Learn How To Create a Dreamy Surreal Scene – Photoshop Tutorial

Vikas Singh Adhikari Posted on 05. Nov, 2012 | Comment in!

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create an conceptual surreal photo manipulation. We are going to learn the process of creating depth of field using a few advance tools. We are going to learn how to blend images so seamlessly that it would look like a single image using the Brush tool, the Eraser tool and several adjustment layers. We will learn how to create light and darkness to make the background look seamless. We are going to learn how to use textures and give life to our image, and we are going to learn how to create a moody, dreamy tone using a few adjustment layers and lighting effects.

Resources Used In This Tutorial

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 Contents should be White.

Step 2

Let’s start with our background so starts with a sky.

Now,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“.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 3

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 4

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

Fill values see as below :

The result should be similar to this:

Now Crate new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette :

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

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.:

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“..

The result should be similar to this:

Step 6

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 7

First off, let’s open the Thorold’s White-Lipped Deer stock in Photoshop. We will be using the deer from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas:

Click the Thorold’s White-Lipped Deer and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the Deer 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 “Deer“:

Now activate transform tool and then make a right click and choose flip horizontal

The result should be similar to this:

Now create new Hue / Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Deer layer and Hue / Saturation) to make a mask.

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

Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Deer layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 8

Activate a new layer and name it “Shadow“. Now activate pen tool (P) and draw some shapes under deer and fill it with black color

Now go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur.

When the Gaussian blur box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now,let’s open the Steampunk goggles in Photoshop. We will be using the Goggles from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Steampunk goggles 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 “Goggles”.

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

Now add vector mask from the bottom of layers palette .

Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 400px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 40%
Flow: 100%
Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 9

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

Click the Old top hat set 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“.

The result should be similar to this:

Now create new Hue / Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Hat layer and Hue / Saturation) to make a mask.

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 10

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 Suitcase 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“.

The result should be similar to this:

Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Suitcase layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Now create new Hue / Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Suitcase layer and Hue / Saturation) to make a mask.

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 11

Now activate a new layer and name it “suitcase shadow“. Activate pen tool (P) and Draw shadows under the suitcase and fill it with black layer.

Now go to Gaussian Blur and When the Gaussian blur box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 12

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

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“.

The result should be similar to this:

Now add vector mask from the bottom of layers palette .

Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 400px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 40%
Flow: 100%
Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

Now create new Hue / Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Lamp layer and Hue / Saturation) to make a mask.

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

Now create new Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Lamp layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 13

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

Click the Retro TV and press p to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the Retro 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 “Retro TV“.

Retro TV layer placed on Lamp layer top as we showing in below image:

Now create new Hue / Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Retro TV layer and Hue / Saturation) to make a mask.

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

Now create new Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Retro TV layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 14

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

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 “eyes“.

The result should be similar to this:

Now create new Hue / Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Eyes layer and Hue / Saturation) to make a mask.

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

The result should be similar to this:

Step 15

Now lets make lamps shadow so activate a new layer and mane it “lamps shadow“.

Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 100px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 40%
Flow: 100%
Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

Now go to Gaussian Blur:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 16

Now 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:

When the Solid color box opens, input the following:

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

The result should be similar to this:

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:

When the Solid color box opens, input the following:

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

The result should be similar to this:

Now 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:

When the Gradient map box opens, input the following:

Change layer blend mode to “Luminosity“.

The result should be similar to this:

Now 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:

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following:

Now 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:

When the Photo Filter box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now 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:

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

The result should be similar to this:

Now 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: