Surreal Portrait Compositing: Light, Color & Effects
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DifficultyAdvanced
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Length1.75 hours
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Description
Create surreal portraits with Photoshop! In this tutorial we’ll show you how to blend, color correct, and transform stock photos into stunning art. Discover advanced masking and layering techniques, that will revolutionize your compositing workflow. As a bonus, you’ll learn how to animate your creations with AI for dynamic videos.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 21 Sample Images
- 5 Sample PSDs
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Dive Into Surreal Compositing
Art of The Unreal
Surreal compositing thrives on abstract integration. It’s about blending diverse elements like stars, lights, and florals to create a unique piece of art. It’s a journey of experimentation, where iterative exploration of different tools and techniques will help you gain the confidence to bring your most imaginative ideas to life. In this tutorial we’ll show you exactly how to master these techniques, step-by-step, from initial concept to final, breathtaking result.
Working with Stock Images
Crafting composites using stock images requires careful selection. We know that identifying harmonious elements can be quite challenging. That’s why we don’t just show you what to do, but how we think. We’ll unveil our entire thought process, guiding you through the selection, blending, and transformation of stock images, ensuring you master the art of surreal compositing from start to finish!
The Power of Smart Objects
Using Smart Objects is an ideal way to approach compositing. Converting a layer into a Smart Object allows you to make changes to that layer – such as scaling, warping, and applying filters – without affecting the original image. We’ll explore how to maximize the benefits of Smart Objects for seamless, non-destructive editing in your surreal compositions.
AFTER
BEFORE
Organizing Your Assets
Navigate the complexities of compositing with confidence! This tutorial unveils expert strategies for organizing layers, groups, and adjustments, empowering you to streamline your workflow. Discover how to build projects that are not only efficient but also effortlessly adaptable for future creative explorations.
Creating Depth
To craft truly immersive visuals, depth is key. In this tutorial you’ll discover the secrets of layering foreground, midground, and background elements. We’ll show you how to manipulate light, color, and atmosphere to construct believable, photorealistic environments that draw the viewer in.
Matching Light & Color
The biggest challenge of using stock images for a composite is transforming a collection of separate photos into a unified, visually compelling narrative. Learn how to use advanced Photoshop tools like Levels and Color Balance to seamlessly match light and color between any number of images.
Building Visual Worlds
Dream It, Blend It
Building a dreamlike scene in Photoshop? That’s impressive. But doing it with only free photos? That’s next level! We’ll teach you our top tips to perfectly mix different images to create a perfect and seamless piece of artwork.
Color Theory Basics
Discover the power of color and how it shapes your images. We’ll break down how colors work together to create eye-catching results. You’ll move beyond simply adjusting sliders and gain a deep understanding of how to strategically use color to guide the viewer’s focus, drawing their eye to key elements within your composition. We’ll explore techniques for manipulating color to evoke specific feelings, create visual depth, and add a professional polish that will make your images stand out.
Adding Blur Effects
Imagine turning a busy, distracting background into a soft, dreamy backdrop, making your subject truly stand out. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use blur effects, not just as a simple tool, but as a way to control focus and create depth in your images.
Layer Styles & Color Twists
Learn how to use Layer Styles and Color Channels to add amazing visual twists to your images. We’ll show you how to subtly change the color parts of your pictures, giving them a unique look. You’ll learn simple ways to make your images stand out with professional-level effects, adding depth and interest without needing complex techniques.
Using Blending Modes
Explore artistic options and learn how quickly you can accomplish them with a simple Blending Mode change! In this tutorial we’ll show you how to combine images using modes like Screen, Multiply, and Overlay. These modes change how layers interact, letting you easily brighten, darken, or add contrast. You’ll see how to create unique effects and improve your images with just a few clicks.
Creating Moving Images
To finalize this tutorial, we’ll show you how to easily animate your finished images using AI. Watch as we turn still artwork into dynamic videos with just a few clicks. You’ll learn how simple it is to add movement and bring your creative vision to life, adding a modern and engaging layer to your final pieces.
Compositing Learning Path
Join us as we unlock the secrets of advanced compositing with our Magical Compositing Learning Path. From mastering light and color with stock images to exploring mind-bending creations by guest artists, and even discovering some of our most classic composites, this learning path empowers you to bring your wildest visions to life.
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
View More Classes by Aaron Nace
Special thanks to Pars Sahin, Pawel Czerwinski, Vitaliy Shevchenko, Wolfgang Hasselmann, Jason Leung, Rustam Burkhanov, Serhii Tyaglovsky, Sheng Hu, Tonmoy Iftekhar, Troy Olson, Anton Khmelnitsky, Dan Meyers, Eugene Golovesov, Jack Dong, Mahyar Yeganeh, Milad Fakurian, Allec Gomes, Jay Soundo, NASA Hubble Space Telescope, Robert Clark, and Susan Wilkinson.
Images for this PRO course were sourced from Unsplash .
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More please! Great creative ideas.
Had lots of fun with this – great course! I found my file size increased super quick, and one of the images had to be re-saved as PSB. I assume it’s maybe because of the number of smart objects and the fact I scaled some of them up really huge to get the effect I wanted? I used a couple of images of my wonderful wife, here’s my effort!