Create a Fantasy Fish Scene above the Sky

Feb 3, 2025

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Add a mask to this layer and use a hard black brush to erase the bottom of the dress and make her look like sitting inside the boat:

Step 25

I used a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to reduce the child saturation:

Step 26

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to add some color to the child:

Step 27

I used Curves to brighten this little girl:

Step 28

Open the fishes image (feel free to use your own) and isolate them from the white background. Take the fishes you like and arrange them around the boat and girl.

Add a layer mask to the fishes on the clouds. Use a soft black brush to make the fishes look like swimming in these clouds:

Step 29

I used Curves to darken two fishes at the left edge:

Step 30

Make a group for the fish layers and their related ones (Cuves) as done with the tree. Use a Hue/Saturation adjustment for the fishes:

Step 31

Add some color to them with Color Balance:

Step 32

Brighten the fishes with a Curves adjustment layer:

On this layer mask apply brushing to decrease the light on some of the fishes:

Step 33

Right click the fishes group, choose Duplicate Group. Right click the duplicated group, choose Merge Group. Now we have the selection of the fishes on a separate layer. Turn it off.

Step 34

Make a new layer on the top. Hold Cmd/Ctrl while clicking the fishes copy thumbnail layer to load its selection:

Use a soft brush with the color #ebe7da to paint on some parts of them to create more light there. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100%:

Step 35

Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer on the top of all layers:

Lower the opacity of this layer to 20% and apply brushing on its mask:

Step 36

Use Color Balance to add some warm color to the scene:

Lower this effect by brushing on the layer mask as shown below:

Step 37

Add two Photo Filter adjustment layers to the top of all layers:

Step 38

To change the light focus, make a new layer, use the Gradient Tool with Radial option and default colors (black and white).

Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100% and use a layer mask to reduce the dark effect on the top left of the pic:

Step 39

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #825111 to paint on the right edge. Alter this layer mode to Color 10% to add more warm color to this area: