Difficulty: Intermediate
Completion Time: 3 Hours
How to Create a Japanese Fantasy Photo-Manipulation – Photoshop Tutorial
In this Japanese fantasy photo-manipulation photoshop tutorial, we are going to learn how to create an Oriental-inspired sunset-landscape with two ninjas on the field, posing against the blazing sun. We are going to learn how to blend images seamlessly together by creating dramatic light on the background; Use the Eraser tool to insert persons into a field; create a Vignette and finally make the image glow using the Gaussian Blur tool.
Preview of Final Results:
TITLE: How to Create a Japanese Fantasy Photo-Manipulation Tutorial in Photoshop
RESOURCES:
Field http://fenne-stock.deviantart.com/art/Field-126158646?
q=boost:popular+in:resources+field&qo=43 – fenne-stock
Sky 1-Stock http://queenaquarius.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2jnihj – QueenAquarius
Digea Moon and Stars http://getbrushes.com/space-photoshop-brushes/digea-moon-and-stars-
brushes.php – Jelena Jovovic
Shinobi 24 http://mjranum-stock.deviantart.com/art/Shinobi-J-24-77348680?
q=boost:popular+gallery:mjranum-stock/1854077&qo=127 – mjranum-stock
Shinobi 40 http://mjranum-stock.deviantart.com/art/shinobi-j-40-77356008?q=gallery:mjranum-stock/
1854077&qo=143 – mjranum-stock
Model 011 http://katibear-stock.deviantart.com/art/Model-011-102743617?
q=boost:popular+model+011&qo=1 – katibear-stock
Step 1: Create the Photoshop document
To start, let’s create a new image file, go to the Menu bar and click File > New, and then input the following values on their respective fields:
Width: 2480 pixels
Height: 3508 pixels
Resolution: 300pixels/inch
Color Mode: RGB Color; 8 bit
Background Contents: Transparent
STEP 2: Create the background
In this step, we will be creating our background. Open “Sky 1-Stock” by fenne-stock.
Once open, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), we will need this tool to select the field.
To use this tool, simply left-click on a point in the image and then drag it until you’ve created a rectangle. See image below:
Once you’ve created a rectangular selection area around the field, activate the Move tool by pressing V on your keyboard and then drag the selected area within the rectangle to our canvas.
Position the field on the canvas as shown on the image below:
To avoid confusion, we will need to rename this layer as “Field”.
Note: Note: To rename a layer, simply double-click on the words: “layer 1” on the Layer window, this will prompt a text box to appear. Once that appears, you may now rename the layer.
Next, we would need to make the edges of the field on the horizon look realistic. To do that, we will need the Eraser tool.
Activate the Eraser tool (E) and right click on the canvas to bring out the brush’s menu.
Once open, scroll down until you’ve seen the brush shown on the image below:
Note: If you couldn’t see that brush clearly, simply do the following steps:
Next, on the Options window set the following for the Eraser tool (E).
Brush size: 50px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
Before we erase, make sure that you set the zoom level to 50% on the Navigator Window for you to accurately use the Eraser tool (E).
Now we’re ready to erase! To start, simply follow the instructions on the images shown below:
The result now should be similar to this:
Next, we would need to remove the two poppies for it will be a distraction for the viewers of the image. To do that, activate the Healing Brush tool by pressing J on your keyboard.
Once activated, change its settings to the following:
Diameter: 175px
Hardness: 100%
Spacing: 25%
Angle: 0%
Roundness: 100%
To use the Healing Brush tool (J), first, get the pattern you wish to copy by pressing Alt + Left-click on an area, and then to apply that, left-click on the region you wanted that on.
See images below:
Apply that technique to the other poppy shown below:
The result should be similar to this:
After that, let us fix the field’s color to make it blend with the rest of the images that will be added. First, select the field and then go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.
When the menu opens, input the following:
Color Levels: +10, -20, +10
Tone Balance: Midtones
Preserve Luminosity: Checked
The result:
Now, we’re done with the field. Let us now proceed to adding the sky.
Open, “sky 1 stock” by QueenAquarius.
Once open, just activate the Move tool (V) and drag that image to our canvas. Rename this layer to “sky” and then position this it below our field. See image below:
Next position the layer as shown on the image below:
Now, we will resize the sky to blend in with the field. To do that, click on the “sky” layer and press CtrL/Cmd + T to activate the Transform tool.
When this tool is activated, you would see a box around the “sky” which has boxes on each side. Resize the image by following the instructions shown on the images below:
Next, we will darken the field to enhance the focus of our viewer to the center of the image.
Let’s start by creating a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N). Once the box opens type “Darken field” on the Name box as seen on the image below:
Next, activate the Brush tool (B). Change the Brush before you proceed, pick the brush shown on the image below:
When you’re done, change the brush settings to the following:
Brush size: 1000px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 50%
Flow: 100%
Note: To reduce or increase the Hardness, right click on the image while the Brush tool (B) is activated, then you’d see the Hardness scale, which is at default – 100%, just move the slider to the left to get 0% or to the right to get 100%.
Now, let’s set the Brush’s color. Click on the Foreground color box as shown on the image below:
Once you’ve done that, the Color Picker box would open. Locate the # box and input the following values: #: 000000
Now, we’re all set to paint!
Next, let’s brighten up the horizon to blend in with the sunset. First, create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then type “Horizon1” on the Name box. Once created, activate the Brush tool (B) and then input the following values:
Brush size: 175px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 30%
Flow: 100%
Activate the Color Picker tool and input the color value below:
#: ffeb99
Let’s start painting.
The result should be similar to the image below:
Next, create another layer and name it “Horizon2”. Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following settings:
Brush size: 500px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 30%
Flow: 100%
Activate the Color Picker tool and input the following:
#: fff7c0
The result should be similar to this:
Finally, when you’re done select all the layers that you’ve created and the press Ctrl/Cmd + G to group these layers. You’d notice that a folder will be created; to see the layers, simply click on the drop-down button. Rename this Group to “Background”.
Note: Renaming a group is similar to renaming a layer.
STEP 3: Create the Moon
In this step, we will add the moon to enhance the feel and atmosphere of our image. First, let’s create a new layer and name it “Moon1”.
Before we paint, make sure that you’ve downloaded the brush pack: “Digea Moon and Stars” by Jelena Jovovic. To open that brush after downloading, simply extract or copy the brush (.abr file) to this destination: Adobe >Adobe Photoshop > Presets > Brushes.
Once you’ve done that, we will now open this brush pack in Photoshop. First, activate the Brush tool (B), and once it’s open right click on the canvas to bring up the menu. When the menu shows up, click on the drop-down menu button located on the upper right portion of the menu. See image below:
After clicking that, a new menu would show up – click on “Load Brushes” from the contextual menu.
When the load brushes box opens, locate the file: “Digea_Moon_and_Stars.abr”
Now, activate your Brush tool (B) again and right click on the canvas. Choose the following brush:
When you’re done, use the following brush settings:
Brush size: 100px
Hardness: Default
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
#: ffffff
Paint the moon on the area shown below:
The result:
Now we will make the moon glow. First, right-click on the layer: “Moon1” and then when a contextual menu opens, click on “Blending Options”.
When the Blending Options menu opens, click on “Outer Glow” from the Styles tab, see image below:
Next, set the following on the Outer Glow Structure menu.
Outer Glow Structure
Blend Mode: Screen
Opacity: 40%
#: ffffe1
Elements:
Technique: Softer
Spread: 0%
Size: 84px
Quality: DEFAULT VALUES
When you’re done, group this layer and name it “Moon”.
STEP 4: Create the First Ninja
Now in this step, we will be adding one of our subjects – the mysterious sun-hatted ninja. To begin, open “Shinobi 24” by mjranum-stock.
To extract the ninja from its background, we would need the help of the Magnetic Lasso Tool (L).
On the image “Shinobi 24”, click on any point around the shinobi and drag your mouse to create an outline over him until you’ve reached your starting point.
After that, activate the Move tool (V) and drag the selected area (ninja) to our canvas. Once on the canvas, rename the layer to “Ninja1”.
Now we don’t want any oversized ninjas on our field, do we? So, click on the “ninja1” layer and then activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + T).
Resize the ninja as seen on the image below:
When you’re done, let’s now use the grass-like eraser to make the ninja blend-in with the field.
Activate the Eraser tool (E) and use the grass brush but before you do that, make sure that you’ve reset your brushes to the default ones.
Brush size: 100px
Hardness: Default
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
Zoom level: 25%
Before you proceed on erasing the ninja’s legs, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and right click on the image. When the contextual menu shows, click on Flip Horizontal.
Now, that “ninja1” is flipped horizontally, you can now use the Eraser tool (E).
After erasing, activate the Transform tool and Flip the “ninja1” layer horizontally once again.
The result should be similar to the following:
When you’re done, activate the Magic Wand tool (W), because we would need to remove the unwanted parts from the background of the ninja’s original image. See image below:
After that, let’s adjust the Brightness and Contrast of the ninja’s layer to make it blend with the background – to do that, simply click on its layer and then go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Once the adjustment layer is open, input the following values on their respective fields:
Brightness: +20
Contrast: -15
The Result:
Next, adjust the color of this ninja to make it blend with the rest of the images.
First, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance. When this adjustment box opens, input the following:
Color Levels: +15, 0, -15
Tone Balance: Midtones
Preserve Luminosity: Checked
It will result to the image shown below:
Now, we will create the dramatic light hitting our ninja. To start, activate the Eraser tool (E) and use the following values:
Brush size: 500px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
When you’re done, select this layer and press Ctrl/Cmd + G to group this layer.
Name this group as “Ninja1”.
STEP 5: Create the Straw hat for the First Ninja
We will be adding a straw hat for the ninja we added in the previous step to make him more mysterious. To start, let’s open the stock image “Model 011” by Katibear Stock.
Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) to extract the hat from the image; and then use the Move tool (V) to transfer it to the canvas. After transferring it to the canvas, rename this layer to “hat”.
Once on the canvas it should appear like on the image shown below:
Activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and reduce its size as seen on the image below:
Next, click on the “hat” layer, activate the Transform tool and then flip it horizontally. We just flipped it so that the field’s pattern on the ninja’s legs would be similar.
Now we’ll change its color. Activate the Color Balance adjustment layer of this image, by going to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance and change the values to the following:
Color Levels: +10, 0, -10
Tone Balance: Midtones
Preserve Luminosity: Checked
Next, change its Brightness/Contrast. Use the following values:
Brightness: -5
Contrast: -20
Now to create the dramatic light on the hat, activate the Eraser tool (E) again. Input the following values before erasing:
Brush size: 500px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
When you’re done, group this lone layer and name it “ninja’s hat”.
STEP 6: Create the Second Ninja
In this step, we will add the other shinobi in this image. First, open “shinobi 40” by mjranum-stock. Use the same process for removing this ninja from its background – use the Magnetic Lasso Tool (L).
Once removed, move it to the canvas and rename it to “ninja2”.
Activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and resize to the scale shown on the image below:
Next, we will erase some parts of his legs to make this ninja blend with its background. Activate the Eraser tool (E) and input the following values:
Brush size: 100px
Hardness: Default
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
Make sure that you’re using the “Grass-brush” and that you have flipped the “ninja2” layer horizontally.
To make it easier for you, try zooming in up to 100%.
After that, flip the layer horizontally once again to put it back to its normal state.
Next, let us adjust the Brightness/Contrast of this layer. Use the following settings:
Brightness: +20
Contrast: -15
Now for its color adjustments, apply the following on the Color Balance adjustment layer:
Color Levels: +15, 0, -15
Tone Balance: Midtones
Preserve Luminosity: Checked
Next, for lighting purposes, activate the Burn tool (O).
When the Burn tool (O) has been activated, input the following values:
Brush size: 300px
Hardness: 0%
Range: Midtones
Exposure: 25%
Finally, let us activate the Eraser tool (E) to give this layer its much deserved theatrical light.
Upon activation of this tool, input the following values:
Brush size: 300px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
The result:
When you’re done, group this layer and name it “Ninja 2”.
STEP 7: Create the Shadows
Now let’s create the shadows of the subjects to make the image more realistic. To start, let’s first create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N). Name this layer: “Shadows of subjects”.
After that, activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following values:
Brush size: 150px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 50%
Flow: 100%
#: 000000
Use the Paint brush on the area shown below:
The result should be similar to the image below:
STEP 8: Create the Vignette
In this step, we will learn how to create a vignette which will help enhance the focus on our subject.
To start, go to the Menu bar and click on File > New and use the same settings we used to create our canvas. (Refer to Step 1).
Take note, the background contents should be: WHITE
Once it has been created, go to Filter > Distort > Lens Correction. Find the tab Vignette and use these settings:
Vignette amount: -100
Midpoint: +50
Now that that’s done drag the vignette to our canvas using the Move tool (V) and put it on top of all the layers that we’ve created, and then set the following:
Blending mode: Multiply
Opacity: 30%
To set the blending mode, simply click on the drop-down menu beside the word “Normal” on the top part of the Layer window. The Opacity is located just beside that drop-down menu as well. See image below:
The unblended Vignette will look like this:
Once the blending mode is set to “Multiply” it would look like this:
STEP 9: Enhance the color of the image
Now, we will be enhancing the feel and atmosphere of the image by giving it a color boost. First, let’s start off by creating a Solid Color adjustment layer. To do that, click on the “Create New Fill/Adjustment layer” button located on the Layer window. See image below:
Once the Solid Color box opens, it would show the Color Picker box. Input the following on the “#” box.
#: 00001b
When you’re done, set the following:
Blending mode: Exclusion
Opacity: 60%
Next, let’s create another Solid Color adjustment layer. This time, let’s input the following color code:
#: 7a5c3e
When done, input the following:
Blending mode: Soft Light
Opacity: 40%
The image should now be similar to this:
After that, create another Solid Color adjustment layer, this time input the following color code:
#: ff7800
Set the following:
Blending mode: Soft Light
Opacity: 15%
The image should be looking much warmer after applying that adjustment layer.
Next, create a Gradient Map adjustment layer.
Gradient Map box opens, choose the following Gradient:
After hitting OK, the image would now be Black and White but we don’t want that, do we? So let’s change its Blending Mode and Opacity to the following:
Blending Mode: Luminosity
Opacity: 70%
The result will be:
Finally, let’s create a Color Balance adjustment layer.
When the Color Balance box opens, input the following on their respective fields:
Color Levels: +15, -10, 0
Tone Balance: Midtones
Preserve Luminosity
The result:
STEP 10: Make the image glow
Now, let’s make the image glow to compliment the radiant sun on the background and the glare that hits the ninjas. To do that we will need to compress all layers first, or simply, flatten the image. To flatten the image, right click on any layer and then choose Flatten from the contextual menu.
Once all the layers have been compressed/flattened, press Ctrl/Cmd + J to duplicate it; click on the duplicated layer and then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
Input the following:
Radius: 16.0 pixels
Once you’ve done that, you’d notice that the image is completely blurry; so to make it glow, we will change the Blending mode of the blurred (duplicated layer) to Lighten and set its Opacity to 35%.
The result should be like this.
STEP 11: Save the file as a TIFF file and as a Jpeg file
Now let’s save the flattened image. You may want to save it as a TIFF file first, from the Format drop-down menu. Saving it in TIFF format would allow you to do some quick changes to the image, like adjustment layers and fill layers without reducing its quality. If you’d edit a Flattened image in TIFF format you would be able to see the difference in the Histogram wherein there are no visible cracks as compared to that of an over-edited JPEG file.
A printed TIFF file which is over edited would still come out nicely as compared to an over edited JPEG file.
When saving in TIFF format, it is recommended to save it in a Compression of NONE.
Finally, when you save in the JPEG format, it is advisable to save it in the highest quality which is 12.
Author’s Comment
I’ve always been a fan of Japanese fantasy characters like the Ninjas and Samurais and Japanese inspired landscapes and scenes. I hope you’d learn form this tutorial as I have enjoyed creating it. Click here to see my portfolio
The straw doesn´t fit to the rest of the image. But otherwise nice tutorial.