Create this angelic photo manipulation using Smart Filters and drawing techniques! This tutorial will show you how to create a dramatic cloud background, add glowing wings to an angel, and add some particles.

Preview of Final Results

Step 1

Start by creating 1416×1416 px image. These are dimensions of cd cover.

Step 2

Paste “Dark clouds ahead” stock

Step 3

Add new adjustments layer (menu Layer > New adjustment Layer) with brightness/contrast. Set it:

Now background is too dark. For fix it you should draw mask. Choose mask layer, beside adjustment. Take a 360px soft, rounded brush and draw gently by right side of picture. My results of masking

How should it looks:

Step 4

Still background isn’t well. Add new adjustments layer with brightness/contrast. Set it:

Step 5

Now you should add some lights on background. Add new layer. With the same brush and #f46307 color draw, where you want to show lights.

Then you should blur it. Choose from menu Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur. Set 125px.

Change this layer mode to Soft Light and change opacity to 80%. Yay, you are awesome! :)