In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a new year artwork featuring two cute cats. You’ll learn how to combine different stock images together to make a cohesive scene, apply texture, create lighting effect and more. Try it out and may your New Year be as happy as these two furry kitties!
Software: Photoshop CS3 +
Difficulty : Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time: 90 minutes
Resources Used In This Tutorial:
Step 1
Create a new document in Photoshop with the settings below:
Step 2
To create a dark baclground, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color and pick the color #08142e:
Step 3
Open the cottage image. Use the Move Tool (V) to drag it into the canvas:
Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to this layer. Use a hard black brush to remove the background as shown below:
Step 4
To delete the unwanted cottage shadow, make a new layer and set it as Clipping Mask. Activate the Clone Tool (S) and use it to remove the indicated shadow:
Step 5
Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray:
Select the Dodge Tool (O) to brighten the cottage contour. You can see how I did it with Normal mode and the result with Overlay mode:
Step 6
The house looks quite incomplete so make a new layer above the Dodge one. Select the house layer and use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) to grab the right side of the house ( the side from the viewer).
Press Ctrl+C to copy this part and then press Ctrl+V to paste it into the new layer above. Flip it horizontally by choosing Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Move it to the left side of the house.
Step 7
Add a mask to this layer to blend this part with the house:
Step 8
Select the house layers and its relevant ones and press Ctrl+G to make a group for them. Change the mode of this group from Pass Through to Normal 100%. Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the layers within this group:
Step 9
Use a Curves adjustment layer to darken the house and foreground:
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the following parts and leave the dark effect visible at the sides:
Step 10
Drag the firework image into our main canvas and place it behind the cottage. Change this layer mode to Screen 100%:
Step 11
Open the cats image. Use your familiar method to isolate them from the background and place them in the foreground:
Step 12
To make shadow for the cats on the ground, create a new layer under the cats one. Hold Ctrl key while clicking the cats thumbnail layer to load their selection. Fill this selection with black and flip it vertically and then move it under the cats feet:
Lower the opacity to 40% and go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 4 px:
Step 13
Make a new layer and use a soft black brush with the opacity about 30% to paint the missing shadow of the cats on the ground:
Step 14
Use a Color Balance adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to change the cats color a little:
Step 15
Use a Curves adjustment layer to darken the cats:
Paint on the mask of this layer to reveal the light on them:
Step 16
On a new layer, use the Dodge and Burn Tool to refine the light and shadow on the cats:
Step 17
Isolate the hat and put it onto the cats head:
On a separate layer, paint shadow of the hats using a soft black brush:
Step 18
Make a group for the hat layers. Use a Color Balance adjutsment layer and change the Midtones settings:
Step 19
Darken the hats using a Curves adjustment layer:
Step 20
Open the snowfall texture. Use the Retangular Marquee Tool to select the snowfall part only and add it to the current image. Change this layer mode to Screen 100%:
Apply a Gaussian Blur of 2 px to this layer:
Step 21
Use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the effect:
Step 22
Make a Levels adjustment layer to remove the background and make only the snow effect visible:
Step 23
Add a mask to the snowfall texture and use a soft black brush to make the effect appear more subtle:
Step 24
Make a Color Fill layer on top of the layers and pick the color #270e0e. Change this layer mode to Exclusion 100%:
Step 25
Make a Color Balance adjustment layer and change the Midtones and Highlights settings:
Step 26
Create a Photo Filter adjustment layer and pick the color #43efc5:
Step 27
Use a Curves adjustment layer to increase the whole scene contrast:
Step 28
Make a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #c06118 to paint the light effect from the window to the environment around : the ground, the cats and hats. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100%:
Step 29
Use a soft brush with the color #d1bb94 to paint illuminated furs for the cats and make them look more realistic.
And that’s it! If you’re having some issues throughout the tutorial, our Photo Chick will be happy to help you out! Just leave a note below! Hope you had fun trying this out! Happy New Year 2016!