The Making of - Space Jumper - Photo Manipulation

Step 1

Create a new document (600X650px).

Fill this with a diagonal gradient ranging from 312a58 to 1e1b32.

Step 2

Paste in this image of a star field.

Resize it accordingly and reduce this layer's opacity to 40%. Call this layer 'star field'.

Step 3

Duplicate your 'star field' layer and change your duplicate's blend mode to 'color dodge'. Call this layer 'star field dodge'. This layer should add some extra highlights and intensity to your star field.

Step 4

Create a new layer called 'clouds'. Go to filter>render>clouds.

Then reduce this layer's opacity to 70%, and change the layer blend mode to 'overlay'.

Step 5

Paste in this photo of the earth. Cut out the earth using your elliptical marquee tool, and resize/position it as appropriate. Call this layer 'earth'.

Step 6

Now apply a levels adjustment layer and channels adjustment layer. With each layer be sure to go to layer>apply clipping mask. This will ensure that your adjustment settings only effect your 'earth' layer, and not your entire document.

Step 7

Now duplicate your earth image, making sure that your duplicate is above your newly created adjustment layers. Resize and rotate your earth, making it far smaller than the original. Call this layer 'planet 2?.

Apply a hue/saturation and curves adjustment layer, again, being sure to apply a clipping mask.

Step 8

Cut out and paste in the person from this jumping photo.

Call this layer 'jumper'.

Step 9

Duplicate your 'jumper' layer and move the duplicate beneath the original. Call this layer 'jumper blur'.

Go to filter>blur>motion blur and apply a 252px strength motion blur, at a 10 degree angle.

Step 10

Now reduce this motion blur layer's opacity to 50%. Use your eraser tool to erase all areas of your blur that are to the right of your jumping figure. This give the impression of movement, as a trail of blur extends to the left of your jumper.

Step 11

Now apply a hue/saturation and a color balance adjustment layer over your 'jumper' layer. Be sure to apply a clipping mask to both adjustment layers:

Step 12

Now create a new top layer called 'dodge/burn'. Go to edit>fill and fill your canvas with 50% gray.

Then change this layer's blend mode to 'overlay'. This will hide your gray fill, but let you paint over your canvas with black/white to act as a dodge/burn effect. Use a soft, paintbrush (15% opacity) to paint black and white over your canvas. Remember your light sources. In this piece, light is coming from the top left of your canvas, so your dodge/burn work should reflect this (see diagram below).

Step 13

Now create a new layer called 'oval'.

Create a white to transparent radial gradient in the center of your document.

Then use your transform tool to squash your oval until it's about 10-20px high.

This will form the basis for your lighting effect.

Step 14

Now rotate this squashed oval, and change it's blend mode to 'overlay'. Position this over your jumpers foot.

Step 15

Now duplicate your oval light, and paste it multiple times over your jumper. In order to make the light effect more intense in parts of your image, simply duplicate your oval. Then use your eraser to clean up the edges of your light ovals, making sure that they don't overlap your jumping figure too much.

Step 16

Now use your radial gradient tool to create a white-transparent gradient over the eye of your figure.

At first create a medium sized gradient, and change this layer's blend mode to 'overlay'.

Then create a smaller more focused radial gradient directly over the eye, and keep this layer's blend mode at 'normal'.

Step 17

We want to create a bit of a vignette effect now, in order to add depth to our piece, and help frame our jumper.

Create a new layer called 'vignette'. Use a 15% opacity large, soft black paintbrush, and paint around the edges of your canvas:

Step 18

Now apply a gradient overlay adjustment layer. This time do not apply a clipping mask, as we want our adjustment layers to now effect our entire canvas.

Make your gradient range from b325ab to 005558. Reduce this adjustment layer's opacity to 9%.

Step 19

Now apply a levels adjustment layer:

Step 20

Now apply a curves adjustment layer:

Step 21

Finally create a gradient overlay layer (white to black gradient). Reduce this layer's opacity to 10%, and change it's layer blend mode to 'overlay'.

And We're Done!

You can view the final outcome below. I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to hear your feedback on the techniques and outcome: