How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

1/27

HOW TO CREATE A DARK SURREALILLUSTRATION IN PHOTOSHOP

Tutorial from

http://psd.tutsplus.com/

Compiled by

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

2/27

INTRODUCTION

In this tutorial we are going to create a dark surreal illustration using a few techniques and ahandful of images. In the end, we will apply stylish color settings and give the illustration thatextra polish it needs to give it that finished look.

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the photographers for giving me permissionto use their images. Without them I could never create this art. Please visit their amazinggalleries:blacksockstock,Wayne Benedet,Drew Hopper,Nikola M., andNicolas Raymond. Now,let's jump into this tutorial!

Step 1:

First, open up the desert image created byNikola M. This is the image you will be working over.Next, duplicate the image by simply pressing Command + J or go to Layer > Duplicate Layerand name it "Sand."

Step 2:

Next, we need an image with really nice grass. The imageDrew Hoppercreated is amazing andperfect for this piece.

After you import the image into the document you will see that the width of the image issmaller then the width of the sand image so you will need to duplicate the grass image a fewtimes and then blend each piece together. To do this you first need to erase a few parts of theduplicated grass images using the Eraser Tool (E), merge all of them. Next, retouch the grassand make the images blend in nicely using the Clone Stamp Tool (S).

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

3/27

Step 3:

Next, erase the upper part of the grass image. Do this using the Pen Tool (P). After you cut outthe trees and sky you will need to make the transition between sand and grass look moreinteresting. Use some brushes that are already installed in Photoshop and create an effectsimilar with the one below.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

4/27

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

5/27

Step 4:

Now you need to import another image. I chose the one photographed byWayne Benedet.Before you import the image you will have to first cut the wind turbines using the Pen Tool (P).Here is a really great tutorial to show you how to use thePen Tool.

After you finish cutting the turbines, position them into place. Next, burn the lower part of theturbines, sand and grass. The image indicates the places you need to use the Burn Tool (O).

Now duplicate the turbines using the Transform Tool (Command + T) and place the turbines onthe sand, make them look like a shadow. Next, make a selection of the turbines and fill themwith black. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and give some blur to the layer. This makes itmore like a shadow. The final step is to use the Warp setting under the Transform Tool andchange the shape of the shadow as you want to make it more real.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

6/27

Step 5:

Next, place a balloon in the upper left side of the image. I used the image photographed byNicolas Raymond. Before you are done, you will need to create a new layer over the balloon andyou need to draw 2 spots over the balloon using a soft brush, like in the image below. Colorcodes are: #c101a4 and #0984bf. Set the layer to Multiply and Opacity to 50%.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

7/27

Step 6:

Now it is time to add in the woman image. The image I used was photographed by

~blacksockstock. Cut her out from the picture using the Pen Tool (P) and place her on thedocument you are working on.

Copy a piece of the wooden legs and place it below her hand. This will give the impression thatthe girl is supporting her body on that wood.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

8/27

Step 7:

Duplicate the girl layer and place it behind the original one. Desaturate it, set it to Hard Lightand Opacity to 75%. In the end, use the Transform Tool (T) with Warp and Distort to make herlook like in the image below. The original woman layer is invisible.

Activate the original woman's layer again so we can see her over the duplicate. Now using theLasso Tool (L) make small selections of the woman's body and drag them around to give a break-apart effect. And one last thing is to make her hair wild. For this I have used a brush providedbygorjuss-stock. Same as you did with the girl, duplicate the hair, desaturate it, and set it toHard Light and Opacity of 75%.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

9/27

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

10/27

Step 8

Create a new layer and spray some color over the image. As you can see, I have used the sameblue I used for the balloon in the top right, the same pink over the girl and a few greens. Afteryou finish applying the spray you need to set the layer to Multiply and Opacity to 60%. Tochoose these colors I used the Eye Picker Tool (I) and picked some colors from my document.

Step 9:

In this step we will use the Brush Tool (B) and using a bubble brush I have provided in thistutorial folder available for thePsd Plus Members. You will need to spray a few bubbles like inthe image below and set the layer to Soft Light.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

11/27

Double-click the layer and in the Blending Options choose Drop Shadow, set it to Multiply with a53 Opacity, 90 for the Angle, 299 Distance, 0 Spread and Size 13. This effect ads shadow on thegrass and makes the bubbles look like they are floating.

Next duplicate the layer and go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur and use a 0 angle and 15%Distance. In the end, set the layer blend mode to Normal and 60% Opacity.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

12/27

Step 10:

Now it's time to create the rain effect. For this you need to make a new layer on top of all theother layers and fill it with black. Then go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise and use 86 for theAmount.

Next go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur, chose a 50 degree angle, and 25 pixels distance. Thenpress Command + L to activate the Level Adjustment and set the Adjustment Shadow InputLevel to 100. Then in the end Scale the "rain" layer and set it to Screen Mode.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

13/27

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

14/27

Step 11:

These are the final steps, where I will use some splat brushes behind the girl and also work

some more on details.

Now you will have to save your work as a JPG, as from now on you will work only with the JPGimage. Then as you open up the JPG you need to add the Adjustment settings represented inthe image below. The project has been done with Photoshop CS4 and the tabs you see theremight be new to you but they can be found in the Adjustments tab.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

15/27

Step 12:

Next up you will have to add in some more effects. For this you can use a plug-in calledTopazLabs. So with your JPG open, go to Filter > Topaz Labs, use the Vibrance Effect and PortraitDrama, these will make the image more interesting.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

16/27

Step 13:

At this point, your image should look like the one below. Now it is time to start taking thisillustration in a dark direction.

Step 14:

First of all you need to duplicate your current layer by pressing Command + J.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

17/27

Step 15:

Next go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and add 244 to the highlight input level.

Step 16:

Next you need to create a new layer and name it "Color Fill 1." Next, go to Create a new fill oradjustment layer and choose Solid Color with this code #0f6465.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

18/27

Step 17:

Set the current layer style to Color Dodge, Opacity 65 and Fill to 37. After this flatten theimage.

Step 18:

Now you will need to set the Color Balance. Change only the Midtones levels 0, -33, 0.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

19/27

Step 19:

Go to Adjustments > Selective Color and use cyan +45% for Red, cyan -14% magenta -18% andyellow +21% for Neutrals, yellow +12% and black +14% for Blacks, yellow +74% for Whites, andthen duplicate the layer.

Step 20:

Next go to Filter > Render > Lightning Effect, and use the settings below, then flatten the

layer and duplicate it again.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

20/27

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

21/27

Step 21:

Use the selective color settings again, but this time change only the Blacks to yellow -20% andblack -11%.

Step 22

Make another Fill Layer as you did in Step 16 but use a different color #0b1a39.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

22/27

Step 23:

Set the layer style to Lighten. Flatten the layer, duplicate the background layer and set theduplicated layer's Fill to 47%.

Step 24:

Again go to Filter > Render > Lightning Effect and use the settings shown below. Merge thelayers and duplicate the layer again.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

23/27

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

24/27

Step 25:

Now it is time to apply another selective color to the layer. Chose Blacks and set yellow to -14%and black +17%.

Step 26:

I must say that the result looks pretty amazing as it is now but I am looking for a darker look.Go to Image > Adjustments > Curves and use the settings below, then duplicate the layer.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

25/27

Step 27:

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation and change the Master Saturation to -100.

Step 28:

Go to Image > Adjustments > Auto Levels. Then set the Background layer Opacity to 96%,flatten the image, then duplicate the background, and set the Fill to 46%. Flatten the imageand duplicate it again.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

26/27

Step 29:

Again you need to go to Image > Adjustments > Selective Color and for Neutrals use magenta+1%, yellow -6%, black +6% and for Blacks use yellow -9% and black +5%.

Step 30:

Make another Fill Layer, this time use this code #39340c. Then set the layer to Lighten and Fillto 8%.

8/8/2019 How to Create a Dark Surreal Illustration in Photoshop

27/27

CONCLUSION

The final step is to flatten the image and use a final Selective Color set to Neutrals as magenta -7%, yellow -12%, and black +24%. Hope you learned something new and had fun. You can viewthe final image below.

Compiled by