Create an portrait artwork with autumn colors

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Tutorial Resources

Background – Anarasha-Stock

Model – Bugidifino

Birds – Madetobeunique

Bokeh – Regularjane

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Step 1

Download the Backgrounds pack and open in Photoshop the background number 5. Double click on the layer to unlock it. Flip the image horizontally (CTRL + T > Flip Horizontally). Crop the part we want to be the base of our work.

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Step 2

We want to give to the background some contrast. Duplicate the background twice (CTRL + J). Set the first duplicated background to Screen to enhance the lights. Set the second to Multiply to enhance the shadows. This is what you will have.

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Step 3

Extract the Lady from the background (I used the Quick Selection Tool + Refine Edges, but everyone has their own best method). I previously smudged the model skin, but this is not the aim of this tutorial and it doesn’t affect the final result. Put her in a new layer above the backgrounds layers.

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Step 4

Now we have to blend the Lady with the Background. I desaturated a bit the lady and removed some of brightness. To do that add a Hue / Saturation Adjustment Layer only for the Lady and set the Saturation to -19 and Lightness to -8.

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Step 5

Now we work on the colors. Add a Color Balance Adjustment Layer only to the Lady and put these settings:

Shadows > +14 +7 -16

Midtones > +11 +7 0

Highlights > +10 +5 -5

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Step 6

We want to blend more everything. Open the pack containing the bokeh and add the number 2 in a new layer above everything. Rotate it like in the picture below (CTRL + T).

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Step 7

Set the Bokeh to Soft Light. Opacity and Fill to 75%.

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Step 8

Add a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer and choose the one you see below from the presets.

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Step 9

Set the Gradient Map to Soft Light with Opacity and Fill to 80%.

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Step 10

Add another Gradient Map and set it like below.

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Step 11

Set the Gradient Map to Soft Light with Opacity and Fill 80%.

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Step 12

Let’s work now on shadows and lights. First of all we need to make the background darker. Add a Brightness / Contrast Adjustment Layer above the 3 backgrounds and put:

Brightness -54 and Contrast +48

This is so far what you’ll have.

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Step 13

Create a new layer below the Lady and paint with white below her, going out her edges.

Set the layer to Soft Light.

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Step 14

Create a layer below the one you have just done. Pick the color #572e07. With the Gradient tool (linear – #572e07 to transparent) make a gradient like the image below.

Set the layer to Multiply with Opacity and Fill at 80%.