Create This Incredible Surreal Photo Manipulation of a Dancer in Photoshop

Create This Incredible Surreal Photo Manipulation of a Dancer in Photoshop:

Preview of Final Results

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Download the PSD

Download

Dancer in the Dark.zip | 91 MB

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Tutorial Resources

• Modern Style Dancer – ShutterStock
• Water Background – knightfall-stock
• Tutorial Resources – Provided by author

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Step 1

Create new document (File > New or Ctrl/Cmd+N)

Use the Paint Bucket tool (G) and fill with the color #A1A1A1. Then, add a black to white gradient map by going to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map.

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Step 2 – Add Ground Layers

Add the ground layer (GROUND\IMG_6231). Scale the image using the Free Transform tool (Edit > Free Transform or Ctrl/Cmd+T). Now, I will change the shadows and light a bit. Because you never know how it will work with layers and which one will come later, you should convert your layer to a Smart Object. To do this, right-click on the layer and choose “Convert to Smart Object”. Now we are ready to use the Shadow/Highlights adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights).

Note: Every layer name will have the same number as the ones in the tutorial resources.

As you can see, the details of the rock has increased with the Shadow/Highlights adjustment..

Now I will add a layer mask and erase parts of the image that I don’t want. Click on the “Add layer mask” icon on the bottom of your Layers palette.

Info: Cienie / Podświetlenie mean Shadow/Highlights (Sorry about that, I use the Polish version of Photoshop)

Select the Brush tool (B) then paint with black on your layer mask. Usually, I just use the first default brush. You can change the opacity as needed. For this tutorial, I will only be using this brush.

Because the bottom of this photo is too blurry, I will add another ground layer. Add the next ground layer located in the folder Ground\IMG_6232. Using exactly the same step as before, I added a layer mask and painted on it with black.

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Step 3 - Add Clouds layers

Now I will add some clouds using the exact same technique we did with the ground layers. Remember, you will get better results if you decrease your brush opacity; I usually work between 30-50%. First, I will add a new Gradient Map adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map). It will be the same gradient map as the previous layer so you can just duplicate the previous layer. To do this, select the layer then press Ctrl/Cmd+J to duplicate the layer. Move the layer to the top of your layer like shown in the image below.

• CLOUD 6022 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6022
• Blending Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%

• CLOUD 6011 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6011
• Blending Mode: Vivid Light
• Opacity: 100%

Copy Cloud 6011 then press Ctrl/Cmd+T to activate the Free Transform tool. Change the position and transform  then press Enter or double-click on your image to apply the transformation. Set the layers blending mode to Overlay and opacity to 100%.

• CLOUD 6375 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6375
• Blending Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%

• CLOUD 6371 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6371
• Blending Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%

• CLOUD 6182 - Folder CLOUDS\IMG_6182
• Blending Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%

Here’s what our layers look like: