How to Composite a Ruins Landscape

Grab the Brush Tool (B). Select some soft round brush and set the Diameter on about 20px. Lower the Opacity on 50% and start painting over the areas of the tower which should be on the opposite side from the sun. Take a look at the following image where you should paint. These parts are highlighted with red color.

Step 7 – Blending the Tower

To blend the tower properly with the rest of the image you need to make it bluer.Add new adjustment layer Gradient Map on the top of all layers and set the gradient same as below.

Following colors were used:

1. #171E26
2. #25303B
3. #CABBA6
4. #FFFFFF

Create clipping mask from this layer to adjust only TOWER and not the rest of the image.

To make it even bluer add new adjustment layer Color Balance on the top of all layers and set it as on the image below. Create clipping mask from this layer too.

On the following picture you can see how your photo manipulation looks like so far.

Step 8 – Adding Light

In this step you’ll create more interesting light on the ruins you’ve added in previous steps.Add new adjustment layer Curves and set it as on the image below.

Grab the Paint Bucket Tool (G) and fill the layer mask of this adjustment layer with black color to hide the adjustment. Grab the Brush Tool (B). Use the same brush as in the previous step, only lower its Opacity on 20%. Make sure that the layer mask is active (just click on it) and start painting with white color over the areas where the sun hits. You can get the idea where to paint on the following image. I highlighted those parts with red color.

Step 9 – Adding Ruin on the Right

Download photo of the ruin (Ruin #3) listed in the beginning of the tutorial. Drag it into your photo manipulation. Place it on the top of all layers and name it RIGHT RUIN. Press Ctrl + T to activate the Free Transform Tool and resize it on the proper size. Cut out the background.

To match the colors of the image with the rest of your photo manipulation go to Image > Adjustments > Color Match… and set the values as on the following image. Press OK.

Step 10 – Blending the Ruins

To blend the ruins on the right ruins better with the rest of the image you need to make them bit darker and bluer.

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