Create a nature inspired, out of bound photo effect in Photoshop

In this Photoshop Tutorial we will create a nature inspired, out of bond photo effect. With this one we will use photoshop tools such as transforming, manipulation, retouching, changing color, layer style and brushes.

• Resources needed:
• Desert 1 LINK
• Desert 2 LINK
• Waterfall LINK
• Hand LINK
• Water brushes LINK

• Final Result Preview:

  

  Step 1:

  Open two desert stocks. Cut a part from desert 1 (I resize it to 900x675 px) and move into desert 2 (resized to 900x804 px). You can use any your favorite tool (I used Polygonal Lasso Tool) to do it:

  

  

  To edit the new part moved, create a new layer with Clipping Mask option:

  

  Use soft brush with color #292a27 to paint over its top, then set this layer to Multipy 20%:

  

  

  Create a new Curves Layer with Clipping Mask option:

  

  

  After this step we see a part on desert with color that is not fit background. So we will fix it by adding a new layer above background layer:

  

  

  Use soft brush with color #797c98 to paint on this part then set this layer to Color 100%:

  

  

  Step 2:

  Now we will change color and light to create dry and burning effect for desert.

  Create 3 new adjustment layers:

  Gradient Map:

  

  Set this Gradient Map layer to Soft Light 100%.

  Selective color:

  Yellows: 41, 11, -27, 30

  Blacks: -6, 0, 5, 0

  Levels:

  

  Then use soft black brush on layer mask of Level layer with Opacity 50% to reduce light on clouds as shown below:

  

  

  Stamp all visible layers.

  Step 3:

  Create a new document (950x850 px) and fill it with white. Move desert (the result from two steps above) into it, reposition to make the stroke of desert picture:

  

  Stamp all visible layers.

  Step 4:

  Open waterfall stock. I resize it to 600x900 px. Create a new layer with 642x939 px. Move waterfall picture into middle of the pic. Then stamp all visible layers.

  

  Step 5:

  Create a new document (1200x1000 px) and fill it with white. Create a new layer and fill it with Gradient.:

  

  

  Drag a line from top to bottom:

  

  

  Step 6:

  Open hand stock. Cut it out and place it as shown below:

  

  Create a new layer above hand layer with Clipping Mask option. Choose Spot Healing brush to remove blemishes hand. Make sure that Sample All Layers is checked on property bar. Then lower Opacity to 60%:

  

  

  Step 7:

  Create a new layer above hand layer with Clipping Mask option. Use soft brush, color #9f8079, Opacity 20%,flow 40% to paint over the hand. This step is to soften the skin appearance:

  

  Step 8:

  Create a new Curves layer with Clipping Mask option to increase the light and change color of the hand:

  

  

  Step 9:

  Now we will make hand shadow. Right click hand layer, choose Blending option:

  

  

  Step 10:

  Move desert picture into main document and use Distort Tool (Cmd/Ctrl+T) to stretch it:

  

  Apply Drop Shadow with settings below for desert picture:

  

  

  Step 11:

  Drag waterfall picture into our project. First hit Cmd/Ctrl+T to transform it:

  

  Then click Warp modes:

  

  Stretch it and resize it:

  

  

  Add Layer Mask with soft black brush to make the thumb visible:

  

  Step 12:

  Duplicate waterfall layer. Choose under layer, press Cmd/Ctrl+U to open Hue/Saturation window. ReduceLightness to -100:

  

  Add Layer Mask to eraser the thumb and move it down as shown below:

  

  Lower Opacity to 20% and apply Gaussian Blur with 4 px we have its shadow:

  

  Step 13:

  Create a new layer on the top. Use soft brush, color #343232 to make shadow for hand on waterfall picture:

  

  Step 14:

  Create a new layer, use water brush, number 792 to draw on waterfall picture:

  

  

  Use Distort tool like in step 11 to transform this water:

  

  Duplicate this layer, Flip it Horizontal and distort it as shown below: (you can erase uneccessary part in your own idea):

  

  Step 15:

  Create 3 layers, continue with water brushes, number 680, 729, 1552 to create water flowing from waterfall onto desert:

  

  To make water look more realistic and more visible, apply Bevel and Emboss effect for all water brushes layers:

  

  

  Step 16:

  To create water flowing spilling on desert, make a new layer and use water brushes, number 421, 2304, 1878, 2178, 792 to paint on desert as the screenshot below shows:

  

  Step 17:

  In this last step we will make the a part of desert soaked by water. Create a new layer under water brushes layers, set to Multipy 100%. Continue with water brushes but with color #885809 to paint under the part in step 16.

  

  

  Final Result: