In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to use Adobe Photoshop to create an abstract, sci-fi portrait using a variety of photo manipulation techniques. 

First, we’ll build the base scene using a space background and a landscape image. After that, we’ll add the model, create several light effects, create abstract elements, add planets, and complete the space background. We’ll use several adjustment layers and paint light to complete the final effect. 

Tutorial Assets:

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:

• Space background 1 
• Space background 2 
• Landscape 
• Model 
• Abstract texture 
• Planet 
• Lights 1 
• Light 2
• Light rays 

1. How to Build the Base Scene

Step 1

Create a new 3000 x 1637 px document in Photoshop with the given settings:

Step 2

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color and pick the color #393356.

Step 3

Open the space background images 1 pack. I’ve chosen a blue one to start
with and drag this image to our main canvas using the Move Tool (V).

Step 4

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer above the space 1 image and set
it as Clipping Mask. Change the Master values to turn the background
color to a purple one (similar to the color fill background)

Step 5

Make a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the space background. On
this layer mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) and use a soft round one
with black color to erase the top of both sides. We’re aiming to make the
main light source come from the top middle, so both sides should be darker
than that area.

Step 6

Create another Curves adjustment layer to darken the sides of the
background. On the layer mask, use a soft black brush to paint on the
middle section so it won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 7

Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to
the background layer. Use a soft black brush with a lowered
opacity (about 20-25%) to reduce the visibility of the stars on the
background.

Step 8

Drag the landscape image into our main document and place it in the
lower section. Use a layer mask to remove the sky and the mountains on
the horizon.

Step 9

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the landscape’s color.
Alter the Midtones and Highlights values, and on the layer, use a soft
black brush with a lowered opacity to reduce the magenta on some shadow
areas.

Step 10

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the landscape. Use this layer
mask to reduce the dark effect on some bright details of the surface.

2. How to Retouch the Model

Step 1

Cut out the model and place her in the middle section. Use a layer mask
to remove the hard edges of her body and blend her face with the
existing background.

Step 2

Create a Curves adjustment layer to reduce the lightness on the model’s
face. On this layer mask, paint on the top and lower section of the face to
decrease the dark effect there.

Step 3

Make a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100%, and fill it with 50% gray.

Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about
5-10% to refine some details on her face. You can see how I did it with
Normal mode and the result with Overlay mode.

3. How to Create the Light Effects

Step 1

Open the light images 1 pack. I’ve chosen image 03 and placed it
on the main canvas. Go to Filter > Liquify Tool and select the
Twirl Clockwise Tool (C). Use this tool to tweak the image into a twirl
one. You should get a similar result to the one shown below.

Step 2

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to
remove the hard edges and leave the twirl visible softly around the
model’s face.

Step 3

Use this image again and tweak it to get similar results to these ones, and
place them onto the eyes. Alter these layers’ mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

Step 4

Select all the light layers and hit Control-G to make a group for them.
Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and add a Channel Mixer
adjustment layer to turn the color’s effect to a light purple.

Step 5

Use a Levels adjustment layer to make the effect appear more subtle.

Step 6

Create a new layer below the light 1 group. Use a soft brush with the color #fad8fa and Opacity about 30% to paint highlights on the model’s eyes.

Step 7

Open the light rays images pack. Select one image you like (I’ve chosen
the red one) and move it onto the model’s head. Use the Free Transform
Tool (Control-T) to change the perspective of the image to make the
light rays come down from above.

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to
remove the hard edges and unnecessary details around the head.

Step 8

Duplicate this layer and flip it horizontally (Edit > Transform >
Flip Horizontal). Paint on its layer mask to remove most of the light
rays, leaving some visible on the left side (from the viewer’s perspective).

Step 9

Create a group for the light rays layers and alter this group’s mode to
Linear Dodge 100%. Use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and adjust the
Master values:

Step 10

Add a Color Balance adjustment layer to vary the light rays’ color.

Step 11

Open the light 1 images pack. Select image 012 to add to the model’s face, and change the mode to Linear Dodge 100%. Use Control-T to rotate
the image to make the highlight spot of the image appear on the top of the light
rays.

Use a layer mask to remove most of the image, leaving some light and color
effects visible mostly around the sides and top of the model.

Step 12

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the color of the effect.

Step 13

Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to alter the effect’s color a bit.

Step 14

Use a Levels adjustment layer to make the effect more subtle. The selected area shows where to paint on the layer mask.

Step 15

Open the light 2 images pack. Select image 5 and add it to the main
canvas, and then alter this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

Use a layer mask to remove the hard edges of the image, making the effect visible around the model’s face only.

Step 16

Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and change the Master settings:

Step 17

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer to enhance the color of the effect a bit.

Step 18

Create a Curves adjustment layer to make the effect brighter and more
visible. On this layer mask, paint on the lower part of the left side and the
face to make these areas less affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 19

Make a new layer on top of the other layers and use a soft brush with the color #bf4d83 and Opacity about 30% to paint on the upper section of the model’s face. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100%.

4. How to Make the Abstract Decoration

Step 1

Open the abstract texture image and drag this image onto our main
document. Set this layer above the model’s layer and below the eyes one.

Use the Liquify Tool to tweak this image to get something like this:

Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge 100% and add a mask to this layer and erase most of the result as shown below:

Step 2

Use the Liquify Tool to tweak this image again into many different
forms and arrange them around the model and light circle. Use your
imagination, and don’t stop until you feel good!

Step 3

Create a group for these layers, and change this layer mode to Linear
Dodge 100%. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment to change the color of the
effect from red to yellow. On the layer mask, paint on some details to
make them less affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 4

Use a Curves adjustment layer to reduce the effect’s visibility.

Step 5

Add a mask to this group and use a soft black brush to decrease the visibility of the effect again, making it more subtle.

5. How to Add the Planets

Step 1

Download the planet with the angle you want, or use your own resource.
Place the planet onto the light circle and duplicate them twice. Use
Control-T to change their size and arrange them around that circle. Set
the planet layers below the light groups.

Add a mask to each of the planet layers to make the planets fade into the background.

Step 2

Group all the planet layers into a new folder using Control-G. Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the planets.

Step 3

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer and alter the Midtones settings.
On this layer mask, paint on the shadow area of the planets so they
won’t be too blue.

Step 4

Use a Curves adjustment layer to bring more light to the front of the
planets. Paint on their shadow area to keep their lightness and
contrast.

6. How to Complete the Space Background

Step 1

To create more details and texture for the sky, open the space background 2 image pack and choose image 3 (or any
image you like or your own resource). Drag it into the main canvas and
change the mode to Screen 100%. Set this layer on top of the other layers.

Use a layer mask to make the details of the clouds appear subtle around the model and light circle.

Step 2

Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the effect completely.

Step 3

Make a Levels adjustment layer to decrease the effect’s visibility and lightness.

7. How to Make the Final Adjustments

Step 1

Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer on top of the layers and pick the colors #a58869 and #94ece5.
Change this layer mode to Soft Light 90% and use a soft black brush to
paint on both sides of the landscape to reduce the effect of this
adjustment layer.

Step 2

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer and alter the Midtones, Shadows and Highlights values.

Step 3

Add another Gradient Map adjustment layer and pick the colors #808080 and #bbccee. Alter this layer mode to Hard Light 70% and paint on the model’s face to reduce the brightness there.

Step 4

Create a Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the light and color of the scene.

Step 5

Make another Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the effect more. Paint
on the top of the landscape and the lower part of the model’s face to make
sure they don’t become too blue.

Step 6

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #200120 to
paint on the lower part of the canvas to produce some reflected light there. Change this layer mode to Linear Dodge
100% and use a layer mask to reduce the effect’s visibility on the lower
area of the scene.

Step 7

Make a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #e192e0 to paint on the lower of the light circle. Alter this layer mode to Overlay 100%.

Step 8

Create a Curves adjustment layer to change the color of the whole scene.

Step 9

Use another Curves adjustment layer with the same purpose. Paint on the lower section so it won’t be too magenta.

Step 10

Add another Curves adjustment layer to brighten the left part of the model
and the light circle. Paint on the rest so it won’t be affected by this
adjustment layer.

Congratulations, You’re Done!

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the tutorial and learned something new for
your own projects. Feel free to share your results or leave comments in
the box below. Enjoy Photoshopping!

Interested in more space/galaxy themes? Visit some of our tutorials below:

• How to Create a Dark, Sci-Fi Landscape Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop

  Learn how to create a dark, sci-fi landscape photo manipulation in Adobe Photoshop using stock images, adjustment layers and more.

• How to Create a Galaxy-Inspired Self-Portrait Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop

  You can turn your selfies into cool digital art! Today, you’ll learn how to create this galaxy manipulation using a selfie and a few free stocks from Pixabay.