Tutorials

How to Create an Emotional Photo Manipulation of an Angel

December 8, 2023
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Learn how to use Photoshop to create this emotional photo manipulation. You will learn techniques such as creating smooth skin, creating a soft blue color tone, adding floating feathers, and more.

Preview of Final Result

Emotional Photo Manipulation of an Angel Photoshop Tutorial

Tutorial Resources

Step 1

Place a part of your background image as shown below.
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Step 2

Go to Filter>Blur>gaussian blur and choose the desired value.
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Step 3

Add the adjustment layers below: Hue/Saturation 0 -38 0 Color balance 0 -20 0
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Step 4

Now working with the model. Place your model’s image where you want or as shown here. Choose your pen tool and cut it around the model’s body. You can use any other tool you’re familiar with, but make sure to always have a mask on the original image. Sometimes, using my graphics tablet, I find it better to mask the model’s image and use the eraser to isolate her from the background.
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Step 5

Add layer masks to the model’s layer as shown below. Tip: You can add those masks by pressing Ctrl+Alt+G or simply press Alt between every 2 layers on the layers palette. Make sure they are with the same order (Curves, Color Balance, Hue/saturation).
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Step 6

This will be the result.
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Step 7

Select the model’s layer and go to layer>layer style>Inner shadow and apply the values shown below.
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Step 8

This is how it should look like. You can also try an inner glow. Those two ways will soften the hard edges of the model.
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Step 9

Convert the model’s layer into a smart object by right-clicking on the layer of the model and selecting convert to smart object. Don’t panic, you can always go back to the original layer mask and layer style by double-clicking on that layer. Now select Filter>Blur>Surface blur with Radius: 10 and Threshold: 30 Select your smart filter mask (the white box) and fill it with black (9a). Tip1: If white was your background color and black was your foreground color select Alt+backspace. If it was the opposite, select Ctrl+backspace. Tip2: To choose default colors (Black and white) press D. To switch between foreground and background colors press Shift+X Select the brush tool and paint with white the hands and parts of the face. This will apply the effect of the surface blur therefore the skin will become softer. (9b) Be careful not to blur the mouth, nose edges, and eyes because this will make you lose details.
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Step 10

This is how it should look like.
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Step 11

Using a Graphics tablet I painted with white some edges on her arms and shoulder. Also, paint with light pink color on her cheeks and decrease the fill and/or opacity depending on your desire.
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Step 12

Most artists use dodging and burning for the model’s face, body, and clothes, but I use a normal brush to make shadows and highlights. Create a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) and name it shadows/highlights. Select your brush tool (or press B). Hardness should be 0% and sizes depend on the area you’re working on with opacity 30% and Flow 20%. Tip: To be faster play with the brush size with “[” and “]” and the hardness with “shift+[” and “shift+]” We will be using black to make the shadows and white for the highlights. Set the layer blending mode to soft light. To make some areas pop-out more (like the cheeks, hair, etc…) make another blank layer, use a white brush, and set the blending mode of the layer to overlay. You can always play with opacity and fill to get your desired result.

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