Create a Photoshop Mermaid Image Manipulation

step 1

OK, lets get started. Begin by opening ‘gymnast.jpg’ that you just downloaded then grab the Rectangle Marquee tool. Right-click and select Color Range. Select the highlighted areas of your model with the Color Picker and then set the Fuzziness level to 200 Click OK and select the Channels palette, activating the Save Selection as Channel icon.

Step 2

This will create a new Alpha layer. Press Ctrl-D, and then select a hard-edged white brush and paint in all the detail you wish to keep. Use a black brush to paint out all the detail you don’t want. Utilise the ZOOM function to get in really close and be precise. Once you’re satisfied, Ctrl/Apple-click your Alpha Channel and select your Layers palette.

Step 3

Copy > Paste your model into a new document. Clean up the edges if necessary. Now we need to make our figure’s dry skin seem slick, so start by selecting the Channels palette and duplicating the Blue channel. With this copy layer active, press Ctrl+M, activating the Curves dialog box. Now steepen the curve as above.

setep 4

Select Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, setting a 3px Radius.

Now select the layers palette, activating the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer icon, selecting Curves from the options. Centre your curve so that the image becomes much lighter. Then press Ctrl/Apple+l, inverting the layer. Apply Curves Layer, applying extreme shadows this time, before inverting once more.

Step 5

Name the two Curves layers ‘Lights’ and ‘Darks’. The image. seems unaltered, but this will all change. Select a soft-edged white brush, set at 10% Opacity. Now apply this to your Lights layer to bring out highlights – activating your earlier Blue Copy channel will help. Likewise, apply the brush to your Dark layer raise the shadows. Now duplicate your Model layer.

Step 6

With this copy layer active, select Filter>Artistic>Plastic Wrap. Apply Highlight Strength of 4, Detail of 13 and Smoothness of 10 before hitting OK. Now select Plastic Wrap once again and hit OK straight away. Making sure this layer is above your original Model layer and beneath the adjustment layers. Decrease the Opacity to 60% and apply a layer mask, editing away interference in the black areas.

TIP : Let it do the dirty work
If faced with the Extract filter for the first time, you may find it a bit time-consuming and at times stressful. For best results you really must take your time in your application and you’ll reap the benefits. Having said that – there are ways to speed the process. If your water splash is a dense form, then you’ll probably be better off using the Color Range command and using the Highlight option from the Select Sampled Color menu. You can then use masks and some Magic Wand treatment in order to clean up your layer.

Step 7

Now open ‘iStock_000004672782Large. jpg’ and select the Pen Shape tool, drawing around the dolphin.

Ctrl/right-click your Shape layer, selecting Rasterize, then Ctrl/Apple-click the layer and Copy>Paste into your model composition.

Use the Edit> Transform functions to relocate this Dolphin layer appropriately, and then apply a layer mask.

 

 STEP 8


Ctrl/Apple-click the Model layer thumbnail, making an active selection. Select a soft-edged black brush at 20-30% Opacity and apply to the Dolphin layer, integrating the two forms. Also, mask out your model’s legs. Proceed by opening ’92471 O_42465913.jpg’ and as before Cut>Copy>Paste your desired shell into the image, resizing and placing it with the Transform options.

Step 9

Press Ctrl+M, adding the appropriate exposure as before. Now hide your background layer and press Shift+AIt+Ctrl/Apple, creating a new Mermaid layer Open the ’847822_21856184.jpg’ and Copy>Paste the new layer into this image. Once again use Edit>Transform>Scale to re size your mermaid appropriately, lining it against the horizon.

Step 10

You’ll now have to correct the exposure of your mermaid to integrate her into the rest of the composition, so begin by selecting Gradient Overlay from the New Adjustment Layer options, found at the foot of the Layers palette. Set a black-to-white, Forward to Background gradient with a Linear Burn at 50% Opacity. Set the Angle to 72 degrees.

Step 11 – Lighting Effects

Create a new layer, then press Shift+F5 and activate the Fill options. Set the Contents Use to White and click OK. Place this layer beneath your background layer, naming it ‘White’. Next, apply layer masks to both the background and Mermaid layer, and with a soft-edged 30% Opacity brush, proceed to erase the edges of the mermaid and background that meet the horizon.

 STEP 12


Now it’s time to make a splash, quite literally. First we lay the groundwork, so proceed to select the Elliptical Marquee tool, hold Shift and drag, creating a good sized circle. With the background layer active, Copy>Paste from this layer, naming it ‘Ripple’. Ctrl/Apple-click this new layer, making an active selection, and then select Filter>Blur> Radial Blur.

TIP : Touch Up
Instead of having to go through the rigmarole of applying numerous adjustment layers to create exposure, consider applying a Neutral-Overlay layer. You can apply it by Shift-clicking the Create a New layer icon at the foot of the Layers palette. Set the layer mode to Overlay and activate the Fill With Overlay Neutral colour (50% grey). You’ll now have a grey layer but no on-screen effect. Selecting a soft-edged, 10% Opacity brush, you can apply exposure. White tone creates highlights, black tone creates shadows. You can touch up skyline, water and skin tone in this way.

Step 13

Apply a Radial Blur Amount of 20, Blur Method of Spin, set at Best Quality. Select a corresponding foreground color from the image with the Color Picker, Background set to White, and go to Filter > Sketch> Bas Relief. Set Detail Amount to 13, Smoothness to 3, then shape into an oval corresponding with the perspective. Set a Pin Light blend mode.

Step 14

Next, apply a layer mask, selecting a soft-edged brush at 20% Opacity, and integrate the layer edges. Create a new layer named ‘Splash’ and select a white Spatter 46px brush. Select the Brush Tip Shape options from the Brushes palette, increasing Spacing to 40%. With only Shape Dynamics set, increase the Size and Angle Jitter to 60%, turning off Pen Pressure.

The more perceptive among you would have noticed that i have changed to Adobe CS4 half way through the tutorial! I must say i love the new version. If you can, grab a copy.

Step 15

Set the Brush Opacity back to 100%, switch your foreground color to white and apply generously with your new brush. Next, activate Lock Transparent Pixels from the Layers palette.

Then select Filter > Render > Clouds followed by Filter> Artistic > Plastic Wrap. Set Highlight Strength to 20, Detail to 1, Smoothness to 15. Now select Filter > Sketch > Chrome.
 STEP 16


Set Detail Amount to 3, Smoothness to 8. Now select Edit> Transform>Warp and narrow the perspective of the top of this layer, then drag the central point down, creating a form as in the example above. Selecting the Smudge tool from the toolbar. start to knead this watery form, creating irregularity, and then set a Hard Light blend mode.

Step 17

Now apply a layer mask, integrating with your 20% soft-edged brush. Open the ’596892_21546617.jpg’ and select Filter>Extract. In the Extract dialog, set Extraction Smoothness to between 20-30 and completely paint out the water using the Edge Highlighter tool. Now activate Force Foreground and select the Eyedropper tool.

Step 18

Click inside the object to sample the most relevant splash tone, then click OK and you’ll be left with a perfect sample of water spray. You should be able to Copy-Paste it into your composition, and have a realistic water splash. Open the ’846939_ 43988387.jpg’ image of a car and do likewise to the splash to the left of the Jeep. Now duplicate this layer several times.

STEP 19


You can now use your Transform options to reposition these Splash layers, and once satisfied merge them into one single Big Splash layer, placing it above all others. Again, use a layer mask to tidy up and then select Add Layer Style>Gradient Overlay. Set a Foreground to Transparent gradient, Linear Light mode at 25%. Set the angle to -155 degrees.

Step 20

Open the Gradient Editor options and set a brown tone, 81643B, Location of 40%. Apply a Hard Light mode again at 85% Opacity. Open ’957011_ 81778595.jpg’, extract and apply all over again as before. Use the Transform options to shape and position up the mermaid’s tail. Duplicate your earlier Ripple layer several times and place these appropriately, creating an authentic splash effect.

Step 21

Select Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer at the foot of the Layers palette, choosing Photo Filter. Set a Warming filter (85) with a 50% Density. Place this new adjustment layer above all others and apply an Overlay blend mode, 35% Opacity. All that’s really left to do now is tweak your effects and add whatever else you see fit – perhaps a reflection – before sitting back and admiring the view!

The Final ImageClick To Enlarge