How to Make a Gothic Collage in Photoshop (Part 1)

Sometimes designers have to create a collage from several photos. In Part 1 (of two) of this tutorial I would like to show you the technique of creating collages, by creating a gothic collage as an example.

Final Image Preview

Resources

• Unique Sunset
• Cathedral Saint Julien du Mans
• Dock To Nowhere

Step 1

Start by opening Cathedral Saint Julien du Mans photo.

Step 2

To begin let´s remove the sky from this photo. Double click on the background layer in the layers palette to remove the lock. Now we are going to select blue sky. It can be easily done by using the Magic Wand Tool, as the sky is monotonous. Select the sky with Magic Wand Tool (Tolerance: 20). If you want to add to selection press Shift and click, if you want to subtract from selection press ALT and click. Use Lasso Tool or Polygonal Lasso Tool to select areas identified on photo below and add those to selection.

Step 3

Press Delete button to clean the selected area.

Step 4

Open Unique Sunset photo. Drag the photo on our main canvas and go to Edit > Transformer > Scale to scale it down.

Step 5

Place the layer with the sky under the layer with the cathedral.

Step 6

Although cathedral is the centre of composition, the mood of the whole picture is indeed made by the sky, so let´s try adding more contrast. Create a new layer above the layer with the sky. Select soft-edged brush, 400px in diameter, opacity 30% and colors: red (#cb1e00) and blue (7389f8). Then using the Brush Tool add these colors to the canvas carefully as show on image.

Step 7

With layer selected change blending mode to Color.

Step 8

Now change the layer opacity to 50%.

Step 9

Open Dock To Nowhere photo. Cut out a fragment of sky by using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (Feather: 10px).

Step 10

Copy the selected area on the main canvas below the layer with the castle.

Step 11

Transform this layer using Edit > Transform > Scale and move to the right a bit.

Step 12

Then desaturate this layer using Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Step 13

Adjust brightness and contrast using Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast with the following parameters:

Step 14

Now select the Eraser Tool and soft-edged brush and erase the empty area of the sky on the left.

Step 15

Set Hard Light blending mode for this layer.

Step 16

Then change layer opacity to 65%.

Part 2

Part 2 of this tutorial has been published.