Spectral photo-manipulation

Today I gonna show you how to realize from scratch a ghostly scene in few steps We will use a couple of stock photos and modify them so they will look harmoniously combined In particular we will deal with the burn tool layer masks and some Photoshop filters often overlooked

Preview

Step 1

Open the photo in Photoshop

Step 2

To darken the room duplicate the layer (ctrl+J) and set the duplicated layer blend mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Step 3

Now I donrsquot like this ldquowarmrdquo atmosphere So go to LayergtNew Adjustment LayergtBlack amp White to play a bit with colors Move the cursors to modify the room colors

Step 4

To make the details of the room more evident press shift+alt+ctrl+E to merge all the layers into a new layer Then apply the high pass filter (FiltergtOthergtHigh pass)

Then set the layer blending mode to Overlay Below you can see the difference between the room before and after the effect

Step 5

You can notice there is a light coming from the left there should be a window in front of the bed I want this light stronger as if the entire left wall disappeared To do so we will use a filter that allows you to manage and create light effects As we made in step 4 merge all the layers into a new layer Then go to FiltergtRendergtLighting Effects Here you need to set up the style to ldquoomni blurdquo and then move the light to the left in correspondence with the mirror

Now press shift+ctrl+U to desaturate the layer and set its blending mode to screen The light effects looks perfect now

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Step 1

Open the photo in Photoshop

Step 2

To darken the room duplicate the layer (ctrl+J) and set the duplicated layer blend mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Step 3

Now I donrsquot like this ldquowarmrdquo atmosphere So go to LayergtNew Adjustment LayergtBlack amp White to play a bit with colors Move the cursors to modify the room colors

Step 4

To make the details of the room more evident press shift+alt+ctrl+E to merge all the layers into a new layer Then apply the high pass filter (FiltergtOthergtHigh pass)

Then set the layer blending mode to Overlay Below you can see the difference between the room before and after the effect

Step 5

You can notice there is a light coming from the left there should be a window in front of the bed I want this light stronger as if the entire left wall disappeared To do so we will use a filter that allows you to manage and create light effects As we made in step 4 merge all the layers into a new layer Then go to FiltergtRendergtLighting Effects Here you need to set up the style to ldquoomni blurdquo and then move the light to the left in correspondence with the mirror

Now press shift+ctrl+U to desaturate the layer and set its blending mode to screen The light effects looks perfect now

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Step 3

Now I donrsquot like this ldquowarmrdquo atmosphere So go to LayergtNew Adjustment LayergtBlack amp White to play a bit with colors Move the cursors to modify the room colors

Step 4

To make the details of the room more evident press shift+alt+ctrl+E to merge all the layers into a new layer Then apply the high pass filter (FiltergtOthergtHigh pass)

Then set the layer blending mode to Overlay Below you can see the difference between the room before and after the effect

Step 5

You can notice there is a light coming from the left there should be a window in front of the bed I want this light stronger as if the entire left wall disappeared To do so we will use a filter that allows you to manage and create light effects As we made in step 4 merge all the layers into a new layer Then go to FiltergtRendergtLighting Effects Here you need to set up the style to ldquoomni blurdquo and then move the light to the left in correspondence with the mirror

Now press shift+ctrl+U to desaturate the layer and set its blending mode to screen The light effects looks perfect now

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Step 4

To make the details of the room more evident press shift+alt+ctrl+E to merge all the layers into a new layer Then apply the high pass filter (FiltergtOthergtHigh pass)

Then set the layer blending mode to Overlay Below you can see the difference between the room before and after the effect

Step 5

You can notice there is a light coming from the left there should be a window in front of the bed I want this light stronger as if the entire left wall disappeared To do so we will use a filter that allows you to manage and create light effects As we made in step 4 merge all the layers into a new layer Then go to FiltergtRendergtLighting Effects Here you need to set up the style to ldquoomni blurdquo and then move the light to the left in correspondence with the mirror

Now press shift+ctrl+U to desaturate the layer and set its blending mode to screen The light effects looks perfect now

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Then set the layer blending mode to Overlay Below you can see the difference between the room before and after the effect

Step 5

You can notice there is a light coming from the left there should be a window in front of the bed I want this light stronger as if the entire left wall disappeared To do so we will use a filter that allows you to manage and create light effects As we made in step 4 merge all the layers into a new layer Then go to FiltergtRendergtLighting Effects Here you need to set up the style to ldquoomni blurdquo and then move the light to the left in correspondence with the mirror

Now press shift+ctrl+U to desaturate the layer and set its blending mode to screen The light effects looks perfect now

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Step 5

You can notice there is a light coming from the left there should be a window in front of the bed I want this light stronger as if the entire left wall disappeared To do so we will use a filter that allows you to manage and create light effects As we made in step 4 merge all the layers into a new layer Then go to FiltergtRendergtLighting Effects Here you need to set up the style to ldquoomni blurdquo and then move the light to the left in correspondence with the mirror

Now press shift+ctrl+U to desaturate the layer and set its blending mode to screen The light effects looks perfect now

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Step 6

Itrsquos time to introduce the first character of the scene a melancholy child After downloaded the image extract the boy with the pen tool and merge him into the Photoshop document Then press ctrl+T to re-size the kid and put him on the bed

Step 7

Since light comes from the left of the scene we have to create the shadow effect of the boy on his left Create a layer and move it below the kidrsquos layer Grab a large soft (hardness 0) black brush and paint to create the shadow Reduce a bit the layer opacity and create other layers with other shadow effect If you use several layers with different opacities the final result will look more realistic

Step 8

To darken more the boy and to make his color contrasts stronger grab the Burn tool in Shadows mode Reduce exposure to around 50 and paint over the boy in particular on his left (shadow area)

Step 9

The kid is too mush saturated So press ctrl+U and reduce saturation to -35

Step 10

To create the ghostly presence Irsquove used another beautiful shot of a child realized by Angi Nelson Extract the child with the pen tool and paste her into the document

Step 8

To darken more the boy and to make his color contrasts stronger grab the Burn tool in Shadows mode Reduce exposure to around 50 and paint over the boy in particular on his left (shadow area)

Step 9

The kid is too mush saturated So press ctrl+U and reduce saturation to -35

Step 10

To create the ghostly presence Irsquove used another beautiful shot of a child realized by Angi Nelson Extract the child with the pen tool and paste her into the document

Step 9

The kid is too mush saturated So press ctrl+U and reduce saturation to -35

Step 10

To create the ghostly presence Irsquove used another beautiful shot of a child realized by Angi Nelson Extract the child with the pen tool and paste her into the document

Step 10

To create the ghostly presence Irsquove used another beautiful shot of a child realized by Angi Nelson Extract the child with the pen tool and paste her into the document

Go to EditgtTransformgtFlip Horizontal Then re-size and rotate the child (ctrl+T) so she will look oriented in the direction of the boy

Add a layer mask and use a large soft black brush to gently eliminate the bottom of the child

Add a layer mask and use a large soft black brush to gently eliminate the bottom of the child

Step 11

To transmit the idea of a ghostly presence duplicate the ladyrsquos layer by pressing ctrl+J Then go to FiltergtBlurgtMotion Blur and enter a distance around 80 pixels

Then using the mask eliminate the head from the duplicate layer In this way the head of the original layer will appear without the blur effect

Step 12

As we made with the boy reduce the saturation (ctrl+U)

Step 13

Create a new layer an set its blending mode to overlay Then grab a soft white brush and paint over the child to create a light effect Reduce the opacity of the layer if necessary

Step 14

Select all the layers of the flying spectral presence and group them (ctrl+G) Then add a layer mask to the group and eliminate another part of the child Then reduce the opacity of the group to 80 Here is how my ghostly child looks at this stage

Step 15

To increase the dark effect on the right I created a new group of layers where Irsquove painted on using black soft brushes

Step 16

Itrsquos time for the last adjustment layers Letrsquos start with the Vibrance layer (LayergtNew Adjustment layergtVibrance) to lower down saturation to -30

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

Step 12

As we made with the boy reduce the saturation (ctrl+U)

Step 13

Create a new layer an set its blending mode to overlay Then grab a soft white brush and paint over the child to create a light effect Reduce the opacity of the layer if necessary

Step 14

Select all the layers of the flying spectral presence and group them (ctrl+G) Then add a layer mask to the group and eliminate another part of the child Then reduce the opacity of the group to 80 Here is how my ghostly child looks at this stage

Step 15

To increase the dark effect on the right I created a new group of layers where Irsquove painted on using black soft brushes

Step 16

Itrsquos time for the last adjustment layers Letrsquos start with the Vibrance layer (LayergtNew Adjustment layergtVibrance) to lower down saturation to -30

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

Step 13

Create a new layer an set its blending mode to overlay Then grab a soft white brush and paint over the child to create a light effect Reduce the opacity of the layer if necessary

Step 14

Select all the layers of the flying spectral presence and group them (ctrl+G) Then add a layer mask to the group and eliminate another part of the child Then reduce the opacity of the group to 80 Here is how my ghostly child looks at this stage

Step 15

To increase the dark effect on the right I created a new group of layers where Irsquove painted on using black soft brushes

Step 16

Itrsquos time for the last adjustment layers Letrsquos start with the Vibrance layer (LayergtNew Adjustment layergtVibrance) to lower down saturation to -30

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

Step 14

Select all the layers of the flying spectral presence and group them (ctrl+G) Then add a layer mask to the group and eliminate another part of the child Then reduce the opacity of the group to 80 Here is how my ghostly child looks at this stage

Step 15

To increase the dark effect on the right I created a new group of layers where Irsquove painted on using black soft brushes

Step 16

Itrsquos time for the last adjustment layers Letrsquos start with the Vibrance layer (LayergtNew Adjustment layergtVibrance) to lower down saturation to -30

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

Step 15

To increase the dark effect on the right I created a new group of layers where Irsquove painted on using black soft brushes

Step 16

Itrsquos time for the last adjustment layers Letrsquos start with the Vibrance layer (LayergtNew Adjustment layergtVibrance) to lower down saturation to -30

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

Step 16

Itrsquos time for the last adjustment layers Letrsquos start with the Vibrance layer (LayergtNew Adjustment layergtVibrance) to lower down saturation to -30

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

Then use the Color Balance layer (LayersgtNew Adjustment LayersgtColor balance) to modify the colors of the entire scene I played with the options to turn the atmosphere from ldquonormalrdquo to ldquospectralrdquo with a blue cold room as result

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

And here is the result

Step 17

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website

The last touch merge all the layers into a new layer (shift+alt+ctrl+E) then switch the layer blending mode to Color Burn with opacity 30

Finito For every problem or suggestion you can use the comments-)

Official Website