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Photoshop Request: floating island


M

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
Hi mosesr, Do you want help with this or do you want someone to do it for you?
 
Where or which part would you like help with? There are several steps to this effect.
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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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