... continued from the previous page.

Step 8: Creating the Cloud Background

Create a new document. Make this production size (what size you want the final image to be). We made our new document 1400 x 1050 pixels.

Copy the girl from the previous document to the new one, transform (Ctrl + T) and place her a bit to the left.

Step 9

Select the background-layer and press D for default colors (black/white).

Then render some clouds. Filter > Render > Clouds

click to enlarge

Step 10

Unlock the Background layer by double-clicking on it.

Scale it up to 200% (Ctrl + T).

Step 11

Select Filter > Distort > Glass.

Use high values for Distortion and set Smoothness to 1 and Texture to Frosted.

Step 12

Select Filter > Render > Lighting Effects. Select Omni light and use the settings provided below.

This gives the background a more vivid look and makes your eyes focus more in the direction of the girl.

Step 13

Create a new layer on the top of your layer stack.

Stamp visible by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E on your keyboard.

Select Filter > Distort > Glass. Use the settings provided below.

Press Ctrl + F to repeat the filter. Do this about 2 times to distort even more.

click to enlarge

Step 14

Add a new Layer Mask for the distorted layer, then select the Layer Mask.

Step 15

Fill the Layer Mask with Black (Press D, then Alt + Backspace).

Pick a large soft brush and and select white as foreground color (press X). Set the Opacity of the brush to about 30%.

Beginning from the bottom of the image, draw upwards in the direction of the girl to reveal more of the layer's content.

Step 16

Create a new layer on the top of your layer stack.

Stamp visible by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E on your keyboard.

Press D on your keyboard. Add a Layer Mask, then use the reflected gradient tool to drag a gradient from her face down to the right corner of the image.

lol, it looks like she's got a fly on her nose xD

Step 17

Click the icon of the top layer. Then select Filter > Blur > Lens Blur. (Click to open Lens Blur Settings dialog.)

Tip: If you do not want the "Over exposure"-look, crank up the Threshold for Specular Highlights. Press OK, then disable the Layer Mask (right-click and select Disable).

After applying Lens Blur

Step 18

Create a new layer, again on the top of your layer stack.

Stamp visible (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E).

Select Filter > Brush Strokes > Sprayed Strokes, use provided settings.

Step 19

Just as in Step 14, add a new layer mask for the layer and then activate it.

Fill the layer mask with black.

Grab a white large and soft brush and give the mask some brush strokes to reveal the contents of the layer.

Step 20

Open the Hoarfrost stock photo (or any photo with frost texture ... a nice selection found here).

Select Image > Black & White, press Auto then OK. Older versions of Photoshop: Just press Ctrl + Shift + U to de-saturate.

Select Image > Adjustments > Levels. Drag the Shadow & Highlight sliders towards the Midtones to create a high-contrast image.

Step 21

Go to Select > Color Range. Click anywhere in the background where there is no frost (see image).

Press OK, then copy (Ctrl + C) and go back to the other document.

Step 22

1. (Open diagram) Paste the frost (Ctrl + V) and place it on the top of your layer stack.
   Scale it so that the frost gets a bit smaller, but still covers the whole image.
   After scaling down, apply some sharpening (Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen).
2. While holding down the Ctrl-key, click on the layer with only the model.
3. Invert the selection (Ctrl + Shift + I). Then add a new Layer Mask for the layer.
   Set the opacity of the layer to about 30%.

Now, continue for some final adjustments ...

... continues on the next page!