Page 3 | How to Create a Photo Manipulation of an Assassin with a Flaming Arrow in Photoshop

Now, input the following settings for the brush:

Brush size: 1100px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 100%
Flow: 100%
#: ffd56c

Let us now paint:

The result:

Group all the layers we’ve created here (Ctrl/Cmd + G) and name this group to “Fire”.

Step 5: Enhance the light created by the fire

Now we will be adjusting the light and shadows created by the fire arrow. To start, create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) above the “fire” group; name this layer “glow”. Activate the Brush tool (B) and reset the brushes. Next, input the following:

Brush size: 700px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 15%
Flow: 100%
#: ffc262

Now, let’s start making the areas around the fire arrow glow:

The result of that should be similar to this:

Next, create a new layer and name it “Darken 1”. Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 600px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 25%
Flow: 100%
#: 000000

Now, let’s paint:

The result of that would be like this:

Next, create another layer and name it “Darken 2”.

Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 600px
Hardness: 0%
Opacity: 15%
Flow: 100%
#: 000000

Let’s paint:

The result of that should be like this:

Step 6: Create a Vignette

In this step, we will learn how to create a vignette which will help enhance the focus on our subject. To start, go to the Menu bar and click on File > New and use the same settings we used to create our canvas. (Refer to Step 1).

Take note, the background contents should be: WHITE

Once it has been created, go to Filter > Distort > Lens Correction. Find the tab Vignette and use these settings:

Vignette amount: -100
Midpoint: +50

Now that that’s done drag the vignette to our canvas using the Move tool (V) and put it on top of all the layers that we’ve created, and then set the following:

Blending mode: Multiply
Opacity to 40%

To set the blending mode, simply click on the drop-down menu beside the word “Normal” on the top part of the Layer window. The Opacity is located just beside that drop-down menu as well. See image below:

The unblended vignette will look this:

The blended one will look like this:

Step 7: Add a grungy texture

Now, we will add textures to give the image an old and dark feel. To start, let’s open the stock image: “Grunge Texture 4” by darkrose 42 stock. Activate the Move tool (V) and drag that image to our canvas; put it above the Vignette.

Position it as shown below:

Activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and resize it as shown below:

Next, change the Blending mode of this texture to the following:

Blending Mode: Soft Light
Opacity: 40%

The result:

Next, duplicate the texture (Ctrl/Cmd + J) and use the following Blending mode for the duplicate:

Blending Mode: Multiply
Opacity: 100%

The result:

Step 8: Enhance the Light and Color of the overall image

Now, we will be adding some adjustment filters to enhance the overall appearance of the image. To start, let’s create a Gradient Map adjustment layer by pressing the “Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button”.