... continued from the previous page.

Step 31

Select the "splash" layer in the layer palette; hold the SHIFT key and click the "splash copy" layer thumbnail. Now go to Layer > Merge layers (CMD+E), then duplicate it (CMD+J). Do this until the entire sketch is covered up. It should look like the image below.

Step 32

Select all the "splash copy" layers like in STEP 31 and go to Layer > Merge layers (CTRL+E). Rename the new layer to "body".

Step 33

Notice that there are some sharp edges in the body? Let's fix that. Duplicate the layer and go to Filter > Liquify (CMD+SHIFT+X) and start waving the inside portion where there are sharp edges.

This will give it a more fluid look. Feel free to play around with different effects till you get the desired effect. Mine looks like below.

Step 34

Go to the Layers palette (F7), select the topmost layer ("body" layer) and set its blending mode to Screen. Go to Layer > Layer mask > Reveal all. Now grab the Brush Tool (B) and start painting with black (#000000) over the unwanted parts. If you're wondering how the mask works, it's like this: the Reveal All mask acts like a Screen blending mode, meaning it's making the blacks disappear.

Step 35

Now we need some lights. Grab the Lasso Tool (L) and select the thick white parts from the "sketch" layer, but with the "body" layer selected. Now right-click and select "Layer Via Copy". You should now see a new layer: "body copy." Rename it to "lights." Create a new layer group and place these two layers in it. Also rename the group to "body."

Step 36

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur and set it to about 10-12 px. Feel free to play around until you like it. Now go to the Layers palette and set its blending mode to Color Dodge and set the Opacity to about 75% or less. It should look like this.

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