Swan from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Click the Swan and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the Swan. Click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Swan”:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Activate transform tool and then make a right click and choose flip horizontal

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 8

Now Create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (swan and Curves) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create new brightness/contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Input the following and Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (swan and brightness/contrast) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 9

Let’s make a Source light to our image.Activate a new layer (ctrl+n) and name it “Source light”.

Activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 600px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #FFFFFF

Paint over the highlighted area.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 10

Let’s make swan’s shadow.Activate a new layer and name it “swan shadow”

Make a duplicate of swan layer by using Ctrl+J, activate transform tool (ctrl+t) and right click and choose flip vertical.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Activate the duplicate layer by (ctrl+left click on duplicate layer) and fill with black color.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Activate Erase tool (E) with these settings:

Brush size: 200px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Let’s erase and ease little bit of our shadow to make it light.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 11

First off, let’s open the Old top hat set stock in Photoshop. We will be using the hat from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Click the Old top hat and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the hat and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “hat”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 12

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), and while the “Hat” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 13

Now Create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Hat layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Now Crate new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Hat layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11
Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 14

First off, let’s open the Suitcase 5 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Suitcase from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Suitcase 5 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the snail and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Suitcase”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T) and while the “Suitcase” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 15

Now Create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Suitcase layer and Curves) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following settings. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Suitcase layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 16

Let’s create Suitcase’s shadow. Activate new layer and name it”Suitcase shadow”.

Activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 17

First off, let’s open the Victorian Street Lamp 3 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Lamp from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Click the Victorian Street Lamp 3 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the Lamp and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Lamp”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T) and while the “Lamp” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Now activate Erase tool (E) with these settings Now let’s erase :

Brush size: 100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 75%

Flow: 100%

Paint over the highlighted area.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 18

Create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following settings. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Lamp layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following info. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Lamp layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 19

First off, let’s open the Retro TV stock in Photoshop. We will be using the tv from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Click the Retro TV and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the tv and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Tv”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T) and while the “Tv” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 20

Create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following info. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Tv layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following info. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (tv layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 21

Let’s open the Dark Blue eyes in Photoshop. We will be using the Eye from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Click the Dark Blue eyes and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Eye”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T) and then while the “Eye” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following info. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Eye layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 22

Let’s make lamps shadow so activate a new layer and name it “lamps shadow”.

Activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #000000

Paint over the highlighted area.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 23

Let’s adjust image environment.

Now create a Solid color adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Solid color box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Change layer blend mode to “Exclusion” and opacity to “30%”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Solid color adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Solid color box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Change layer blend mode to “Soft light” and opacity to “50%”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Gradient map adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Gradient map box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Change layer blend mode to “Luminosity” .

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Photo Filter adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Photo Filter box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Create a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Step 24

Create a new layer and name it “Vignette”. Fill it with White color “#ffffff”.

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Now go to Filters > Distort > Lens Correction:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

When the Lens Correction box opens, input the following:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

The result should be similar to this:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Change the layer mode to “Multiply” and the opacity to 100%:

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation 11

Final Image

Create a Dark Dreamy Emotional Photo Manipulation