Adobe Tutorial

Materials Needed:

• Desert 1
• Desert 2
• Iron mask
• Clock
• Bronze Hand
• Gearing Brushes
• Galaxy Brushes
• Bird Brushes
• Sky
• Tree texture
• Celtic Rune Charm Pack

Step 1: Create a new document and add the sky

Go to File > New (Ctrl+N) and create a new document in Photoshop. Then download this sky stock image, open it in Photoshop and move it into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Then go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T), hold down the Shift key and resize this image. Name this layer "sky", hit Ctrl+G to put it inside a group and name the group "background."

Step 2: Add a small galaxy on the sky

Create a new layer inside the "background" group and name it "galaxy." Then download these brushes and install them. Select the Brush Tool (B), chose one of those galaxy brushes, set the foreground color to #8c8c8c and create a small galaxy on your sky. Then set the blend mode of this layer to Color Dodge 25%.

Step 3: Add the first desert stock photo

Download this desert stock photo and open it in Photoshop. Double-click on the background layer to unlock it, then use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to select the sky and delete it. Move this image into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Hit Ctrl+M to open the Curves window and use the settings from the following image. Name this layer "desert 1."
Note: You can also use the Eraser Tool (E) and a soft brush to erase some parts of the sky from this photo.

Step 4: Duplicate the "desert 1" layer

Duplicate the "desert 1" layer (Ctrl+J), and then go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Use the Move Tool (V) to move this layer to the right side of your document and name it "desert 2."

Step 5: Add the second desert stock photo

Download this desert stock photo and open it in Photoshop. Double-click on the background layer to unlock it, select the sky using the Magic Wand Tool (W) and delete it. You can also use the Eraser Tool (E) and a soft brush to erase the top area of the desert. Move this image into your document using the Move Tool (V) and go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Double-click on this layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Gradient Overlay. Name this layer "desert 3."
Note: Arrange the image from this step in a way that makes visible the hills of the other two desert photos beneath it.

Step 6: Add the iron mask

Download this iron mask stock photo and open it in Photoshop. Use the Pen Tool (P) to separate the mask from the background and then use the Move Tool (V) to move it into your first document. Go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T), hold down the Shift key and resize this layer; right-click on the image, select Flip Horizontal and then hit Enter. Name this layer "iron mask" and put it inside a group (Ctrl+G). Name the group "iron mask" too.

Step 7: Add a Gradient Overlay layer style to the iron mask

Double-click on the "iron mask" layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Gradient Overlay.

Step 8: Mask the bottom area of the iron mask

The bottom area of our iron mask should be buried in the sand. To make this happen, make sure that you have the "iron mask" layer selected, and then go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Select a black soft brush (B) and paint with it over the bottom area of your iron mask.

Step 9: Add a Levels adjustment layer

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels, check the "Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask" option and use the settings from the following image to make the iron mask brighter.

Step 10: Create a shadow for the iron mask

Ctrl-click on the thumbnail of the "iron mask" layer to select it, then create a new layer and fill it with black. Put this layer beneath the "iron mask" layer, then go to Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical. Move this shadow at the bottom of the mask. Then go to Edit > Free Transform, hold down the Ctrl key and transform the shadow like I did. Blur this layer (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) and then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a big soft brush with the opacity of 20% to erase some areas of this layer. Keep in mind that the shadow should be darker at the bottom of the iron mask and brighter at the other end. Name this layer "shadow."

Step 11: Add a sign on the iron mask’s forehead

Create a new layer, set the foreground color to #cca899, select a soft brush (B) with the diameter of 100px and click once in the middle of the iron mask’s forehead. Name this layer "forehead light" and set its blend mode to Overlay 75%. Then download the Celtic Rune Charm Pack, open the "Rune-Ger.jpg" image in Photoshop and use the Pen Tool (P) to separate the sign from the background. Move this sign into your first document using the Move Tool (V) and put it above the forehead light. Name this layer "forehead sign" and set its blend mode to Overlay.

Step 12: Add two scars to the iron mask

Download this tree texture and open it in Photoshop. Move the image into your first document, use Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to resize the image and put it on the right cheek of your iron mask. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light and use the Eraser Tool (E) and a soft brush to erase the areas of this texture that you don’t need. Then duplicate this layer (Ctrl+J), go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal, use Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to resize this layer and put this scar on the other cheek of your iron mask.

Step 13: Create some lights coming out of the iron mask’s eyes

Create a new layer, select a white soft brush (B) and use it to create some lights that are coming out of the iron mask’s eyes. Name this layer "eyes light" and set its blend mode to Soft Light 85%.

Step 14: Add a bronze hand

Create a new group and name it "hand." Then download this bronze hand stock image and open it in Photoshop. Use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to separate the hand from the background and use the Move Tool (V) to move the hand into your first document. Go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T) resize this image and rotate it. Then select the Eraser Tool (E) and erase the bottom area of your hand to make it look like it’s buried in the sand. Name this layer "hand."

Step 15: Make some color adjustments to the hand

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves, check the "Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask" option and use the settings from the following image. Set the opacity of this layer to 80%.

Step 16

Add three more adjustment layers (Color Balance, Channel Mixer and Levels) using the settings from the following image. You can create all these layers from the "Layer > New Adjustment Layer" menu.

Step 17: Add a texture to the hand

Chose one of these rock textures that you like, or find another one on the internet, open it in Photoshop and move it into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Then use Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to resize this image and rotate it. Make sure that this layer is above all the other adjustment layers, then right-click on it and select Create Clipping Mask. Name this layer "texture" and set its blend mode to Soft Light 30%.

Step 18: Use the iron mask as a texture for the hand

Duplicate the "iron mask" layer from the "iron mask" group (Ctrl+J). Then move this new layer above the hand’s texture layer, right-click on it and select Create Clipping Mask. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 19: Create a clock needle

Download these Gearing Brushes and install them. Create a new layer, set the foreground color to black and use one of the brushes which you have downloaded to create a clock needle coming out of one of the hand’s fingers. Double-click on this layer and use the settings from the following image. Name this layer "clock needle."

Step 20: Color the hand in orange

Ctrl-click on the "hand" layer to select it. Then create a new layer and fill it with the color #d57426. Name this layer "orange hand" and set its blend mode to Soft Light 70%. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a big soft brush to erase the bottom area of this layer.

Step 21: Create some gears

Set the foreground color to black, create a new layer and use the brushes which you have previously download to create some gears inside the hand. Double-click on this layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a small hard brush to erase the area of the gears that you don’t need.

Step 22: Adjust the lights and the shadows of the iron mask

Double-click on your hand layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Gradient Overlay. Then use the Burn Tool (O) and the Dodge Tool (O) to create the lights and the shadows. Experiment with the Range and Exposure settings from the option bar to get the effect you want.
Note: when you have the Dodge Tool or the Burn Tool selected you can use the Alt key to quickly shift between them.

Step 23: Create a shadow for your hand

Create a shadow for your hand using the same process which you have used for the iron mask.

Step 24: Add some clocks

Create a new group and name it "clocks." Then download this image and open it in Photoshop. Use the Pen Tool (P) to separate the clock from the rest of the image. Then move the clock into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T), hold down the Shift key and resize this image. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a grunge brush to erase some areas of this clock.
Repeat this step to add more clocks to your image. Change the size of each clock and rotate them. Take a look at the following image for reference. Select all your clock layers and merge them together (Ctrl+E). Name this layer "clocks."

Step 25: Add a shadow to the clocks

Double-click on the "clocks" layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Drop Shadow.

Step 26

Create a new layer and fill it with black. Set the blend mode of this layer to Linear Dodge (Add). Then select the Brush Tool (B), select a brush with the diameter of 2-3px, select a nice orange color and create some random lines around your clocks. Take a look at the following image for reference.

Step 27: Add some birds

Download these brushes and install them. Then create a new layer and use those brushes to create some small birds on your sky. Name this layer "birds."

Step 28: Final color adjustments

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map and use the settings from the following image. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 29

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map and use the settings from the following image. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light 38%.

Step 30

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient Fill and use the settings from the following image. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 31

Create a new layer, select a big soft brush (B) and paint with yellow in the left side of your image and with blue in the right side. Then set the blend mode of this layer to Color 25%.

Final Result

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you learned something new. What we have obtained is a photo-manipulation with some ruins in the desert; the clocks, the gears and the clock needle make everything to gravitate around the time theme.

Tutorial Assets

You’ll find the Photoshop PSD file in a directory labeled "source" that came in the ZIP file that you downloaded. You may wish to look through it briefly before we begin.
You’ll need the following stock images to complete this tutorial.

• Mannequin one, mannequin two and mannequin three by Marcus Ranum
• Portrait one (medium-sized version)
• Portrait two (medium-sized version)
• Bikini model one
• Bikini model two
• Woman in shorts
• Man in shorts (medium-sized version)
• Man’s legs (medium-sized version)
• Woman’s arm
• Man’s arm
• Barbarian warrior

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Step 1

Photoshop has many tools to help us isolate subjects from their backgrounds; most rely on a good contrast from the object we need to select and the background color. Some of techniques we’ll explore later in this tutorial. Unfortunately, for our initial images there’s no quick fix to accurately achieve this.
The tool that offers most control is the Pen (P) which creates vector paths. It’s this tool that causes the most fear and frustration amongst new users, but at the same time it’s revered by those who have taken time to get to know it.
Open the first mannequin image and set the Pen (P) to Path in the Options bar. Zoom right in and carefully plot a closed path around the mannequin’s legs, including the support pole as indicated in red. Hold Cmd/Ctrl to access the Direct Selection tool to adjust individual direction/anchor points to fine-tune your path. Now double-click the path thumbnail and label it "Path 1;.

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Step 2

Use the same technique to draw two more closed paths around the mannequin’s arms, again indicated in red.

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Step 3

We now need to create a sub-path around the inner of the ankle and the pole. Set the Pen to Exclude via the drop-down menu the Options bar and create another path as shown.

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Step 4

Drawing a perfect elliptical path with the Pen Tool is a little tricky. Click the Create new path icon at the foot of the Paths tab and name it "Path 2". Activate the Ellipse option found under the Shape Tool (U) and ensure it’s set to Path again. Now draw an ellipse to match the base plate – don’t sweat if your path is a little inaccurate at this stage, it can easily be fixed, as you’ll discover next.

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Step 5

To make your path an exact match, first use the Path Selection Tool (A) to select it, then hit Cmd/Ctrl + T to access Transform and scale/rotate accordingly. You can also use the Direct Selection option as you did earlier to tweak individual direction/anchor points as required.

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Step 6

You should now have two separate paths. "Path 1" (indicated in red) around the mannequin’s legs/arms and "Path 2" (indicated in yellow) around the base of the stand.

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Step 7

Cmd/Ctrl-click the "Path 2" thumbnail to generate a selection, then switch to the Layers tab. Pick any selection tool, then click the Refine Edge button in the Options bar. In the following window choose On Layers (L) from the drop-down menu, set the Feather amount to 0.3px, leave the other settings at zero, ensure Output is set to New Layer with Layer Mask, check Remember settings and hit OK. You’ll now see a duplicate masked layer appear and the visibility of the original layer disabled.

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Step 8

Now make a selection from "Path 1" and repeat the previous step to create another masked layer.

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Step 9

Both masks are no longer required, so drag their thumbnails into the trash icon at the foot of the Layers tab and click the Apply button in the next window.

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Step 10

Target the top layer thumbnail, then press Cmd/Ctrl + E to Merge Down.

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Step 11

Open the second mannequin image and use the same method to draw a closed path around the head and torso.

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Step 12

Create a path-based selection, repeat the same Refine Edge command, then delete and Apply the mask.

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Step 13

Open the third mannequin image and create two closed paths (one around the body parts and one around the base plate) exactly as you did for the first mannequin.

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Step 14

Repeat the same workflow to create a single cut out layer.

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Step 15

Over the next few steps we’ll assemble the separate mannequin body parts into a single scene. Although we’ve used different elements from various photos, the consistency in lighting will make the final result more convincing.
Create a new square canvas 29.7cm with the Resolution at 300dpi, the Color Mode in RGB and the Background Contents set to White.

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Step 16

Drag over the last isolated mannequin layer into your new document and label it "Male mannequin arms/legs" Grab the Lasso Tool (L) and roughly drag a selection around the head and torso. Now press Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + J to cut the selection to a new layer. Select the Move Tool (V) and reposition to overlap the right leg as shown. Name the new layer "Male mannequin torso".

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Step 17

Import the first mannequin to create a top layer and name it "Female mannequin arms/legs". Next, add the second mannequin as another top layer and name this "Female mannequin torso". Enlarge/reduce these layers to fix any size differences and reposition as shown.

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Step 18

To move elements on the same layer, use the Lasso Tool (L) to roughly draw around the body part, then reposition. In this screenshot I moved the female’s arm (on the "Female mannequin arms/legs" layer) to the left slightly.

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Step 19

Hold Shift, highlight all your mannequin layer thumbnails and resize/position them in one transformation.

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Step 20

At this point we’ll add a neutral grey background. Set your Foreground color to # 524f4c, then place an empty layer below all the mannequins and hit Alt + Delete to fill with the Foreground grey. Reduce the Opacity of this layer to 30% and label it "Grey fill".
The female mannequin appears a little too yellow, so target the "Female mannequin arms/legs" layer and hit Cmd/Ctrl + U to access Hue/Saturation and reduce the Yellows Saturation to -40. Repeat this on the "Female mannequin torso" layer too.

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Step 21

At this stage the male mannequin’s base plate looks at the wrong angle; to fix this, revisit your first female mannequin layered file, generate a selection from "Path 2", then use the Refine Edge command to create a new layer. Delete/Apply the mask and add this as a new layer above "Male mannequin arms/legs".
Name this layer "Additional base" and position over the existing base plate. Add a mask to this and the underlying layer, then use a small, hard-edged black Brush (B) on both masks to blend the new base plate as shown.

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Step 22

Cmd/Ctrl-click the "Additional base" thumbnail to create a layer-based selection. Set the Clone Stamp Tool (S) to Current Layer and use a small soft-edged brush to remove any scuffs and scratches from the base plate. Now use the same selection/cloning technique to fix the base plate on the "Female mannequin arms/legs" layer.

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Step 23

Zoom in and clean up any small blemishes on the figures with a combination of the Healing Brush and Patch Tools (J).
Highlight all your mannequin layers, then choose New Group from Layers from the top-right fly-out menu and name it "MANNEQUINS" in the following window. Drag the folder icon over the Create a new layer icon at the foot of the palette to duplicate it. Now hit Cmd/Ctrl + E to Merge Group and rename it "MANNEQUINS MERGED". Finally, switch off the visibility of the original folder.

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Step 24

We’ll be layering some real skin textures over the figures later, but for now we’ll modify the color of the mannequins.
Target the "MANNEQUINS MERGED" layer and choose Hue/Saturation from the drop-down Create new fill or adjustment layer icon situated at the foot of the Layers tab. In the next window activate the clipping icon so the adjustment only affects the target layer, check Colorize and apply these settings.

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Step 25

Target the adjustment layer mask, then use a small black Brush (B) at around 50% Hardness to paint over both base plates and supporting rod. My mask is shown at the bottom of the screenshot for clarity.

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Step 26

We’ll now move onto extracting the girl’s head. First, use the Crop Tool (C) to remove the excess around the head.
To isolate the fine hair precisely from the background we’ll use a channel or density mask. If you’re familiar with my tutorials it’s a technique I often use. Choose Image > Calculations. In this instance both Red channels set to Multiply produce the best contrast as a starting point for the mask. Click OK to create the new channel.

Done!

Author : Mark Mayers