18 New Photo Manipulation Tutorials to Update Your Skills
It doesn’t matter that you are a beginner, intermediate or an expert in Photoshop. Learning new tips and tricks is always welcome. Growing as a creative professional is a tough job, but you can do it one step at a time. You won’t become a guru of Photoshop just by learning tips and tricks, you need to practice it every day, but they sure do help a lot on the way.
Learning how to combine photos and brushes, apply textures, create lightning or other high-tech elements is truly an art, and of course, we all want to master it. Are you ready to start the journey of creating your very own surreal world? We’ve rounded up 18 new photo manipulation tutorials, it is a fantastic compilation that will surely come in handy.
1. Beautiful Sunrise Landscape Photo Manipulation
Creating a beautiful sunrise landscape has never been easier. This tutorial is a 38 step program, that will take you about 90 minutes to complete. You just need Photoshop CS5 or higher. It is recommended for those who aren’t just beginning to get a hand of Photoshop, you need to be at an intermediate level.
2. “ Dark Power Unleashed” Surreal Digital Art
In just 6 steps, you can create your own mythical creature, that unleashes its dark power over an innocent city. It is recommended for those who are at an intermediate level, but even if you are a beginner, it is worth a shot. The tutorial is explained in detail, even though some parts may be tricky.
3. A Science Fiction Environment
Are you eager to create laser shooting robots in a futuristic world? This tutorial has 21 steps and is an entry level for creating worlds with Photoshop. It will take you about 50 minutes of fun to complete this awesome work of fiction.
4. A Fantasy Underwater Scene
59 steps and you too can show off to your friends and family. Creating an underwater effect in your photos can be hard work. Good thing that this tutorial explains every single detail on how to achieve your goal.
5. A Fantasy Fiery-Portrait
With this tutorial you will learn how to correctly use textures, add fire and create lightning effect. It will give you all the resources you need, including this exquisite model. It is only 34 steps long, but it will take you a while, from 50-80 minutes, depending on how well you are familiarized with Photoshop ( It can also take longer than 80 minutes if you are just starting your creative journey).
6. An Awesome Planet Explosion Effect
With some simple manipulation and selection techniques, mixing with custom brush painting and adjusting layers for adding colors, you can create this gorgeous, awesome planet explosion effect. Some steps can be tricky, it is recommended to tackle this tutorial after you have had some experience with Photoshop. It is only 5 steps long, but don’t let that fool you. Each little task is fully explained. I’m sure you will have a blast with this one.
7. Creating Feathers and Angel Wings
It seems impossible to paint feathers and angel wings, it is like starting to paint hair. You realize that you can’t do it, but if you persevere you start to master the little details, and after mastering the little details you are soon able to tackle a bigger challenge – making it look realistic. This is an in depth tutorial, walking you all the way to achieve your goal.
8. Castle Matte Painting in Photoshop
In this tutorial, You will learn how to create a castle matte painting scene in Photoshop. How to create the light source, coming up with matte painting ideas in just 2 hours using photo bashing technique, creating light direction, and paying attention to minor details.
9. Paint with Fire
This tutorial lets you get familiarized with some of the most common Photoshop tools, such as Smudge, Dodge and Burn. It is a great tutorial to help you practice and create something beautiful. You will get to practice Photoshop’s Levels and Adjustment Layers, Layer Masks and Blend Modes. But you need time, it will take you about 13 hours to achieve this great artwork. I think it is worth it, and you’ll be happy with the outcome.
10. A Horror Movie Themed Photo Composition
This tutorial lets you learn how to correctly use light balance, midtones, depth of field, blending for a horror movie themed project. It is 54 steps long that will scare you to death. Ha! No, not really, but it will be fun. Think of the endless possibilities.
11. An Intense Blade Runner Inspired Composition
It is recommended to turn on your favorite music and drink a cup of tea to relax yourself. It is 86 steps long that will make you think of Matrix, Blade Runner and Mirrors Edge, all at once. This surreal photograph can make you work a couple of weeks on it.
It needs dedication and countless hours to sink into. By the time you will be finished with this artwork, you will probably master, or will be on the way to master, transformation of objects and blend modes for them, realistic change in space and adding the effect of movement. Think of how you can tap into those new skills into your own original work.
12. Convert a Portrait Into a Creepy Human Puppet
You just need a regular portrait to practice on. This 23 step tutorial will help you master techniques such as digital painting, retro color correction, creating a puppet, working with adjustment’s layers, combined vector masks and color correction, using filters to create a dramatic, well focused scene. It is recommended to use a beautiful model, and turn her into a creepy one. Take her into a dark and spooky world.
13. Redefining Time Manipulation
This tutorial is almost 2 hours long, but it is worth the watch. The artists name is Andrei Oprinca, and he is a skilled manipulator that is able to properly explain techniques such as masking, light effects, shadows, general composition, managing layers and smart objects, selective coloring, and much more. You need to use Photoshop CS6 for this tutorial though, so you can profit after its incredible features.
14. A Colorful Retro Poster Tutorial
You need to be at a fairly experienced level to try this tutorial, an intermediate level is quite necessary. You will be needed to work with Photoshop and Illustrator, if you want to create a retro poster from any picture you want. You will embark on a journey of 83 steps, so be patience, it will be worth it.
15. Create an Eerie Abstract Photo
This picture is called “ The Pain”, and we can clearly see why. It sort of reminds us of the franchise “ Silent Hill” with grunge textures, dried and glossy blood splatter brushes, and cobweb brushes and textures. Patience is a virtue, so sit tight and carefully read through these well detailed 30 steps.
16. A Space Battle Scene
Creating an amazing space battle scene is no easy work. You need to use techniques such as composing and manipulating space elements together, as well as blend them correctly and effectively. Good thing this tutorial learn you just that. And as a plus, you will be able to learn how to work with group, use brushes and masking.
17. Design a Futuristic Abstract Portrait
This futuristic abstract portrait uses stock photos, fine wisps brush sets, surreal swirls brush sets and a paint tossing image set. In just 15 steps you will be able to recreate this beautiful portrait, and you will be able to adapt your newly earned skills to your own projects.
18. A Surreal Game of Thrones Photo Manipulation
It doesn’t matter if you are a Stark, Greyjoy, Martell or Tyrell, just don’t be a Lannister. Haha, I’m kidding, Tyrion and Jaime rock. This tutorial however helps you learn the basics of recreating that world by introducing you to in-depth instructions on compositing, adding snow, and lightning and blending techniques. Soon enough, you’ll be able to have your own original artwork of Khaleesi and her dragons.
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