Fantasy Composites Learning Path

What You’ll Learn

Between 2014 and 2017 PHLEARN made a run of fantasy composites, each one shot for the purpose and built entirely by hand. The Fantasy Composites Learning Path collects seven of them in the order they were released, so you can watch the projects grow in ambition from a single underwater portrait to an alien world made from dozens of photographs. Every project goes from the source files to the final color, and the hand techniques underneath them, from painted textures to channel selections and fur cutouts, are the ones the newest tools still depend on.

• 1. Build an underwater scene Underwater Fantasy: a model turned into an underwater scene with lens blur for depth, flowing hair and clothing, and glowing jellyfish.
• 2. Light a fantasy scene Island of Morel: a glowing spirit orb from channel selections, several subjects masked in, fog and light effects, and a final color tone.
• 3. Make a graphic fantasy portrait A Dragon’s Heart: a subject given dragonfly wings, tail and legs with Liquify, Puppet Warp and custom hair brushes.
• 4. Paint a mermaid Banished Mermaid: scales painted onto skin, the subject placed in a built underwater world, light matched and details painted by hand.
• 5. Create a fairy Night Fairy: a fairy built from a portrait, cloud and texture backgrounds, reptile skin, water distortion and wings, start to finish.
• 6. Composite a creature Bakster: a background built from several camera angles, a furry creature cut out with refined edges, and the scene toned to match.
• 7. Build an epic world A Dark Force, the original 2017 version: alien terrain and a civilization built from many photographs, planets in the sky, subjects masked in and atmosphere over everything.

Who This Path Is For

Compositors who want to see how the big fantasy images are made by hand, digital artists building a fantasy portfolio, and anyone who learned with the AI tools and wants the techniques underneath them.

You should be comfortable with layers, masks and the selection tools. These are full projects, not introductions.

What You Need

• Photoshop Any recent version. The techniques are manual and work the same today.
• Sample files Included for every project, including the original shoots and textures.
• Layers, masks and selections Assumed knowledge. If not, start with the Cutouts & Backgrounds Learning Path.
• A tablet Recommended for the painting, hair and fur work.

For the same kind of images with today’s tools, see the Magical Compositing Learning Path.

How Long It Takes

Seven projects and 41 lessons, about 20 hours of video. A Dark Force is the longest at over four hours; the others run from under two hours to almost four. At one project a week, plan on about two months.

Each project stands alone, so you can pick the image you like best. Watching them in order shows how the methods build on each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a PHLEARN PRO membership?

Yes. This is a PRO Learning Path, so all seven projects and their sample files are included with a membership.

Are these tutorials out of date?

The interface has changed, but the method has not. Painting, selections, matching light and color, and finishing a scene work exactly the same today, with or without AI.

Is A Dark Force the same as the 2026 edition?

No. This is the original 2017 course. The 2026 edition rebuilds the image with the current tools and is on the Magical Compositing Learning Path.

Why are they in this order?

They are in the order they were made, from 2014 to 2017, so the path reads as a tour of the projects. Each one stands alone.

Fantasy Composites or Visual Effects Composites?

Fantasy Composites builds imaginary creatures and worlds. Visual Effects Composites puts real people into impossible but believable scenes: giants, splashes, fire and floating subjects.

Where to Go Next

• Visual Effects Composites Learning Path The classic visual effects composites.
• Magical Compositing Learning Path Fantasy composites with the current tools.
• Compositing Projects Learning Path Projects building to landscapes from stock.
• Special Effects Learning Path Light, glow and effects to finish a fantasy image.