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Photoshop Request: floating island


mosesr

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Hi everybody

I'm trying to create an image inspired by Magritte's The Castle of the Pyranees. Basically, the Manhattan skyline, convincingly place on top of a rocky terrain. Attached is the Magritte painting and the two images I've been trying to work with. There may be better options out there, I guess it depends on the Photoshop technique.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 

Attachments

  • skyline twin towers copy.jpg
    skyline twin towers copy.jpg
    226.8 KB · Views: 2
  • boulder.jpg
    boulder.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 3
  • the_castle_in_the_pyrenees magritte.jpg
    the_castle_in_the_pyrenees magritte.jpg
    35.4 KB · Views: 28

IamSam

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Hi mosesr, Do you want help with this or do you want someone to do it for you?
 

IamSam

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Where or which part would you like help with? There are several steps to this effect.
 

IamSam

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Ok, start with the rock/bolder.
Open and duplicate the photo. Turn off the original.
From here you need to make a selection of the rock with the many tools available.
Or..........just add a layer mask to the duplicated rock layer and use the Brush Tool, set to black, to create a mask.
I add a white layer below the layer I'm masking so I can see what I'm doing.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.08.16 PM.png

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.08.07 PM.png
 

mosesr

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Ok, that part I did. The problem for me was blending the skyline convincingly into the boulder. What I did - cutting out the skyline and placing it on the edge of the boulder - did not look good.
 

IamSam

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Next, make a selection using the Rectangular Marquee Tool of the upper half of the rock. Then press Control/Command + J to duplicate the selection to it's own layer.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.11.25 PM.png

Then press Control/Command + J again to duplicate the upper half of the rock. Then go to EDIT > TRANSFORM > FLIP VERTICAL. Use your Move Tool to position the lower half to the upper half.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.13.20 PM.png

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.18.46 PM.png
 

IamSam

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Ok, so I need to stop and let you tell me what your needing.

Let me catch up. You could also post what you have so far.
 

mosesr

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No please continue, it seems like you're doing exactly what I need.
This is what I did.skyline.jpg
 

IamSam

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Ok, do you have a layer mask on the city or the rock?
 

IamSam

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Ok, the blending may go better with a mask on the skyline as well. Just duplicate the skyline layer, command + click one of them to make a selection and then hit the add layer mask icon.
 

IamSam

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Here's, were I am.

I have my rock, I have added a guide line to show me where the city/skyline will go. I have blended out the topp of the rock so it's not seen behind the skyline using a soft brush with the opacity set to about 35%.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.56.45 PM.png

Then I turn on the skyline layer.
Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 4.59.23 PM.png

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 5.00.13 PM.png
 

IamSam

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Now I select the Skylines layer mask, and using the same Brush Tool settings as listed above, I work the mask to blend.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 5.03.45 PM.png
 

IamSam

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I try to blend out the straight lines.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 5.09.44 PM.png
 

IamSam

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I have to run, but I also used the Brush Tool, Smudge Tool and the Blur Tool to blend not only the skyline to the rock, but the rock to the background. I also turned my rock around to match the lighting of the skyline.

I will be back soon to answer any questions that other members don't answer for you.

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 5.36.44 PM.png
 

Inkz

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Sam..

Really pleased with all you have done in this thread. Great to see a valued member go out of his way to help others.

Keep up the great help.
 

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