Scene synthesis, use PS to synthesize an abstract surreal science fiction character – photo synthesis

This tutorial uses PS to create an abstract science fiction portrait. The entire creation uses space background and landscape images to build the basic scene. Next, we will add models, create several lighting effects, create abstract elements, add planets, and complete the space background. The whole thing feels like a science fiction movie. Several adjustment layers and light drawing are used to complete the final effect. The students need to do it themselves to know how to do it.

Rendering:

Operation steps:

1. How to build a basic scene

Step 1

Create a new 3000 x 1637 px document in Photoshop using the given settings:

Step 2

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color and select the color #393356.

Step 3

Open the space background image 1 pack. I selected a blue one and used the Move Tool (V) to drag this image onto our main canvas.

Step 4

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer above the Space 1 image and set it as a Clipping Mask. Change the main value to change the background color to purple (similar to color fill background)

Step 5

Make a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the background of the space. On this layer mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) and use a soft round black frame to erase the top sides. Our goal is to have the main light source coming from the top middle, so the sides should be darker than that area.

Step 6

Create another “Curves” adjustment layer to darken the sides of the background. On the layer mask, use a soft black brush to paint over the middle section so that it won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 7

Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to the background layer. Use a soft black brush with a lower opacity (about 20-25%) to reduce the visibility of the stars on the background.

Step 8

Drag the landscape image into the main document and place it in the lower part. Use a layer mask to remove the sky and mountains on the horizon.

Step 9

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the pattern. Change the Midtones and Highlights values, and on this layer, use a soft brush with black with a lower Opacity to reduce the magenta to some shadow areas.

Step 10

Create a “Curves” adjustment layer to darken the landscape. Use this layer mask to reduce the dark effect on some of the bright details on the surface.

2. How to modify the model

Step 1

Cut out the model and place her in the middle section. Use a layer mask to remove the hard edges of her body and blend her face with the existing background.

Step 2

Create a “Curves” adjustment layer to reduce the brightness of the model’s face. On this layer mask, paint on the upper and lower parts of the face to reduce the shadow effect there.

Step 3

Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100%, and fill it with 50% gray.

Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with the Midtones Range and expose about 5-10% to improve some details on her face. You can see how I got the results using normal mode and overlay mode.

3. How to create lighting effects

Step 1

Open the light image 1 pack. I selected image 03 and placed it on the main canvas. Go to Filter > Liquify Tool and select the Rotate Clockwise Tool (C). Use this tool to resize an image into a rotated image. You should get results similar to those shown below.

Step 2

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to remove the hard edges and softly visible rotation around the model’s face.

Step 3

Use this image again and adjust it to get a similar result to these images and place them over the eyes. Change the mode of these layers to Linear Dodge 100%.

​

Step 4

Select all lighting layers and press Control-G to create a group for them. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and add a Channel Mixer adjustment layer to change the color effect to a light purple.

Step 5

Use a Levels adjustment layer to make the effect appear more subtle.

Step 6

Create a new layer below the Lights 1 group. Use a soft brush with the color #fad8fa and an opacity of about 30% to paint highlights on the model’s eyes.

Step 7

Open the light image package. Choose an image you like (I chose the red image) and move it to the head of the model. Use the Free Transform Tool (Control-T) to change the perspective of the image so that the light falls from above.

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to remove the hard edges and unnecessary details around the head.

Step 8

Duplicate this layer and flip it horizontally (Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal). Paint on its layer mask to remove most of the light, leaving some visible light on the left (from the viewer’s perspective).

Step 9

Create a group for the light layer and change the mode of this group to Linear Dodge 100%. Use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and adjust the main value:

Step 10

Add a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the light.

Step 11

Open the light 1 image package. Select Image 012 to add to the model’s face and change the mode to Linear Dodge 100%. Use Control-T to rotate the image so that the highlight of the image appears on top of the light.

Use a layer mask to remove much of the image, leaving some brightness and color effects on the sides and top of the model.

Step 12

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the colors of the effect.

Step 13

Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to slightly change the color of the effect.

Step 14

Use a Levels adjustment layer to make the effect more subtle. The selected area shows where the paint is on the layer mask.

Step 15

Open the light 2 image package. Select image 5 and add it to the main canvas, then change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

Use a layer mask to remove the hard edges of the image so that the effect is only visible on the model’s face.

Step 16

Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and change the main settings:

Step 17

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer to enhance the color of the effect.

Step 18

Create a “Curves” adjustment layer to make the effect brighter and more pronounced. On this layer mask, paint on the left side and lower part of the face so that these areas are less affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 19

Create a new layer on top of the other layers and paint on the upper part of the model face using a soft brush with the color #bf4d83 and an opacity of about 30%. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

4. How to make abstract decoration

Step 1

Open the abstract texture image and drag this image onto our main document. Set this layer above the model layer and below the eyes.

Use the Liquify tool to adjust this image to look like this:

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and add a mask to this layer and remove most of the result, as shown below:

Step 2

Use the Liquify tool to adjust this image again into many different forms and arrange it around the model and aperture. Use your imagination and don’t stop until you feel goodCome down!

Step 3

Create a group for these layers and change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment to change the color of the effect from red to yellow. On the layer mask, paint some details so that they are less affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 4

Use the Curves adjustment layer to reduce the visibility of the effect.

Step 5

Add a mask to this group and use a soft black brush to lower the visibility of the effect again to make it more subtle.

5. How to add planets

Step 1

Download the planets at the angle you want, or use your own resources. Place the planet on the aperture and duplicate it twice. Use Control-T to change its size and arrange it around the circle. Place the planet layer below the light group.

Add a mask to each planet layer so that the planet fades into the background.

Step 2

Use Control-G to group all planet layers into a new folder. Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the planet.

Step 3

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer and change the midtones settings. On this layer mask, paint over the shadow areas of the planet so they aren’t too blue.

Step 4

Use a Curves adjustment layer to bring more light to the front of the planet. Paint over their shadow areas to maintain their brightness and contrast.

6. How to complete the space background

Step 1

To create more detail and texture for the sky, open the Space Background 2 image pack and select Image 3 (or any image you like or your own resource). Drag it to the main canvas and change the mode to Screen 100%. Set this layer on top of the other layers.

Use a layer mask to make the cloud details appear subtle around the model and aperture.

Step 2

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to remove the effect completely.

Step 3

Make a Levels adjustment layer to reduce the visibility and brightness of the effect.

7. How to make final adjustments

Step 1

Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer on top of the layer and select the colors #a58869 and #94ece5. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 90% and use a soft black brush to paint on both sides of the landscape to reduce the effect of this adjustment layer.

Step 2

Make a color balance adjustment layer and change the midtones, shadows and highlight values.

Step 3

Add another Gradient Map adjustment layer and select the colors #808080 and #bbccee. Change this layer mode to Hard Light 70% and paint on the model’s faces to lower their brightness.

Step 4

Create a Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the light and color of your scene.

Step 5

Make another Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the effect. Paint over the top of the landscape and the lower half of the model to make sure they don’t become too blue.

Step 6

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #200120 to paint on the lower part of the canvas to create some reflected light there. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use the layer mask to reduce the visibility of the effect in the lower areas of the scene.

Step 7

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with color to paint underneath the #e192e0 aperture. Change this layer mode to Overlay 100%.

Step 8

Create a Curves adjustment layer to change the color of the entire scene.

Step 9

Use another “Curves” adjustment layer with the same purpose. The paint is on the lower part so it’s not too magenta.

Step 10

Add another Curves adjustment layer to brighten the left part of the model and the aperture. Paint over the rest so it won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Complete:

Synthesizing the primary colors of the scene is the key. Students can create photos with their own characteristics based on the tutorial ideas.

This tutorial uses PS to create an abstract science fiction portrait. The entire creation uses space background and landscape images to build the basic scene. Next, we will add models, create several lighting effects, create abstract elements, add planets, and complete the space background. The whole thing feels like a science fiction movie. Several adjustment layers and light drawing are used to complete the final effect. The students need to do it themselves to know how to do it.

Rendering:

Operation steps:

1. How to build a basic scene

Step 1

Create a new 3000 x 1637 px document in Photoshop using the given settings:

Step 2

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color and select the color #393356.

Step 3

Open the space background image 1 pack. I selected a blue one and used the Move Tool (V) to drag this image onto our main canvas.

Step 4

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer above the Space 1 image and set it as a Clipping Mask. Change the main value to change the background color to purple (similar to color fill background)

Step 5

Make a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the background of the space. On this layer mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) and use a soft round black frame to erase the top sides. Our goal is to have the main light source coming from the top middle, so the sides should be�Darker than the area.

Step 6

Create another “Curves” adjustment layer to darken the sides of the background. On the layer mask, use a soft black brush to paint over the middle section so that it won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 7

Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to the background layer. Use a soft black brush with a lower opacity (about 20-25%) to reduce the visibility of the stars on the background.

Step 8

Drag the landscape image into the main document and place it in the lower part. Use a layer mask to remove the sky and mountains on the horizon.

Step 9

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the pattern. Change the Midtones and Highlights values, and on this layer, use a soft brush with black with a lower Opacity to reduce the magenta to some shadow areas.

Step 10

Create a “Curves” adjustment layer to darken the landscape. Use this layer mask to reduce the dark effect on some of the bright details on the surface.

2. How to modify the model

Step 1

Cut out the model and place her in the middle section. Use a layer mask to remove the hard edges of her body and blend her face with the existing background.

Step 2

Create a “Curves” adjustment layer to reduce the brightness of the model’s face. On this layer mask, paint on the upper and lower parts of the face to reduce the shadow effect there.

Step 3

Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100%, and fill it with 50% gray.

Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with the Midtones Range and expose about 5-10% to improve her face.��Some details. You can see how I got the results using normal mode and overlay mode.

3. How to create lighting effects

Step 1

Open the light image 1 pack. I selected image 03 and placed it on the main canvas. Go to Filter > Liquify Tool and select the Rotate Clockwise Tool (C). Use this tool to resize an image into a rotated image. You should get results similar to those shown below.

Step 2

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to remove the hard edges and softly visible rotation around the model’s face.

Step 3

Use this image again and adjust it to get a similar result to these images and place them over the eyes. Change the mode of these layers to Linear Dodge 100%.

​

Step 4

Select all lighting layers and press Control-G to create a group for them. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and add a Channel Mixer adjustment layer to change the color effect to a light purple.

Step 5

Use a Levels adjustment layer to make the effect appear more subtle.

Step 6

Create a new layer below the Lights 1 group. Use a soft brush with the color #fad8fa and an opacity of about 30% to paint highlights on the model’s eyes.

Step 7

Open the light image package. Choose an image you like (I chose the red image) and move it to the head of the model. Use the Free Transform Tool (Control-T) to change the perspective of the image so that the light falls from above.

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to remove the hard edges and unnecessary details around the head.

Step 8

Duplicate this layer and flip it horizontally (Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal). Paint on its layer mask to remove most of the light, leaving some visible light on the left (from the viewer’s perspective).

Step 9

Create a group for the light layer and change the mode of this group to Linear Dodge 100%. Use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and adjust the main value:

Step 10

Add a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the light.

Step 11

Open the light 1 image package. Select Image 012 to add to the model’s face and change the mode to Linear Dodge 100%. Use Control-T to rotate the image so that the highlight of the image appears on top of the light.

Use a layer mask to remove much of the image, leaving some brightness and color effects on the sides and top of the model.

Step 12

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the colors of the effect.

Step 13

Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to slightly change the color of the effect.

Step 14

Use a Levels adjustment layer to make the effect more subtle. The selected area shows where the paint is on the layer mask.

Step 15

Open the light 2 image package. Select image 5 and add it to the main canvas, then change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

Use a layer mask to remove the hard edges of the image so that the effect is only visible on the model’s face.

Step 16

Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and change the main settings:

Step 17

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer to enhance the color of the effect.

Step 18

Create a “Curves” adjustment layer to make the effect brighter and more pronounced. On this layer mask, paint on the left side and lower part of the face so that these areas are less affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 19

Create a new layer on top of the other layers and paint on the upper part of the model face using a soft brush with the color #bf4d83 and an opacity of about 30%. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

4. How to make abstract decoration

Step 1

Open the abstract texture image and drag this image onto our main document. Set this layer above the model layer and below the eyes.

Use the Liquify tool to adjust this image to look like this:

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and add a mask to this layer and remove most of the result, as shown below:

Step 2

Use the Liquify tool to adjust this image again into many different forms and arrange it around the model and aperture. Use your imagination and don’t stop until you feel good!

Step 3

Create a group for these layers and change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment to change the color of the effect from red to yellow. On the layer mask, paint some details so that they are less affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 4

Use the Curves adjustment layer to reduce the visibility of the effect.

Step 5

Add a mask to this group and use a soft black brush to lower the visibility of the effect again to make it more subtle.

5. How to add planets

Step 1

Download the planets at the angle you want, or use your own resources. Place the planet on the aperture and duplicate it twice. Use Control-T to change its size and arrange it around the circle. Place the planet layer below the light group.

Add a mask to each planet layer so that the planet fades into the background.

Step 2

Use Control-G to group all planet layers into a new folder. Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the planet.

Step 3

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer and change the midtones settings. On this layer mask, paint over the shadow areas of the planet so they aren’t too blue.

Step 4

Use a Curves adjustment layer to bring more light to the front of the planet. Paint over their shadow areas to maintain their brightness and contrast.

6. How to complete the space background

Step 1

To create more detail and texture for the sky, open the Space Background 2 image pack and select Image 3 (or any image you like or your own resource). Drag it to the main canvas and change the mode to Screen 100%. Set this layer on top of the other layers.

Use a layer mask to make the cloud details appear subtle around the model and aperture.

Step 2

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to remove the effect completely.

Step 3

Make a Levels adjustment layer to reduce the visibility and brightness of the effect.

7. How to make final adjustments

Step 1

Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer on top of the layer and select the colors #a58869 and #94ece5. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 90% and use a soft black brush to paint on both sides of the landscape to reduce the effect of this adjustment layer.

Step 2

Make a color balance adjustment layer and change the midtones, shadows and highlight values.

Step 3

Add another Gradient Map adjustment layer and select the colors #808080 and #bbccee. Change this layer mode to Hard Light 70% and paint on the model’s faces to lower their brightness.

Step 4

Create a Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the light and color of your scene.

Step 5

Make another Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the effect. Paint over the top of the landscape and the lower half of the model to make sure they don’t become too blue.

Step 6

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #200120 to paint on the lower part of the canvas to create some reflected light there. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use the layer mask to reduce the visibility of the effect in the lower areas of the scene.

Step 7

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with color to paint underneath the #e192e0 aperture. Change this layer mode to Overlay 100%.

Step 8

Create a Curves adjustment layer to change the color of the entire scene.

Step 9

Use another “Curves” adjustment layer with the same purpose. The paint is on the lower part so it’s not too magenta.

Step 10

Add another Curves adjustment layer to brighten the left part of the model and the aperture. Paint over the rest so it won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Complete:

Synthesizing the primary colors of the scene is the key. Students can create photos with their own characteristics based on the tutorial ideas.