Photoshop Tutorial: How To Create A Still Life With Realistic Fruit

My goal for this tutorial is for you to create a still life composed of realistic fruit. We'll use the image of a "ship wheel" provided by pxleyes, for a contest. (The same source image, was used for other tutorial).

I would like to show my creativity to you, teaching you through this tutorial how to use a source image to create something beautiful. At the end, you'll be able to use some of the tools that Photoshop provides us to create your personal art.

Tools we'll be using throughout this tutorial.
* Dodge and Burn.
* Image - Adjustments - Color Balance.
* Image - Adjustments - Hue/Saturation.
* Image - Adjustments - Curves.
* Filter - Liquify - Warp.
* How to work with Shadows.

Good luck, and let's get started!

End result:

Author:

Views: 55313

Score: 9.58 / 10

Author earned: $60

Practice tutorial

Tags:fruitlifestill

Step 1

Open a New Document, 850 X 650 px.

Resolution: 100.

Fill the background with white. # FFFFFF.

We'll start working over a white background.
We'll change it later.

Step 2

We'll use the image of a ship wheel, that pxleyes provided for a contest, for this tutorial.

Click over the right side of your mouse over the image.

Save Image As.

Save it in a safe place, where you can have access to it.

Name new file, "Image Source".

Step 3

Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M).

Make a rectangular selection from source image.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), the selection.

Name new layer, "Branch".

Step 4

Filter - Liquify - Warp.

Brush Size: 64.

Brush Pressure: 50.

Make a shape, as shown in Fig 1.

Use the Dodge Tool (O). Brush size 15, soft, and strenght of 60%, to give highlights to the right end of the branch.

Step 5

Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M).

Hold Shift, while selecting the area, to make a perfect rounded selection.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), the selections.

Name new layers, "Grape 1", and "Grape 2".

Step 6

Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T), to make layers, "Grape 1" and Grape 2", smaller.

The idea of working with two different spheres to make the grapes, it is because the texture is different. We'll add some highlights and shadows to make the grapes look nice.

We'll place them over the branch, to start forming the grapes.

Step 7

We'll make some copies of layer, "Grape 1".

Drag layer, "Grape 1", to the new layer button, located at the bottom of your layers column.

Make 14 copies of layer, "Grape 1". Do not name layers, as they'll appear as "Grape Copy 2" to "Grape 14".

We'll start placing layers with copies of the grapes, one over the other to form our grapes. We'll also use the Dodge and Burn tools, to give our grapes a realistic look.

Step 8

For this step, do the same you did for step 7.

Make 14 copies of layer, "Grape 2".

Layers will appear with layer names for evey one of the copies. You can leave them as they are.

Step 9

Open layer, "Branch".

Filter - Liquify - Warp.

Brush size 64 or smaller, a 35 will work well. Brush Pressure 50%.

Make the branch thinner. We'll place the grapes on top of it. do not worry, some part of the branch won't be seen.

Step 10

We'll alternate layers, "Grape 1" and "Grape 2" to form the grapes.

Use the Dodge (O) and Burn (O) Tools, to give highlights and shadows to the grapes.

The first three copies of layer, "Grape 1", will be smaller.

Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T), to make the grapes smaller.

The copies of layer, "Grape 2" will be a little bigger.

You don't have to make smaller copies of layer, "Grape 1", the copies have to be the same as "Grape 2".

Follow suggestions given in image.

Step 11

Continue placing the grapes one over the other. This time, try the size of the grapes to be the same for "Grape 1 and Grape 2" copies.

Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T), to twist the grapes around from time to time.

You can merge the first 14 grapes together. To get an idea of how a bunch of grapes look, look at a pic of some of them.

Do not forget to use the Dodge (O) and Burn (O) tools, to give the highlights and shadows.

Step 12

The grapes are placed together.

Merge down all the layers used to form the grapes.

Name new layer, "Grapes".

Step 13

Coloring the grapes.

Image - Adjustments - Hue/Saturation.

Hue: -160.
Saturation: -30.
Lightness: -20.

Use the Dodge Tool (O), to give some highlights to the grapes.

Step 14

Open a new layer. (Do not name it).

Zoom (Z) layer, "Image Source".

Use the Pencil Tool (B), a 3px hard brush. Color black.

Draw the shape of the grape leaf as shown in image.

Hold the Ctrl key and click over the layer with the outline, you just drew. The layer should be selected.

Click over the layer, "Image Source".

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V).

A copy of the selection with the grape leaf will appear.

Name this new layer, "Grape Leaf".

Delete layer with the outline.

Step 15

Making the leaf.

For this step, you will use the Clone Stamp Tool. (S).

Soft Brush 30 px. Opacity of 80%, to soften the area inside the leaf. Work over the curved lines, to make them smoother. Fig 2.

By the end of your cloning, your leaf should look like the one in: Fig 3.

Step 16

The image shows the result of the cloning of the leaf.

Use the Dodge Tool (O).

3px hard brush. Opacity of 100%.

Draw some lines inside the leaf, like kind of veins. Fig 2.

Continue drawing more lines inside the leaf, use the same settings for the Dodge Tool (O), as you did before. Fig 3.

Step 17

Fig 1, shows the result of drawing the lines to the grape leaf.

Fig 2. Use the Dodge Tool (O), to give some highlights to the leaf.

To color the leaf. Fig 3.

Image - Adjustments - Hue/Saturation.

Hue: + 25
Saturation: - 25
Lightness: - 20

Image - Adjustments - Curves.

Input: 100
Output: 60

Step 18

Make a copy of layer, "Grape Leaf".

Name new layer, "Grape Leaf 2".

Place "Grape Leaf", and "Grape Leaf 2", as shown in picture.

Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T), to make the leafs smaller. (If needed).

Step 19

Make two copies of layer "Branch".

Name new layers, "Tendril 1" and "Tendril 2".

For the shape of "Tendril 1" and "Tendril 2", use Filter - Liquify - Warp.

64 size brush, and brush pressure of 50%.

Try to get the forms for the tendrils as shown in Fig 2 and Fig 3.

Step 20

The position of the tendrils over the gapes is up to you.

I placed them for you to see how they look. I moved one of the tendrils behind the grapes and looks better.

Step 21

The making of an orange.

Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M).

Make a circular selection of the area shown in image. (Source Image).

Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T), to make the selection bigger.

Name new layer, "Orange".

Step 22

Use Dodge (O) and Burn (O) Tools, to give some highlights and shadows to the sphere. Fig 2.

Coloring the sphere.

Image - Adjustments - Color Balance.

Midtones: Red + 100 Yellow: -100
Highlights: Red + 60 Yellow: - 50

Filter - Noise - Add Noise.
Amount 10-% Uniform.

You'll have something as shown in Fig 3.

Step 23

As it can be seen, I moved layer, "Tendril 2", to the back of layer " Grapes". After this layer is placed behind the grapes, you can merge layers, " Grapes", "Branch", "Leaf 1", "Leaf 2", and layers with tendrils. Name new layer, "Grapes".

Place layer, "Orange", on top of layer, "Grapes".

Use the Burn Tool (O), to give a shadow to the orange.

Soft 60 px brush, and a Exposure of 60%.

Step 24

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), a little area from the top of layer, "Branch". Do not name this layer, just place it on top of layer, "Orange".

Filter - Liquify - Warp, to make this selection thinner.

Use the Smudge Tool (R), and do some smudging at the bottom this little selection from layer, "Branch".

3 px hard brush, and a Strenght of 75%.

Step 25

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L). Make a selection as shown in image. Use the Source Image, to get your selection.

Name new layer, "Orange Leaf".

Step 26

You'll see the transformation of the leaf.

Read carefully this step. Follow the steps, from Fig 1, to Fig 7.

I do not want to confuse you. Just follow the steps, as you will be working with only one leaf. (That's all is needed).

Step 27

Place layer, "Orange Leaf" on top of the little branch (stem). Merge this layer down.

Merge this layer again, to layer, "Orange". Leave layer name, "Orange".

Step 28

You should have something like this.

Step 29

The making of a pear.

Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M).

Make a circular selection of the area shown in image.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), the selection.

Name new layer, "Pear".

Step 30

Making of the pear.

Again I beg you to follow the directions given in image. It is important for you to know, how to work with the warp tool, to get the shape of the pear.

The color, is very important to get the numbers that I am giving you. It took me some time to figure out, the color and the smoothness of the pear. Good luck!

Step 31

The making of a yellow apple.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), a selection from source image, as you did for the pear.

Name new layer, "Yellow Apple".

Use Filter - Liquify - Warp.

100 size brush, and a brush pressure of 100%. Fig 2.

Use the Pucker Tool (P) 30 px size brush, to make a darker pucked spot over the apple. Smudge the sided of the dark spot.

Coloring the apple.

Image - Adjustments - Hue/Saturation.
Hue + 20 Saturation + 50

Filter - Noise - Add Noise.
Amount: 5.00 %
Uniform.
Filter - Noise - Despeckle.

Step 32

The Background.

I am using this background, but you are welcome to make your own.

We've been working over a white background. This time we will make the background to be used in this tutorial.

Open a new layer, name it "Background".
Use the Gradient Tool (G). Layer set to "Difference".
Use color # 006666 and color # 330000.
Drag your mouse horizontally, from left to right several times.

Open other layer, name it, "Foreground"
Same technique used for background.
Use color # 333333 and 000000.
Drag your mouse vertically several times, until you get your desired colors.

You can delete the first layer, ("White"), you were using from the beginning of this tutorial.

Step 33

Drag the layer, "Yellow Apple" to the new layer button, located at the bottom of your layers column.

Name new layer, "Apple 2".

Make a copy of the stem on top of layer, "Pear", do not name the new layer, merge it down to "Apple 2", so, this yellow apple has a stem too.

Place all the fruit over the "Foreground" as shown in image.

Step 34

The shadows.

They are copies of "individual" fruit.

Hold Ctrl over layer with fruit you want to make the shadow.

With layer selected, fill the selection with Black.

Layer blending mode set to: Multiply.

Opacity of 45%.

Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur.
2.5 px

Place the shadows as shown in image.

Merge all the layers together, to form only one layer, name it, "Fruit".

Step 35

This will be final image.

I appreciate your patience, and dedication, to following me through these steps, to achieve a beautiful making the fruit. I do hope, these tutorials, shown here at pxleyes, written by talented Artists, help you to develop a wide understanding of working with Photoshop.

I ask you again, if you have any questions about these tutorials, or problems understanding some steps, do not hesitate, ask us, we will be so happy to help you.

I wish you good luck, and that you learn from us, as we did from others. Thank you again.

47 Comments:

Alan2641 says:

great detail well done

(5 years and 1770 days ago)

Clinge says:

Very good tutorial George55. Again it toucht me a lot of new things. Keep on the good work

(5 years and 1770 days ago)

Maya3D says:

Superb details.... Thank you.

(5 years and 1770 days ago)

George55 says:

Alan2641, Clinge, Maya 3D... Thank you. I'll see you at the contests...!

(5 years and 1770 days ago)

Guest says:

wow, nice tut

(5 years and 1769 days ago)

Guest says:

I feel this is one of my best tutorial which give lots of excitement. Thanks for such an wonderful tut...!

(5 years and 1768 days ago)

loopyluv says:

Wow! excellent tut! thanks~~~!!!!!

(5 years and 1766 days ago)

Guest says:

Excellent demo! Thanks

(5 years and 1766 days ago)

Akassa says:

Simply stunning >.< very very creative and well done!

(5 years and 1765 days ago)

George55 says:

Thank you loopyluv, Akassa,....guests, thank you for taking the time to read this tutorial. I appreciate it!

(5 years and 1764 days ago)

Guest says:

Thanks for posting, great techniques here.

(5 years and 1764 days ago)

Widiar says:

Very good and detailed tutorial, awesome work..

(5 years and 1763 days ago)

Guest says:

Very nice work. Great to see what can be done with some imagination.

(5 years and 1763 days ago)

Guest says:

both inspiration and work

(5 years and 1762 days ago)

Guest says:

amazing geo wish more for us

(5 years and 1760 days ago)

Guest says:

Very creative! Your tutorial has been posted at bestphotoshoptutorials.net with a link back to your portfolio.

(5 years and 1760 days ago)

Guest says:

Wah.....gr8...i am liking it....

(5 years and 1759 days ago)

Guest says:

the best I have ever seen

(5 years and 1759 days ago)

hereisanoop says:

This is tutorial is amazingly well explained that a beginner too can make this one..

Fantastic work here... thank you George!

(5 years and 1758 days ago)

Guest says:

Excellent Pak.....It's so difficult for me.....Bagus..bagus..acung dua jempol.......

(5 years and 1756 days ago)

Guest says:

Excellent tutorial, very creative... Well done thanks George.

(5 years and 1755 days ago)

Guest says:

(Yasir nawab) thank you very much

(5 years and 1754 days ago)

Guest says:

Perfect Tutorials for interested canditates of photoshop...

(5 years and 1754 days ago)

Guest says:

Incredible! Very creative !

(5 years and 1753 days ago)

erikuri says:

It's incredible that those fruit were made from wood and metal!!!

(5 years and 1752 days ago)

Guest says:

superb perfect work.....and well done for ur creative work........which u create from tat picture.........nd thnk u for ur clean explanation sir

(5 years and 1751 days ago)

Guest says:

great work!!!
thing i only concern is the light of each fruits came from different directions.

(5 years and 1750 days ago)

Guest says:

wow - excellent

(5 years and 1750 days ago)

George55 says:

Comments appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read the tutorial and hope it helps to develop in you a creative mind.

(5 years and 1750 days ago)

Guest says:

I loved this, very clever, thanks for sharing...

Cheers Peter

(5 years and 1750 days ago)

erathion says:

Great work George...fantastic tutorial...good luck

(5 years and 1747 days ago)

Guest says:

I'm Italian, and so i'm sorry for my english.
I'd like to say that your tutorial is very good. I hope you want to do other of them!

(5 years and 1741 days ago)

sebykxxx says:

great tutorial.

(5 years and 1735 days ago)

Guest says:

大师思路巧妙.

(5 years and 1726 days ago)

Guest says:

Great tutorial, I shared it with my high school Photoshop class!

(5 years and 1725 days ago)

Guest says:

Waga! what a amazing steps u shown here! fantastic! it catches my eyes! thanks

Clippingimages.com

(5 years and 1724 days ago)

Guest says:

Great work.Thank you very much

(5 years and 1721 days ago)

Guest says:

thats f***ing great sir..
hhahhahaha

(5 years and 1694 days ago)

Guest says:

Excellent! I tried it and it is just great. Thanks for the tutorial.

(5 years and 1691 days ago)

Guest says:

Amazing!!! really nice.....

Please visit this site:
http://www.clippingimages.com/

(5 years and 1671 days ago)

mounirupa says:

Excellent.......
WOW...
What a excellent brain u have....
pls give me your brain....

(5 years and 1614 days ago)

Guest says:

super tutorial had great fun doing it, will look now for your other tuts, thank you

(5 years and 1586 days ago)

Guest says:

Inspired.Great work.

(5 years and 1553 days ago)

Guest says:

i was looking for a tutorial which would play with different filters, blending options to an existing fruits photo. I never expected that this tutorial would teach to make still life from the scratch!
This opens a new path in front of me. Thanks you so much!!!!

(5 years and 1401 days ago)

Guest says:

Best Tutorial Ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(5 years and 839 days ago)

arifulbk says:

manush ato creative kivabe hoite pare !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

joteel work...

(5 years and 689 days ago)

Guest says:

amazing work........

(5 years and 539 days ago)

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