Create digital photos with Photoshop CS6

Start by creating a new file ( Ctrl + N ) in Adobe Photoshop CS6 with dimensions 1000px x 1500px (RGB color mode) at 72 pixels/inch resolution. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to color the new background layer #030221 .

Find an original photo, here is a picture of a dancer posing in a studio.

Erase the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P) , Magic Wand Tool (W) , Magnetic Lasso (L) or even as simple as Filter > Extract and insert into a main layer.

Now create a layer below the dancer image layer. Grab the Brush Tool (B) and select a soft brush of color #65b0c9 , set the Opacity to 40% in the Options bar and draw the background as shown below. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Linear Dodge .

Next, create a new layer again and use the same brush as above to paint the background. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Color Dodge .

Open the Adobe Illustrator program and create a new file sized 1000px x 1500px . Then draw a blue rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M).

Use the Ellipse Tool to draw two ovals.

The large ovals should have a Stroke of - 1pt and the small one should have a Stroke of 3pt .

The large oval can be adjusted using the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift + C) as shown below.

Select both ovals using the Selection Tool (V) . Press the Shift key .

Apply this option to the selected oval: Object > Blend > Blend Options . Set Specified steps to 20.

Press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + B and you will have 20 intermediate elements as shown below:

Using the same method with the circle, it has fewer intermediate copies inside, only 10 Specified steps .

Using the Line Segment Tool , create three lines highlighted in red, with a Stroke of 3pt and Specified steps of 25 .

Select the Rectangle Tool (M) .

Now create two parallel rectangles using Specified steps – 12 .

Now select the drawing from the triangle lines, use the Selection Tool (V) and press Ctrl + C to copy. Open Adobe Photoshop and press Ctrl + V to paste the lines with the Paste as Smart Object option in the main layer. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Soft Light.

Duplicate this layer with Ctrl + J and rotate the copy horizontally using the Free Transform (Ctrl + T) (Flip Horizontal) command . Place this layer below the dancer image layer.

Make a duplicate of one of these layers and choose the Free Transform command (Ctrl + T) to get the same result as on the image shown.

Select the Eraser Tool (E) and erase the edges of the finally completed layer.

Do the same as above for the other side.

Combine all layers containing lines in one group (press the CTRL button to select the necessary layers and hold down the left mouse button while dragging the selected layers to the Create a new group icon at the bottom of the Layers panel ).

Apply Mask Vector to the new group and select the Brush Tool (B) to hide the lines on the mask in the same way as shown below.

Insert some lines on top as shown below.

Create a new layer and select the white Soft Round brush , set the Flow to 20% in the Options bar to create the glow effect as shown below. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay .

Create another new layer and insert some brushstrokes as shown using the same brush stroke. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Normal .

Select the brush on a new layer and add a purple glow effect, color #9265C9 .

Create a new layer and apply the same brush of the same color as above but this time use a stronger glow along the edges, in the same way as the next image. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Soft Light.

Return to Illustrator , select the circles and press CTRL + C to copy. Return to Adobe Photoshop and press CTRL + V to Paste as Smart Object . Set the Blending mode for this layer to Hard Light.

Then create a copy of the big circle:

Hide the circle as shown below, using the Eraser Tool .

Insert the rectangles made from Illustrator , deforming it in the same way as below, applying the command Free Transform (Ctrl + T) .

Hide it using the Eraser Tool .

Click the Add a layer style icon from the bottom of the Layers panel and select Outer Glow .

The rectangle layer will shine:

Make a copy of this layer and rotate it horizontally.

Now let's shade the new layer, use the Soft Round brush with Flow - 10% and insert a luminescent effect into the dancer's shoulder area.

Create a new layer, use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill this layer with the color #5F2D50 . Set the Fill to 60% and change the Blending mode to Color .

Hold down the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) key and click between the new layer with the color on it and the layer containing the dancer in the Layers panel to create a Clipping mask . The color will only be applied on the dancer's layer.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from the bottom of the Layers panel and click Curves to adjust the curve as shown to make some color modifications.

The dancer layer becomes more contrasting as shown in the picture.

Now we have to darken the bottom part of the model's legs by creating a new layer and combining it with the model layer. Apply Soft Round brush with Flow - 10% and black color. Cover the legs with color up to the model's knee area.

Repeat, this time choosing blue #4164AA . Do the same for her hair tone, hands and hips.

Now add the lighting effect by creating a new layer and combining it with the layer containing the model. Select the white brush and make the lines lighter in the same way as shown below.

Create a new layer again and fill it with the color #61BFBB . Set Fill to a value of 80% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Soft Light.

. and create another new layer with color #ff6b00 . Set Fill to a value of 14% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Color .

Then create a new layer, use the Soft Round brush to draw empty edges around the photo (canvas) with black color, Flow - 10%.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from the bottom of the Layers panel and click Curves to adjust the curve as shown. Add a mask to this layer and press Ctrl + I to invert the mask's color.

Now select the white brush and paint the adjustment layer mask. This time we'll cover the head area, the top left edge, and the lowest right edge.

Next we need a custom brush, select the Hard Round brush, go to the Brushes panel (F5) and select Brush Tip Shape . Click and drag any slider to change the brush Size and Spacing . The Preview window displays the brushstroke changes.

Go to Shape Dynamics:

Apply Transfer.

Use this customized brush to create circles ( Flow - 80% ) on the new layer. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay .

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush with Flow - 30% , painting over the designated areas brighter as shown below. Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay .

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from the bottom of the Layers panel and click Exposure to adjust the tone. Set the Exposure values ​​to Offset and Gamma .

Press Ctrl + Shift + E to group all layers into one. Apply on this layer the filter: Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask .

So you've completed the steps to create digital images on Photoshop CS6. Wishing you success!