Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Washed Out Nuclear Fall Out Scene

Basically I am going to show you the steps of making a Washed Out Fall Out scene with Photoshop. I used CS5, but any version of Photoshop should suffice.

Well first off, I would like to say that this is my first tutorial. So I am new to this so bare with me. Also comments on how this turns out is appreciated.

Difficulty- Easy to Intermediate (I am a full time student, so judge that how you will)

I will provide all the source images I used with each that they are needed.

I hope you find the abundance of pictures helps more then just words.

End result:

Author:

Views: 12013

Score: 6.86 / 10

Author earned: $10

Practice tutorial

Step 1

my first step begins with using this source image.
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/218754

After you have downloaded this image load it into photoshop.

You should have this loaded into photoshop

Name this layer 'Road'

Step 2

Now that we have our image loaded into photoshop, we unlock this layer by either duplicating it or dragging the lock icon to the trash ( if you decide to duplicate it, discard the orginal layer leaving only the unlocked one).Then we will create a layer mask. I used a soft edge brush and masked out everything except the road. It really does not matter what size brush you use as long as you end up with something fairly similar to this

Step 3

Now we will load another source image into photoshop.
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/130290

You will need to load this image onto our first document, which is the road.

After you have loaded this image onto the original, we will once again add a layer mask ( you may need to stretch out this image so the mountains fit across the entire screen.)
Now take a soft edge brush and mask out everything expect for the mountains. After you have done this you should be left with this.

As you can see the edges are very soft, and part of the tree line is still visible. Don't worry about this, I will explain more later. If you have achieved something fairly close to this, drag the mountain layer below the road layer.

name this layer 'Mountains'

Step 4

Now we are going to add our sky to the picture. Heres another source
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/120388

Like previous steps, we are going to add this photo to our original document. Since the photo is high resolution you can stretch it to fit your document. We will add a layer mask and mask out the upper half of the picture ( I took the lower half of the picture because the clouds were more detailed.) Once you have masked out the upper half, raise the picture up with the move tool so the clouds are now at the top of the document. Name this layer Clouds You should be left with this
You do not need to mask out the lower part with a soft edge brush like I since we will drag our "Clouds" layer below the mountains.

Step 5

Now this is what you should have so far.

Step 6

Now we are going to add our final source image.
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/231026
Once this is loaded rename the layer desert, and move it to the very bottom of the layers.

Step 7

Now we are going to duplicate our Desert layer and move the duplicate to the very top. Now with this layer selected, go to filters, blur, radial blur.

Step 8

Now set the blending mode to Hard Light and you should have something fairly similar to this.

Step 9

Now we will add an adjustment layer to our "cloud layer"

You can do this two ways. 1) You can click on the clouds layer and go to images, adjustments, hue/saturation. Or
2) You may add an adjustment by going to layer, new adjustment layer, hue/saturation. or with the add adjustment layer icon which can be found on the layers pallet . If you decided to do this by using step 2 make sure you link this adjustment layer to the clouds layer. This will only apply this adjustment to this layer then.

Step 10

Your clouds layer should now look like this with the new adjustment.

Step 11

Now we will add an adjustment layer to our Mountains layer. Will we use the same process as before.

Step 12

Now we are going to load our original Clouds source in a new document. Once you have done that, make a selection of a cloud like this

Step 13

Once our selection is made we are going to feather it. While clicked on the selction tool, or lasso tool, you will a refine edge button near the top. Click on it and it will bring up a pallet like this. Feather the cloud til you get something similar to the picture below.

Step 14

Once you have done this, copy your selection. Do this by edit, copy. Once you have copied it paste it onto our original document. Move it to the back of the road. Your image should look like this.

Make sure this new cloud layer is above our blur #1 layer

Step 15

Now do this process several times with the same or different cloud selections. (Step 12-14)
You will end up with this.

Note that you may either merge these cloud layers or you could put them in a group. I preferred a group, so if needed you can edit them individually. Either way name the new merged layer or group to 'Dust'

Step 16

Now this Step is optional. You made add a picture of your self, or anything that you desire. I added my self. If you decide to do this then your image will look something like this, expect you will have added what ever you have pleased.

Step 17

Now we will repeat steps 12-14. We will add these new cloud layers above the layer you used in 16. This makes what ever you chose for step 16 look like its not just copied and pasted onto our document. It looks like it is in our document. Name the merged layer or group as Dust front

Step 18

Now we will apply an adjustment layer to all our layers. Do this by going to layer, new adjustment layer, hue/saturation. Make sure the colorized box is checked.

Step 19

You should have something fairly similar to this now

Step 20

We are almost done now. Go back to our orginial desert layer. Duplicated, and bring it to the very top of all our layers. We are going to apply a radial blur again. But this time with these settings.

Step 21

It will look like this

Name this layer Blur #2

Step 22

Now add a layer mask. Take a soft edge brush, size does not matter. Turn the opacity down a little bit. I set it at 50% but you can set it at what % and still achieve the same look. It will look like this

Once your picture looks like this, set the blending mode to overlay

Step 23

Duplicate Blur #2 and then remove the layer mask. Set this duplicate to soft light.
Now you have fished this tutorial. I hope you could understand my steps. Feedback is appreciated!

12 Comments:

swan10 says:

This is really a good tutorial! I totally appreciate your creativity as a beginner. i'm new too and i wish i had talent closer to you. Keep it up.

(1 year and 111 days ago)

goonslat says:

omg iloved your tutorial!!!!!!

(1 year and 110 days ago)

Guest says:

loved it!!

(1 year and 110 days ago)

Qui says:

you good! i love it n must try it!

(1 year and 108 days ago)

Guest says:

It was good, never used the radial blur before. Keep up the good work.

(1 year and 108 days ago)

Guest says:

I loved the tutorial. It really helps beginners like me.

(1 year and 104 days ago)

Guest says:

very good tutorial and very easy and simple steps to follow thanks and keep up the greate work.

(1 year and 104 days ago)

Guest says:

many many thanks. keep up like this.

(1 year and 100 days ago)

Brett Widmann says:

This is a really cool tutorial. I love how it turned out.

(1 year and 79 days ago)

deepika says:

this is nice tutorial. thanq sooo much.

(1 year and 69 days ago)

bratislav says:

for creativity, and imagination i give you 10, nice work,

(1 year and 10 days ago)

Guest says:

this is just ugly. bad taste too.

(138 days ago)

Leave a Comment

Name:

Comment:

submit