TUTORIAL ADOBE PHOTOSHOP "VICAR SAGARA"

How to Create a Flaming Photo Manipulation



In this tutorial, we'll manipulate a picture so it looks like a woman burning in flames. The idea behind this manipulation was to create a nice looking illustration, only by using simple techniques and tools such as the Brush tool and Warp command. I hope you enjoy the tutorial and try it with your own stock imagery.

Final Image Preview

Below is the image you will create in this tutorial.

Step 1

For this project, I used two nice images that suits for the manipulation; image1, image2. I would like to thank the author of this two great pictures, which is thiquinho and huibidos from sxc.hu. And before we continue with the steps, I need to inform you that this tutorial is written using Photoshop CS3.

Step 2

Let's start with image1, open and duplicate this image by using the Image > Duplicate command from the menu bar. In the Duplicate Image dialog box, you can name it anything you like, but to follow this tutorial reference, name it "PassionFire" and hit OK. By doing this, we kept the original image. Be sure to save.

Step 3

With the "PassionFire" image active, duplicate the "background" layer. Set the foreground and background color to black and white by pressing D on the keyboard. Click the "background" layer again and fill it with the foreground color ~ which is set to black. See the images below.

Step 4

Reactivate "Layer 1," then press Command + Shift + U to apply desaturate command. Now invert the color by pressing Command + I. Your image should look like a film's negative now.

Step 5

Duplicate "Layer 1," then apply the find edges filter from Filter > Stylized > Find Edges. Next, invert the color by pressing Command + I and change the Blending Mode to Hard light. There, your image now has contrast white line and a very dark background.

Step 6

To give the white line more contrast, duplicate the "Layer 1" copy then change the Blending Mode to Screen.

Step 7

Now we move to the second image. Drag image2 into "PassionFire" document image window using the Move tool. If the Paste profile mismatch dialog appears, just click OK to fix it.

Step 8

The fire image from "image2" should be in "Layer 2" now. Change its Blending Mode to screen, this will hide all the black colors in "Layer 2." If done right, your image should be similar to the one below.

Step 9

Duplicate "Layer 2" by pressing Command + J. Make sure you use the Screen Blending mode, same as the original "Layer 2." Next, make "Layer 2" become invisible by hiding it from the layers panel.

Step 10

Click the "Layer 2 copy" to make it active, then use the Free Transform command ( Edit > Free Transform) to rotate and resize the fire image like shown below. Don't forget to press Enter when you're done transforming.

Step 11

Still in the same layer, now use the warp command (Edit > Transform > Warp) to bend the fire image - so it following the hair flow. Press Enter when done. See the example below as a reference.

Step 12

If you feel the result is not quite good enough, simply use the Liquify filter to fix it. I assume you already know how to use the liquify filter; the Forward Warp tool and Twirl Clockwise tool is the only tool I used to get this result (see image below).

Step 13

Duplicate the "Layer 2" copy, then use the Free Transform command to resize and rotate the fire image in the current layer. Don't forget to reposition the fire image too. Once you get this composition (see image below), hit Enter.

Step 14

Repeat the previous process to get the hair covered with fire. Just duplicate and modify the layer until you get all the hair part covered. If needed, use the Liquify Filter again. The end result of this process should look like the image below, notice how many layers are used.

Step 15

Okay, now activate "Layer 2" and make it visible again. Then Change the Blending Mode to Vivid Light. This step will colorize only the white line in the layer below it.

Step 16

Still in "Layer 2," apply the Free Transform command to resize and rotate the fire image like shown below. The purpose is to cover up the girl's body and hair with the fire texture. Press Enter when you're done transforming.

Step 17

We're gonna blur the fire image in "Layer 2," To do so, apply the Gaussian Blur filter from the Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur menu. Fill the Radius around 10 to 15 pixels, then click OK when done. Blurring the fire image will cause its texture to blend smoother with the layer below it.

Step 18

Now add a layer mask to "Layer 2." Then use a soft round Brush tool with Opacity at 100%. Set the brush size according to your need, then just mask until the fire outside becoming hidden. See the process below.

Step 19

Sure we will remove the white line shown in the image (marked in red rectangle below). First, add a new blank layer below "Layer 2." Then simply paint it with black using the soft round brush tool.

Step 20

Now go to the top most layer (mine is: "Layer 2 copy 6"), add two adjustment layers which is Hue/Saturation and Brightness/Contrast. Careful not to change the layer adjustment order, or the color effect will be wrong. Below you can see the setting I used to complete this step, also pay attention to the adjustment layer order.
By adding a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, we unify all colors. The Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer brings more color contrast and makes sure the image color's looks like real fire.

Step 21

I'm sure you notice the fire sparks effect. I create it using the Brush tool with this simple setting. No special brush needed, but if you have one that will be useful then feel free to use it. Below you can see all the settings I used within the Brush palette, of course you can change the setting as you like. Just make sure the brush spatter enough and vary the size.

Step 22

Now to use the modified brush, create a new blank layer below the adjustment layers ( mine is named "Layer 4"). Choose 50% gray from the swatches palette, then you can start creating the fire sparks. Remember not to be monotone, resize the brush size if needed. I start using a big sized brush, then reduce it to smaller size (you can change brush size faster by pressing the bracket keys on the keyboard ).
If you're not sure how to do this steps, just imagine where and how the fire sparks will flow if it was real fire. For me, imagining stuff is very helpful.

Step 23

To make it more interesting, create a new layer and change the Blending Mode to Screen. Then use a normal soft round brush (not the one we modified earlier), with an Opacity of 50%. Just click in the part of body, neck, and hair. I'm not sure how to explain this, but you can see the difference between the above and below images.

Conclusion

And that's all of it! Hope you learned something new and had fun. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.

Begin working by creating a new file (File>New) of 1920×1200px/72 dpi. Choose then the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to give the new background layer black color.

Find a stock photo with a model represented on it, I used this photo from deviantart. I would like to thank the author of this photo:

Cut out her image and insert it on the new layer.

Create a new layer and apply here a standard brush to represent the background behind the girl’s layer. The brush’s color is #CD00FE (Opacity 20%)


Continue creating the background with the Rectangle Tool (U) to draw a rectangle of the color #DD00FF. It should be inclined a little with the Free Transform option. The layer needs to be situated lower than the girl’s layer.

Create a new layer, applying here the standard brush, mentioned above of black color (Opacity 20%) and dark out the layer of the pink rectangle. This new layer needs to be placed also lower than the girl’s layer.

Press Alt button and click between the layers of the pink rectangle and the layer of the black brush (on the layers’ panel).


Next we’ll use the Line Tool (U) (weight 5 px) to draw a line along the edge of the pink rectangle. The line has the color #DD00FF. Its layer should be placed lower than the layer containing the girl’s image.

Set the next Layer Styles for the layer containing the pink rectangle by clicking on this layer on the layers’ panel.
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


Getting the best result is possible if combining in a group all the layers composing the pink rectangle, its shadow and the line on the edge (press Ctrl button to mark out the corresponding layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while moving the marked layers on Create a new group option).
Make a copy of the group and change the color of the rectangle on the copy and the line’s color on the edge on this one - #4F92C7. Using the Free Transform option, place the copy the same way indicated below:

Next we’ll open the Adobe Illustrator program. Choose the Pen Tool (P) and draw two lines of black color.

Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), mark out both lines and apply for them Object>Blend>Blend Options


Mark out the lines of the ornament and then press CTRL+C and pass on Adobe Photoshop program. Press CTRL+V (select Smart Object). Select for the line’s layer the next Layer Styles:
Blending Options>Color Overlay


The layer’s parameters:
Opacity 34%

Create a new layer and apply the standard brush of black color (Opacity 10%) to dark out the line’s edges.


On the next new layer (Create new layer) we’ll apply the standard brush mentioned above to make lighter the zone situated behind the girl. The brush has the white color (Opacity 15%). This layer needs to be placed lower than the girl’s layer.

Now we’ll create a circle on the girl’s head zone, applying the Ellipse Tool (U).

The layer’s parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Inner Shadow

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


For this tutorial I have used from DinPattern the next patterns:
Dead Kings

Disco Gold

Humidor

Medallion Burned

Now we’ll represent several swirls near the girl’s hands, choosing in this case the Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Bevel and Emboss



Next we’ll insert with the new layer the earlier saved texture, applying on it CTRL+U. Place the texture’s layer above the swirl’s layer.


Press Alt button and click between the texture’s layers and the previous layer (on the layers’ panel).


Continue representing the ornaments, using the earlier applied instruments – Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool. The layer has the color #1685D4

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Inner Glow

Blending Options>Bevel and Emboss


Insert the texture’s layer:

The layer’s parameters:
Fill 30%

Press Alt button and click between the texture’s layers and the previous layer on the layers’ panel.


This way we’ll represent the next element of our ornament, applying the Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Inner Glow

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


Place the texture above the layer, but the texture’s layer should be placed lower than the girl’s layer.

Press Alt button and click between the layers:


Let’s represent a highlight inside the drawn element of the ornament, applying the Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The layer’s parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


Using the same Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool, try to represent the next element of the ornament, giving it the color #FFB904

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Stroke


Make three copies of the last made layer and choose Free Transform option to make smaller each following copy proportionally. Change the colors of the copies’ layers. The layer on the top layer has white color. Leave only this parameter on all the copies - Blending Options>Stroke

Press Alt button and click between the copies’ layers and the very first layer:


Combine in a group all the layers composing the copies and the very first layer of the recently made ornament (press Ctrl button and mark out the corresponding layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while moving the marked layers on Create a new group option).
Make a copy of this group and choose Free Transform option to change its sizes, placing it as below:

Continue representing the ornament’s elements with the earlier used instruments – the Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The layer’s parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Drop Shadow


Blending Options>Inner Shadow

Blending Options>Satin

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


Let’s represent a highlight on the ornament’s surface, applying the Ellipse Tool (U).

The layer’s parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


Next we’ll represent another element of the ornament, giving its layer the color #2DA6C5. This layer will be situated lower than all the previous layers of the same ornament.

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Stroke


Make three copies of the earlier made layer and choose Free Transform option to make smaller each following copy proportionally. Also we need to change the colors for the copies’ layers. Leave only the Blending Options>Stroke parameter for the made copies.

Continue representing the ornament’s elements, applying the same Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Blending Options>Stroke


… and the next element with the same tools:

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Inner Shadow

Blending Options>Bevel and Emboss

Blending Options>Color Overlay

Blending Options>Pattern Overlay (set Patterns 2)

Blending Options>Stroke


Insert a highlight on the ornament’s element, choosing the Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The layer’s parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


The next ornament’s element must be represented the same with the previous one, having the color #CD5050

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Outer Glow


Blending Options>Bevel and Emboss

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Blending Options>Stroke

Gradient’s parameters:


Insert the texture above the ornament:

Press Alt button and click between the texture’s layers and the layer containing the ornament’s element (on the layers’ panel).


Next we’ll represent one more element of the same ornament, applying the Pen Tool (P) and the Convert Point Tool.

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

The Layer Style:
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Blending Options>Stroke


Choose a standard brush with the Opacity of 10% and select the Eyedropper Tool (I) on a new layer (Create new layer) to take some samples of the colors from the near situated objects around the girl’s body, representing the highlights on her body.


Press Alt button and click between the layers with the highlights on them and the girl’s layer (on the layers’ panel)


Click on the bottom part of the layers’ panel on Create new fill or adjustment layer>Curves


Create a new layer and choose a standard brush of black color (Opacity 20%) to dark out the girl’s leg.


The layer’s parameters:
Fill 80%
Blending Options>Drop Shadow


Next we’ll represent several lines for our ornament, drawing firstly their paths. Choose in this case the Pen Tool (P) (Path mode)


Next we’ll represent five new layers (Create new layer) for each line, using on them the standard brush and the colors indicated below (Diameter 3, Hardness 100%). Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), try to mark out the each line and then pass on the Pen Tool (P). Here make a right click on the marked line on Stroke Path (Brush mode).


Repeat operation for each line.

Set the same parameters for each layer containing the line: Blending Options>Drop Shadow


Click on each layer on the bottom part of the layers’ panel on Add a Mask selection and choose a standard brush of black color to clean out the zones of the near situated girl’s hands, cleaning the lines on the top part.

Combine in a group all the layers composing the colored lines (Press Ctrl button and mark out the corresponding layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while taking the marked layers on Create a new group option).
Set the next parameters for the group:
(Opacity 82%)

Next we need to apply the same technology for representing the lines on the other girl’s hand, the one applied earlier when representing the colored lines (create five new layers with the standard brush, using the color indicated below).

Set the same Layer Style for each layer Blending Options>Drop Shadow (the same we’ve applied for representing the lines on the other hand).

Clean out the lines on the hand the same way we did with the lines on the other hand (click on each layer with the line on Add a Mask option and choose the standard brush of black color to clean out the same zones on the lines demonstrated on the picture).



The final result!