In this lesson you will find out how to represent an unuausal photo out of a very usual one.



Firstly we need to open the basic picture. Then we need to apply the gradient on a new layer, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient.



Choose the gradient colors by moving the color stops:



Then we'll create a new layer, applying the next setting on it Image > Apply Image. Choose the most appropriate black and white channel.



Duplicate the layer we've got. Change after that the layer's Blending mode on the lowest copy on Luminosity and minimize the layer's Opacity till you'll get the right one. The top copy must be fine-tuning as shown, applying Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation (don't forget to check the Colorize).



Also we need to minimize the layer's Opacity. Insert the sky now. Select it using Select > Color Range, then make a right click on selection and use Feather, you can smooth the hard edges of a selection by feathering (if there are any unnecessary elements on the selection, remove them using Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) with pressed Alt button.



Then choose Select > Save Selection. Put on a new layer the sky's picture, the one we want to have on the basic photo.



Place it the way it is convenient for us. Then select the Channels panel and load the saved selection, clicking on it with the pressed Ctrl button. Insert the mask for the sky's layer, getting back to the Layers' panel and click on Add Layer Mask.



Make several corrections on the sky's color, using Image > Adjustments

> Color Balance.



We need a little darkening on the light zone on the sky and between the trees. In this case we need to fill a new layer with the right color, Add Layer Mask and apply Gradient Tool (G) to get the layer visible only on the top part.



Next we'll select Rectangle Tool (U) on a new layer to represent a kind of frame inside the photo's borders.



Blur it out with Gaussian Blur filter and then change the layer's Blending mode on Overlay, minimizing the Opacity too.



Merge together all the layers Layer > Merge Visible (Shift+Ctrl+E), make a copy of the new layer we've got (Ctrl+J) and select for the copy the Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight.



Make smaller the Opacity on the layer. Make a copy of the layer, go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation (don't forget to check the Colorize) the way we did earlier.



Change the layer's Blending Mode on Darken.



Then create an adjustment layer using Image > Adjustments > Selective Color:



...then Levels:



... and Curves:



Merge together the layers again. Insert several noises, applying Filter > Noise > Add Noise



... and that's the result we've got:



The author: Sigma