Let's create a magical photo manipulation using basic tools in Adobe Photoshop.
In today's tutorial, we'll create an enchanted rose inspired by the classic Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. I'll show you how to build the entire scene from scratch just by keeping an eye out for the right stocks.
For more inspiration, find incredible Magic-inspired Graphics on Envato Market.
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used in the production of this tutorial:
- Stained Glass Window
-
Stone Table
- Rose
- Rose Petals
- Wine Glass
-
Glass Top
- Cake Base
- Nebula Brushes
-
Lens Flare Brushes
How to Find the Right Stocks
To create this scene, I did a basic search on Google and Pinterest for enchanted rose images. Taking a few notes in the beginning is a good way to have a game plan before you attempt this manipulation. Here are some important ideas to keep in mind for a composition that reflects the original Disney movie.
- The enchanted rose is often in front of a large window.
- The window has stained glass panels reminiscent of the time period.
- The table used to hold the rose is made of stone.
- The glass case can work with or without a base.
- The rose sparkles with magic from the enchantment spell.
Just knowing these few tidbits helps me understand the kind of stocks I need to choose. Bookmark plenty of alternative images to experiment with what works best.
Now let's move on to the manipulation!
1. How to Set Up the Stained Glass Window
Step 1
Open your Stained Glass Window reference in Adobe Photoshop. We'll be using its normal dimension size (1280 x 1280 pixels) to build this magical scene.
Since the window is a little crooked, let's straighten it out. Control-T to Free Transform the window, Rotating the window until it's straight. Then adjust the Scale and Perspective so that it's much taller and the top of the window stretches a little outside of the canvas.
Control-J to create a Duplicate of the window. Adjust the size of the duplicate so that there's more wall space on the left and right sides of the composition. Since the window is just an accessory to this composition, we need to make sure it's not placed too far forward in the scene.
Don't worry if there's a little excess window from the image underneath it—we'll cover that later!
Step 2
Now blur the window to create depth of field. Go to Filter > Blur Gallery > Field Blur, and add a Blur of 5 pixels.
Desaturate the blurred image. Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue & Saturation. Lower the Saturation to -49.
Step 3
Before we add more elements to the scene, let's blur the window again. Go to Filter > Blur Gallery > Field Blur. Now add a blur of 8 pixels, but this time make sure that the Light Bokeh is set to 25%.
Finish the window adjustments by applying some color. With the blurred image selected, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Lookup. Set the 3DLUT File to FuturisticBleak.3DL.
2. How to Add the Table
Step 1
Adding the table is quite simple. Just use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) to extract it from the Stone Table reference. Then Copy and Paste it onto a New Layer above the background.
To clean up the edges, add a Layer Mask to the table. Select the mask and Fill it with black using the Paint Bucket Tool (G). Then use a Hard Round Brush with 100% Hardness to paint white onto the areas where you want to reveal the table.
Also make sure any excess leaves and debris are removed from its surface by using the Clone Stamp Tool (S).
Step 2
Now desaturate the table. Select the layer and go to Image > Adjustments > Hue & Saturation. Lower the Saturation to -75.
Step 3
Create a New Layer and Fill it with gray #b9b9b9 using the Paint Bucket Tool (G). Right-click to set this layer as a Clipping Mask to the table. Then set the Layer Blend Mode to Multiply.
Clip a New Adjustment Layer of Curves above the layer fill to adjust the lighting even further. Bring down the curve for the RGB Channel slightly to darken the table.
3. How to Create the Glass Case
Step 1
Already the scene is starting to come together! How exciting!
Now let's create the glass case from scratch. To do this, first extract the bottom of this Cake Stand with the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L).
Adjust the size and perspective with the Free Transform Tool (Control-T). Then use the Eraser Tool (E) to clean up the edges of the base.
Step 2
Select the Ellipse Tool (U) and create a white circle with No Stroke at the top of the base.
Right-click the ellipse layer and go to Blending Options. Apply a reflected gold Linear Gradient Overlay with the following settings and colors:
- Dark gold:
#967242
- Light gold:
#bd9053
Step 3
Merge the shape and cake stand layers together. Control-T to adjust the size of the stand, making it slightly larger before placing it in the center of the table. Then Right-click to go to Blending Options again, this time adding a Drop Shadow with the following settings:
Step 4
Change the gold base to a rich brown color. Do this by setting a New Adjustment Layer of Hue & Saturation as a Clipping Mask to the cake stand. Adjust the settings to the following numbers:
-
Hue: -25
-
Saturation: -41
-
Lightness: -68
Step 5
Time for the dome glass details! Open your Wine Glass reference in Photoshop. Use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to select the background, and then hit Delete to remove it. Do the same for the center of the glass, making sure that the shine stays in place.
Once you're finished, Copy and Paste the image into your composition and go to Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical. Adjust the shape of the glass with the Free Transform Tool (Control-T) and fit it onto the brown stand.
Continue adjusting the shape with the Free Transform Tool's Warp and Scale options until you're happy with the result. Try to make it as close to the movie's dome shape as possible. Add a Layer Mask to this layer and paint black onto it with a Hard Round Brush to remove any excess glass.
Now use the Eraser Tool (E) to erase the bottom of the glass as well as any harsh edges. Try to make the case seem as realistic as possible.
Finish the case by using the Ellipse Tool (U) to create an ellipse at the bottom of the case with a white Stroke and No Fill. Right-click the shape layer to go to Blending Options, adding a brown #372e2b Drop Shadow with the following settings:
4. How to Create the Enchanted Rose
Step 1
To create the enchanted rose, we'll first add a little color to the glass case. Create a New Layer below the glass layers but above the stand layer.
With a Soft Round Brush, paint soft shades of green #0e624f and blue #2b809a onto the case, and then set the Layer Blend Mode to Divide. Lower the Opacity to 70%.
Here is how the layers should appear.
Step 2
You may notice that the original enchanted rose sits at an angle in the glass. So before we add our own rose to the case, we need to adjust its shape. Open your Pink Rose reference in Photoshop. Use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to select the white background and hit Delete to remove it.
Dissect the rose using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L). Create individual selections around the rose, stem, and leaves. Copy and Paste each component onto its own layer, and then Rotate each section with the Free Transform Tool (Control-T).
Here is a before and after comparison. Make the top of the rose seem much larger than the stem. Rotate it at a slight angle before removing any excess leaves. Then erase the end of the stem with the Eraser Tool (E).
Now that the rose is all set, Copy and Paste it onto a New Layer underneath the glass layers. Adjust the size so that it fits within the glass perfectly.
Step 3
Set a New Adjustment Layer of Hue & Saturation as a Clipping Mask to the rose. Lower the Saturation to -50.
Step 4
Let's add some color! Set another New Layer as a Clipping Mask to the rose. Use a Hard Round Brush to paint red #811522 all over the rose. Then set the Layer Blend Mode to Color Burn and the Opacity to 80%.
Clip a New Adjustment Layer of Color Lookup to the rose to modify the colors. Set the 3DLUT File to 2Strip.look, and then set the Layer Blend Mode to Multiply and the Opacity to 70%.
Step 5
Don't forget to add the handle to the top of the glass dome! Extract the top portion from this Glass Top reference and Copy and Paste it into the scene. Use a combination of the Free Transform Tool (Control-T) and a Layer Mask to make the shape rounder.
Then go to Image > Adjustments > Hue and Saturation, and lower the Saturation to -64.
Step 6
Cover the bottom of the glass base with rose petals. First open the Rose Petal reference in Photoshop and use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to select and Delete the white background.
Select only a few of the petals with the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), and then Copy and Paste them onto a New Layer underneath the glass.
Create movement by making two copies of one of the rose petals. Position them as though they are floating down the case.
Now create a New Layer underneath the petals layer and set it to Multiply. Paint red #890100 shadow underneath the rose petals and don't forget to deepen the main rose. Use a Soft Round Brush to blend the shadows well.
5. How to Adjust the Final Colors and Lighting
Step 1
Almost done! To make the scene as realistic as possible, we'll need to create a harmonious lighting and color scheme.
First create a New Layer above all the others. Use a Soft Round Brush (at 10-40% Opacity) to paint light gray #c7c4c1 mist around the right and left sides of the case. Lower the Opacity of the layer to 25%.
Create another New Layer and set it to Multiply. Use a Soft Round Brush (at 30-70% Opacity) to paint medium gray #6a6a6a around the edges of the scene. This will create more focus on the rose while adding a nice vignette effect.
Step 2
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance. Change the settings for the Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights to make the overall scene more blue.
Here is the result once you're through.
Step 3
Create a New Layer above the last adjustment and set it to Overlay. Use a Hard Round Brush to paint solid pink #d8c7de in the middle of the canvas. Lower the Opacity to 32%.
To brighten the rose petals with more color, set a New Layer to Overlay. Use a Soft Round Brush to paint pink #d85670 on the petals for a bold effect. Lower the Opacity to 83%.
Step 4
For even more color, create a New Layer set to Linear Light. Paint a bright pink color #c93e96 all over the rose and rose petals. Lower the Opacity to 11%.
Step 5
To create a sense of atmosphere, we'll be applying dust and sparkles to the composition. So load your Nebula Brushes and create a New Layer. Using Nebula Brush 7, click once to apply the brush, making sure the Foreground Color is set to white. Lower the Opacity if needed.
Step 6
Then load your Lens Flare and Star Brushes. Use a combination of Star Brushes and Flare Brushes to paint white lens flares at the top of the glass case and a few star bursts within it. This will help the scene appear as though there's light coming in from the window.
Set a New Layer to Overlay and use a Soft Round Brush to paint yellow #d9dfcf highlights onto the table and case. Change the Brush Hardness to 100% to add a few cleaner lines of highlight around the table's ornate details.
Step 7
Create a New Layer and use it to paint crisp white highlights on the glass, case, and rose. Add white dots to the air to show how some dust particles are catching light.
Take this opportunity to clean up the scene as much as possible.
Step 8
The majority of our editing is now complete! All we have left to do is add a few more color adjustments. Add a New Adjustment Layer for Curves. Adjust the curves for the RGB, Blue, and Green Channels to balance the lighting. Lower the Opacity to 68%.
Next, add a New Adjustment Layer for Brightness & Contrast. Adjust the Brightness to 9 and the Contrast to 8.
Finally, add one more Adjustment Layer for Color Balance. Change the settings for the Midtones and Highlights to the following numbers:
The result should have a slightly purple hue to mimic the colors from the movie. This is technically the end of the manipulation, but I'll sharpen the image even further in the next steps.
6. How to Sharpen Your Manipulation
For more visual impact, consider sharpening your photo manipulations for the final step. Merge all the layers together. Hold Control-J to Duplicate the merged layer.
With the merged copy selected, go to Filter > Other > High Pass, setting the Radius to 2 pixels. Then set the Layer Blend Mode to Overlay.
That's it! Check out the final result below.
Congratulations! You're All Done!
You can create Disney magic using a few well-placed images in Adobe Photoshop. Explore the possibilities with fantastic settings like Adjustment Layers, Blend Modes, and more.
I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! Feel free to add your comments and share your results with us below.
For more fun photo manipulations, check out these great tutorials:
How to Create a Colorful, Long Exposure Photoshop Action
How to Create a Glamorous Calavera Portrait in Adobe Photoshop
