Step 1
Create a new document in Photoshop, I used 1920x1200 pixels as usual. After that select the background layer and go to Layer>Layer Styles>Gradient Overlay. Use Radial for the Style and Black and a Dark Brown for the color.
Step 2
In this step I used a photo from sxh.hu, you can download it at www.sxc.hu. After that change the Blend Mode to Overlay and use 90% for the Opacity.
Step 3
With the Brush Tool (B), use black for the color and a very soft brush, a regular one. Paint the end of the corridor. Use the image below for reference.
Step 4
Here I used Cinema 4D to create the base for the ghost. Cinema 4D has a fantastic Cloth engine that allows us to create clothes very easily. Basically I created the cloth and render one frame that I thought was the best for what I wanted.
Step 5
After the Cinema 4D I render a frame that thought was really good. Below you can see the image and, also you can download it here.
Step 6
With the Eraser Tool (E) create 2 eyes in your ghost.
Step 7
With the ghost layer selected go to Layer>Layer Style>Color Overlay. Use green (#87A261) for the color and Overlay for the Blend Mode. Also change the Opacity to 70% and the Fill Opacity to 75%.
Step 8
Duplicate the ghost layer and add a Outer Glow with the Layer Styles. Use Screen for the Blend Mode, 100% for the Opacity, Yellow for the color, and 30% for the Size. For the Layer's Opacities use 20% and for the Fill Opacity change it to 0.
Step 9
In this step I used another photo from sxc.hu, you can download it at www.sxc.hu. Place the skull in the document. Resize and rotate it until you align the skull's eyes with the eyes of the ghost. After that change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge and the Opacity to 35%. Also with the Eraser Tool (E) use a very soft brush and delete some areas of the skull to make it fith with the ghost cloth.
Step 10
For the ghost's eyes create a new folder in the Layer Palette and rename it to eyes. Change the folders Blend Mode to Color Dodge and add a new layer inside this folder. With the Brush Tool (B), select a very soft brush and white for the color. Then start painting the eyes. Because of the Color Dodge, the white will get a very nice glowing effect.
Step 11
Create a new layer and go to Filter>Render>Clouds. Use black and white for the background and foreground colors. After that just change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge. Also with the Eraser Tool (E) you can erase a bit of the clouds in front of the Ghost.
Step 12
Once again lets add another photo just to create a nice horror style. You can download it at www.sxc.hu. Just place the image in your documen and with the Eraser Tool (E), erase some areas to make the image match with the rest of the design and change the Blend Mode to Screen. The idea is that this image will be hardly noticed but it will add a nice atmosphere to the image.
Conclusion
You can add another texture on top of all layers. I added one from sxc.hu www.sxc.hu and used Soft Layer for the Blend Mode with 40% opacity. The idea of this tutorial was to show a bit of Cinema 4D. I'm still learning and loving this app. I highly recommend that you visit Lynda's site and subscribe to their courses. It's very useful indeed.
