Project #11 - Creating Fantasy Images

This project will take you through the stages of creating the Angel image. You will be mainly using mask selections and layers. As you can see below, the image is made up from three separate photographs: the model, seagull and clouds. The first thing you need to do is take the model and seagull from their original state and place into a new document. Next time you are at the beach - look out for seagulls and other objects such as shells, old logs etc - you can never have enough stock photographs

 

 

 

1. Using the Lasso tool, draw a selection around the seagull's wings. Don't worry about getting the selection perfect just yet, that will be rectified next.

2. With your selection around the wings complete, inverse it [Select... Inverse] and switch to Quick Mask mode by either pressing the Q key or by clicking on the Quick Mask button at the bottom of the Tool Box.

   Select the paintbrush and choose a moderate sized brush. Zoom in closer to the wings and paint in the selection until you have brought the edges up to the wings. When you have done this, press the Q key once more to return back to normal mode.

3. Save the selection [Select... Save Selection] and save the document under a different name in Photoshop's own format (this is in case you have to close down your computer or something, and will save you more work).

4. Make the model document active and repeat steps one through four. You only need the model so you can leave out the yellow fabric surrounding her.

5. You should now have two new files that look something like this:

6. Make the Wings file active and change the size of the canvas [Image... Canvas Size] to approximately double width and 1.5 times height. My new canvas size ended up at 50cm x 15cm.

7. Drag and drop the Model layer onto the Wings document. Rescale her by using the Free Transform command from the edit menu, so she fits within the canvas. Move her down the canvas so waist is just about visible. Line her up with the wings (so you can't see the original seagull's breast.

   When you have positioned the model with the wings, it should look something similar to the image on the right.

8. To tidy up the edges of the Model, select the Defringe option from the Edit menu and Matting sub-menu. Choose a setting of one. Switch to the Wings layer and repeat the process. Save this image in Photoshop format.

   

9. Now we need to bring in a background. Open an image with a decent cloud formation on it. Drag and drop it onto the new Angel file. You will notice straight away that the image within the clouds is far smaller than the Angel file. Not to worry, you just have to stretch the clouds image until it fills the whole canvas by using the Free Transform option from the Edit menu. This will give a more fantasy look.

   When you are satisfied with the new look clouds layer, move it so the Angel and Wings layers are visible, and then flatten the image.

10. And finally, to add to the fantasy look, we'll change the colour of the whole image.Remove all the color by selecting Desaturtate [Image... Adjust... Desaturate].

    Now select the Variations option from the Image menu. When the requestor appears, play around with adding and subtracting different colours. When you are happy with the colour, click OK and save your file