Getting Started
Click on the photo below and copy the full-size image into a new PS document (1500 x 850px).
Unlock and delete the Background layer and delete it.
Duplicate the photo layer (CTRL+J). Rename them “original” and “mountains”.
Isolate Mountains
Hide the original layer and make the mountains layer active.
Select the Quick Select tool.
Click and drag from the top down to select the sky …
Go to the Options Bar and change to Subtract from selection.
Zoom in and fix some missing areas, click and drag up to fix the mountain/edge…
Go to Select > Inverse … so the mountains are selected.
Add a layer mask…
Show the original layer again.
More Mountains
Click on the photo below and copy the full-size image into your document.
Rename the layer to ‘more mountains’.
CTRL+T to move it down so the bottom edge is not showing water anymore…
Click on Done. Then add a layer mask…
Select the Brush tool. Set the brush to around size 80 and make sure it’s slightly soft (~80%). Make sure your colors are the default (black & white).
Paint over the sky and over the lighter mountains, shape the mountains something like this…
Color Balance
Add an adjustment layer … Color Balance …
- Make it a clipping mask (ALT-click between the layers or use the button at the bottom of the Properties panel).
- Then adjust the slides to about these values to make the mountains less green, matching the other mountains…
Trees
Click on the photo and copy the full-size image into the PS document.
CTRL+T and move it down so the bottom rock is on the edge…
Rename the layer to “trees” and add a layer mask.
Select the Brush tool, make it totally soft.
Brush on the mask to erase/hide the sky and lighter mountain, to keep just the trees like this.
- Use the [ and ] brackets to make your brush bigger/smaller as needed to create a nice shape (not too straight).
Color Balance
Add an adjustment layer … Color Balance …
- Make it a clipping mask.
- Drag the Blue slider to the right so the trees are not so yellow.
Brushes
Stars
Add a new layer, rename it “stars”; move it just below the mountains layer.
Select the Brush tool, go to the Brushes panel and expand the Night Sky folder…
Make your foreground color white.
Click on the canvas to add stars…
Moon
Add a new layer, rename it “moon”.
Select one of the moon brushes and use the [ bracket to size it down to about 600 px, and click on one side of the sky so it’s a bit behind the mountains.
Nebula
Add a new layer, name it “nebula”.
Select one of the nebula brushes and click on the other side of the sky.
Reset the Brush tool…
Reflection
Convert to Smart Object
Select all the layers (SHIFT-click). Then go to the Layers options and Convert to Smart Object.
When you see the icon, duplicate the layer (CTRL+J). Then rename the layers “top” and “bottom” as shown below.
Canvas Size
Go to Image > Canvas Size … make the Height 1500, set the anchor to the top, then click OK.
Transform
Make the bottom layer active.
Then go CTRL+T and Flip Vertical.
- Move the layer so it lines up with the bottom.
- Then right-click > Distort
- Pull the bottom corners down and out to the sides a little.
- Push down the top/middle so it’s overlapping the edge.
Click Done.
Filters
Move the bottom layer down and make sure it’s active.
Ocean Ripple
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Distort > Ocean Ripple … (13, 14)
Double-click on the arrows on the right…
Reduce the opacity to 40-50%
Bas Relief
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery. This time choose Sketch > Bas Relief. Increase Detail to about 14.
Double-click on the arrows for the filter …
Change the opacity of the filter to 15% and change the blend mode to Multiply.
Adjustments
Curves
Add an adjustment layer … Curves
In the Properties, pull down the middle a bit. You are trying to get more dramatic colors.
Gradient Fill
You can also change the colors of the image by adding another adjustment layer … Gradient Fill… start by changing the blend mode to Color and reduce the opacity to about 30%.
Then double-click on the color part of the layer to choose colors…
Once you’ve chosen a color, you can try the blend mode Color Burn, you can also change the opacity amount…
Here are some examples/result…
