I rarely sketch out my ideas, because blending sources this way is not very complicated, but it is important to have a feel of what you want to create, as well as the atmosphere, before you actually start working.
Like with any image in which sources are being used, selections are the first stage. We want to isolate every source so that we can create our own composition.
Below you can see the background sources and the main object, in this case, the turtle.
When an image is imported into photoshop, it's known as a Background Layer This means that there is no layer below that one. To be able to remove the sky from Night Fate's background, we need to make this a workable layer.
The Pen Tool is my preferred tool for extracting an object, because it's a very versatile tool that once mastered can be used to accomplish almost anything. Draw a path by pointing and clicking around the area you want to delete. The selection doesn't have to be perfect, photoshop has an extensive range of Edge Refining tools that will make any mistakes easy to clear.
Delete the original sky, like shown below, so that the new sky can be imported. An interesting sky is very important to most images, because it helps create an atmosphere. For images with a "Happy" mood, a clear or partly cloudy blue sky works well. However, for a dark and almost depressing image, a stormy sky conveys the right emotions. With this image i chose a sunset, because it shows a slow passage of time.
Once the original sky has been removed, select the new sky and use Ctrl+C to copy it, then go back to the desert background image and press Ctrl+V
Once the new sky is in your image, press Ctrl+T and resize the sky to fit over the image. It's VERY important to hold the SHIFT key down while resizing, to maintain the original proportions of the image.
Next, move the 'Sky' layer underneath the 'Desert Layer' and press Ctrl+J to duplicate the 'Sky' layer.
Then go to Filter - Blur - Average
The 'Sky Copy' layer is now the average colour of that sky, with no differing tones. We'll use this layer to match the hues between the Desert and the Sky.
Move the 'Sky Copy' layer to the top, and hold the ALT key down. Next, click on the dividing line between the 'Sky Copy' and the 'Desert' layer. This creates a linked layer which acts like a layer mask.
I usually change the blend mode to 'Soft Light' or 'Colour' , but in this case the two blend modes were not strong enough. The blend mode 'Overlay' worked well, and that was the one that was chosen.
My Pen Tool selection was quite rough, and some of the original sky could still be seen around the edges. This is the perfect time to use on one of Photoshop's most hidden features, the "Defringe" layer feature. The Defringe option almost perfectly removes any thing white halo around a selected objects.
It can be found under Layer - Matting - Defringe
A value of 1 pixel was chosen.
Below you can see the image so far. As you can see, the hues between the sky and desert match together, and there is no white halo around the image.
The next stages show the slight editing of the background, as well as adding all the different sources.
The perspective of the Desert layer is different to that of the turtle layer. This can be simply changed by pressing Ctrl+T , next right click and press "Perspective" and pull the bottom two corners as shown below.
Using the Pen Tool, make a selection around the turtle, then press Ctrl+T and resize and move it into position.
The next step is to match the lighting of the turtle to the rest of the image. Create a new layer and call it "Lighting" next link the layer with a clipping mask like described in Step 7.
Using a soft brush at about 70% opacity, begin to build up lighting and shadow layers, once you're done, change the blend mode to "Soft Light"
This creates a subtle change in lighting.
Next create another linked layer above the "Lighting" layer and name it "Inner Shadows", then using a low opacity brush paint along the bottom of the turtle. This again helps to create a subtle change in lighting.
Of course, no image would look at all realistic without a shadow. Paint a shadow along the bottom edge of the turtle on a new layer below the "Turtle" layer. Name this layer "Shadows".
Once you're done, blur this layer as shown below. This helps to create a nice, soft shadow.
Most of my shadows consist of two or three layers. Add a new layer named "Shadows 2" above the original shadow layer, then paint a shadow that covers a larger area around the turtle, like shown below. This layer needs to be blurred almost twice as much as the first shadow was.
Once you've done that, change the blend mode to "Soft Light"
This step shows how the image looks so far. As you can see the lighting on the turtle closely matches that of the background and a convincing shadow is in place.
The next few steps are very similar to ones shown above, with layers being linked and blended together with the layer mask.
Select the sand roughly and copy and paste it into the main composition, then move this new layer underneath the lighting layers on the turtle.
Resize the "Sand" layer to fit the turtle and add a layer mask. Use this layer mask to delete the areas where there is no shell.
Do the same with the "Grass" layer.
Use the Layer Masks to make a transition between the grass and sand layers.
Import the pre-masked tree files into your composition and resize them to fit around the shell. The trees were added to show the difference in dimensions. This shows that either the turtle is huge, or the trees are tiny.
Remove the lower parts of the trees and in a similar way to the shadows on the turtle, add the shadow for each tree.
Use a soft brush to pain the new lighting on the trees, add each of these on a new linked layer with a Clipping Mask. Again, i'll spare you the details because they've already been described.
Below you can see the image so far.
Roughly select the Stream and import it into the composition, then resize it on the turtle's shell. Add a layer mask to this layer so that it can be blended better with the rest of the image.
Erase the unnecessary parts using the layer mask, I also changed the lighting of the stream.
In this step, using the same steps as above, i added the gazelles and the elephants, I also grouped each object separately for a more organised layers palette.
The next few layers are used to match the colours of the scene, as well as to create a mood for the image. As mentioned below, i've created custom gradients that I use most of the time in my images, but i also use some default ones.
Add a new Gradient Map adjustment layer, and click on the default black and white gradient to enter the Gradient Editor.
Add two adjustment layers, one going from Black to Brown to White and another going from Black to Blue to White.
Change the Brown layer to "Colour" and place it below the Blue one, and change the Blue gradient map to "Soft Light"
Now, select both those gradient maps and group them by pressing Ctrl+G
Change the opacity to 37%
Next add another custom gradient like the one shown below, this gradient can vary, as long as it goes from a dark colour to a light colour. Change the blend mode to Colour and lower the Opacity to 38%
Now add two default gradient maps. The Black and White gradient map should be below the Violet and Orange gradient map. Change the blend mode to the Violet and Orange gradient map to "Soft Light" , then group both layers and lower the opacity to 26%
Now add a Colour Balance adjustment layer to give it a different overall hue, change the blend mode to Darken and slightly lower the opacity.
Add a Black and White adjustment layer and change the options as shown below, and lower the opacity. Next, add a Photo Filter adjustment level, keep it at the default values.
Using a low opacity brush on a new layer, paint the overall lighting adjustments like shown below. Once you're done, the blend mode should be changed to "Soft Light" and the Opacity slightly lowered.
On a new layer paint a simple vignette with a large soft brush, lower the opacity to 78%
Next, give the image a "Soft Glow" effect by merging all the layers onto a single layer above the others. Do this by simultaneously pressing Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E
Next apply a Gaussian Blur to this layer.
Change the blend mode to "Soft Light" and lower the Opacity to around 50%
Below you can see the difference before and after applying the colour and lighting adjustments.
That's it! The image is complete.
I hope this tutorial helped you understand the way i match colours and blend images. Thank you to everyone on this site who has taught me so much. :)
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Thanks Alan!
For anyone interested in seeing the final product on deviant art, follow this link:
http://Ponti55.deviantart.com/art/Life-on-the-Back-of-a-Shell-169199054
Thanks! 
Wow ! Very clearly written and awesome finish ! I learn so much from you ! 
great
(5 years and 781 days ago)really great tutorial, thanks!
(5 years and 780 days ago)Wonderfull, thank you!
(5 years and 780 days ago)สุดยอด
Interesting.
(5 years and 779 days ago)yeah..thats true Alan
u explained very nicely...
love ur work
فلللللللللللله تصدق اعجبني لكن صعب شوي
(5 years and 778 days ago)wooaah!!!! great!!! your great!!!! i learn so much!!! intersting!!!
Thanks
(5 years and 778 days ago)ขยันมาก
(5 years and 777 days ago)Thank you all for your comments! (i used google translate for a couple...) =D
(5 years and 777 days ago)this is fantabulous...!
(5 years and 777 days ago)Thanks a bunch! Def. a beginner and your tutorial helped me out a lot! Thanks for the lesson!
(5 years and 776 days ago)我说这的句话没有意义，不要看我。
(5 years and 776 days ago)Thank's a lot sir ! :')
(5 years and 776 days ago)very nice tutorial and excellent end results, thanks for share
(5 years and 776 days ago)
Yes thank you, this was very helpful = )
(5 years and 774 days ago)reallyy good tutorial, i've learned so much with this.
(5 years and 773 days ago)
Very nicely done, THX
(5 years and 772 days ago)Very very helpful tutorial , thanks !!
(5 years and 769 days ago)
Excellent tutorial Matteo, thanks for sharing your technique.
(5 years and 767 days ago)you are great my friend. thank you for bearing writing all the details. so nice of u
(5 years and 765 days ago)
Thank you SOO much for this tutorial!!! I've been up for hours messing around and you have no idea how many questions you answered for me w/ this one tutorial... all i can say is THANKS!!
(5 years and 764 days ago)Thank you all so much! I'm happy it helped 
hi i just wanted to know how to creat a mask in the 18th step
thank you and the final photo is awsome
hi i just wanted to know how to creat a mask in the 18th step
thank you and the final photo is awsome
amazings.......
(5 years and 763 days ago)just one word : W O W
tq!!!
To create a mask click on the button on the layers palatte that looks like a white circle on a rectangle Thank you for your comments!
i've just trieed this and it's wonderful thanks............:d
Wow, just Wow !!!!!!
(5 years and 762 days ago)hi i have another Q plz
what is the transition that you was talking about?
and how to make it
you know to combine between the sand and grass
thank you very much
hi i have another Q plz
what is the transition that you was talking about?
and how to make it
you know to combine between the sand and grass
thank you very much
i followed this tutorial and my image looks like yours!
so cool, thank you very much
love it
By transition i mean a layer mask on one layer to help the two blend together. I was in essence revealing the layer underneath.
And thanks for your comments
good job. i like it
(5 years and 759 days ago)
nice tutorial, thanks
(5 years and 759 days ago)i dont understand how to do a transition with the grass and the sand
i dont understand how to do a transition with the grass and the sand
can u explain how to do the transition thing because when you just tried to explain it i didnt understand it so can you please tell me exactly what to do thx. and btw good tut
(5 years and 759 days ago)One of the best tutorials I've ever seen! Great! Thank you!
(5 years and 758 days ago)great tutorial..
(5 years and 757 days ago)something so simple yet it looks so professional, your a genius man!
(5 years and 754 days ago)很好，很强大的说
(5 years and 754 days ago)BRAVO!!!
(5 years and 753 days ago)fuck you all spammers
(5 years and 753 days ago)Hello ,,in step 6 i think that there a mistake or because I do not know English well and use the translation of google ... I could not to understand. You to become more clearly?
But I do not mind thank you very much.
amazing work!
awesome tutorial - very clear.
(5 years and 751 days ago)beatiful tutorial man!
jah bles =)
great tutorial, i really learned a lot
Great Tut!.... very detailed.... good job!
(5 years and 744 days ago)
fantastic
(5 years and 743 days ago)
excellent!! great tutorial
(5 years and 742 days ago)very helpful .... an amazing step by step tutorial .. thanx ponti55
(5 years and 741 days ago)can u help me with step 19?
Use the Layer Masks to make a transition between the grass and sand layers.
I dont' know what to do here
very usefull
(5 years and 740 days ago)really GREAT work
(5 years and 733 days ago)hi its excellent. thanks for sharing. Hats to you.
(5 years and 731 days ago).You are very skilled.
(5 years and 729 days ago)De verdad muchas gracias por tu aporte es un excelente tutorial!
(5 years and 725 days ago)Зашибись!!! Автор то кто?
(5 years and 725 days ago)Зашибись!!! Автор то кто?
(5 years and 725 days ago)Excellent and well explain. thank´s for sharing.
(5 years and 724 days ago)BEST........
(5 years and 724 days ago)way to complicated.... I am a professional Graphic designer and the this isn't that difficult to make but you made it very complicated when all you had to do was use burn and dodge tools and some hue and saturation effects. most of the steps were not necessary in the end.
I guess for beginners its ok, but still, using adjustment layers for everything isn't very useful.
Good end picture... too many steps...
Wonderful tutorial - best one I've found so far and it was great to follow and taught me a great deal! Thank you so much for doing this - I know it took a lot of your time
we like this assignment very much. Add more like this.
nice one
(5 years and 714 days ago)Even though i've been banned from this site, i still like reading all your great comments. I'm glad this tutorial has reached and helped so many people Thank you all very much!
"way to complicated.... I am a professional Graphic designer and the this isn't that difficult to make but you made it very complicated when all you had to do was use burn and dodge tools and some hue and saturation effects. most of the steps were not necessary in the end.
I guess for beginners its ok, but still, using adjustment layers for everything isn't very useful.
Good end picture... too many steps..."
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
If you are a "Graphic Designer" then why are you looking at tutorials?!
THANKS FOR THE TUTORIAL... IS AMAZING
(5 years and 707 days ago)Fantastic!!!
(5 years and 680 days ago)wooooow
(5 years and 678 days ago)I like ur technique! Great Tut ! Thank u sir ! ^_^. U help me learn clearly a lot of things.One more, thanks.
(5 years and 675 days ago)thanks for the great step by step tutorial, I completed it as best I could.. (I'm new to photoshop)
Mine looks very similar, the only problem I had was merging the layers towards the end.
great tutorial, great art!
thanks again
Excellent tut
(5 years and 674 days ago)great i try .......it
(5 years and 673 days ago)Wao!!!!
you really make very extraordinary picture
best.......
Amazing tutorial man, thank you very much!
(5 years and 663 days ago)wooooow great i try .......it
you really make very extraordinary picture
i love the coloring very nice and i love graphic designing love this
(5 years and 614 days ago)
Superb tutorial mate... thanks a ton for sharing with us it will surely improve my work!
(5 years and 613 days ago)Great job man. Even me being a noob at using Photoshop my final result is amazing, thats becouz u explained very well each step Thx so much man
Just.. WOW awesome man.
(5 years and 598 days ago)Thank you all very much! Glad you found my tutorial useful I've seen some of your results on around the web and i've been very impressed
the best. i was crazy to know how to make those dreamy efects and images. you explaned a bunch. i'll go through this tutorial many times till i'm good at it! i apreciate it so much that you took your time to reveal some of your techniques
(5 years and 580 days ago)i love ur work
(5 years and 574 days ago)inceiblemente pero cierto!!!
(5 years and 549 days ago)thankyou for sharing dude.. your a geneius
(5 years and 500 days ago)the link to the "night Fate" gives an error on devian art. can you PLEASE email it to me rnllbrrdxn333@gmail.com
thank you
hi, the link to the "night fate" is not working. Can you please be so kind and upload a new link of maybe mail the pick to me? the tut looks amazing, but I cant do it without the photo )-:
(5 years and 477 days ago)Thanks so much, I`ve used this in one of my works, and of course gave you full credit
http://shopjob.deviantart.com/#/d3fz7rm
Congratulations
(5 years and 444 days ago)Definately one of the best Tutorials I've seen so far! Thanks for the good ideas on Layers and the Defringeing
Hey, I found the link to Night Fate's background on deviantArt.
http://night-fate-stock.deviantart.com/gallery/?q=landscape#/d2s6y4c
Hope this helps!
O wow, this is sick!What a great idea. I love it
One of the best tutorials ... thanks!
(5 years and 389 days ago)Got it! Thanks a lot again for hepling me out!
(5 years and 365 days ago)super!
It also helped me in school; in the art class i used this tutorial when we had photoshop, thanks a lot!
I got the highest grade on in, btw .. =D
Thank you all very much for the comments! And thank you to the guest that reposted the broken link, if anyone has trouble finding it it can be found here:
http://night-fate-stock.deviantart.com/gallery/?q=landscape#/d2s6y4c
Excellent tutorial, ponti55! I learned so much about lighting layers and how to use gradients to change the mood of the piece. Thank you! My end result can be seen here http://kariedaway.deviantart.com/art/Passage-264206580
(5 years and 308 days ago)Seriously, this tutorials is a big help... it shows even the tiniest details. job well done sir.
I am impressed.
thank you sooo much,.
i love your tutorial - it helps me to create my own photoshop composing
Really Cool!!!
I think its easy enough to follow so I think I will try it out.
Such a cool concept
Awesome man, Really great stuff...
(5 years and 153 days ago)this tutorial sucks. it wasn't very well explained and why are you using a turtle
(5 years and 142 days ago)please need help the sky picture is deleted and btw nice tutorial
NIce TuToRiAl
(4 years and 361 days ago)what's the picture named?
(4 years and 357 days ago)Made my day!!!!
Thnx heaps
Nice work, however I'm a bit confused at step 18 and using layer masks to blend the 2 landscapes together.... I think it may need more explaining there and if anyone could help me out that would be great!
(4 years and 271 days ago)My outcome; http://kuys.deviantart.com/#/d5nzj4c
(4 years and 252 days ago)Frankly good the design and a great idea
(4 years and 214 days ago)Brilliant Chap Just Brilliant
incredibly easy even for me and im only twelve
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As Always a very well explained tutorial -=- like the detail on your lighting techniques
(5 years and 787 days ago)