How to Create a Surreal Moon Scene in Adobe Photoshop

Step 11

Make a Hue/Saturationadjustment layer and bring the Saturationvalues down to maximum.

Step 12

Create a Gradient Mapadjustment layer on top of the layers and pick the colors #010d17and #010d17.

Step 13

Make another Gradient Mapadjustment layer and pick the colors #1e0104and #00601b. Lower the opacity of this layer to 20%.

Step 14

Add a Color Balanceadjustment layer and alter the Midtonesand Highlightssettings:

Step 15

Create a Curves adjustment layer and decrease the lightness. On this layer mask, paint on the middle section to keep the light there.

Step 16

Add another Curvesadjustment layer to bring more light to the middle of the ground. Paint on the rest to keep their shadow and contrast.

Step 17

Make a new layer on top of the layers and select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M)to draw a circle on the canvas. Fill this selection with the color #c1e6eband convert this layer to a Smart Object. Use Ctrl+Tto resize it to be smaller as shown below.

Step 18

Hold the Ctrl key and click the thumbnailof the circle layer to load its selection. Click to choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool and then right click this layer, choose Free Transform Selection. Resize it to be a bit smaller and move it upwards as the screenshot below shows:

Set the feather radius of this selection to 3 pxand click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of theLayerspanel. Choose this layer mask and hit Ctrl+Ito invert the mask and you should have the result like below:

Step 19

On this layer mask, use a medium-hard black brush to erase the small part at the bottom of the moon to hide it below the sand.

Step 20

Double click this layer, choose Outer Glow. Set the color of glow to #48a9ec.

Step 21

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #adffd2to paint around the moon and change this layer mode to Screen 100%. Add a mask to this layer to reduce the light and unwanted details.

Step 22

Make a new layer below the moon one and use a soft brush with the color #c1e6ebto paint around the ground to make the light effect from the moon. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100%and use a layer mask to reduce the light on the foreground.