Create a Fairyland Photo in Adobe Photoshop, Alice Style

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How to Create a Fairyland Photo With Adobe Photoshop

In today’s post, I’ll show you how to use Adobe Photoshop to create a fairyland photo scene based on “Alice in Wonderland”.
First, we’ll build the main scene using some stock images. Then, we’ll add flowers and plants and blend them together using layers, masking, and brushes. After that, we’ll add a rabbit and eyes for the tree, plus some mist to enhance the dreamy feel of the scene. We’ll use several adjustment layers to complete the final effect.

Table of contents 6 items

What You’ll Need
4. How to Add the Mushrooms
5. How to Add the Rabbit
6. How to Add Eyes to the Tree
7. Final Adjustments
We’re Done!

What You’ll Need

The following resources were used to create this effect:

1. How to Build the Base Scene
Step 1
Create a new 2000 x 1333 px document in Photoshop with the given settings:

Step 2
Open the forest image. Drag this image onto the white canvas using the Move Tool (V).

Step 3
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance and set it as a Clipping Mask
Change the Midtones values to make the forest more yellow.

Step 4
Create a new adjustment layer with Curves to darken the forest. On this layer mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) and choose a soft round brush with black color. Use this brush to erase the middle of the background, as we’re planning to add the main light source there.

Step 5
Create another Curves adjustment layer to increase the haze of the forest, especially on the left. Use a soft black brush to paint on the rest so it won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 6
Add a Curves adjustment layer to make the forest darker. Paint in the middle so it doesn’t get darkened.

Step 7
Open the path 1 image and move it into the main canvas. Use the Free Transform Tool (Control-T) to distort the image’s perspective a little.

Flip the image horizontally by choosing Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.

Step 8
Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layer panel to add a mask to this layer.
Use the soft black brush to remove the fences and both sides of the path so that only the middle part is visible on the existing midground.

Step 9
Use the Lasso Tool to select the sunny area at the top of the path and set the feather for it to 10:

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue Saturation and set it as a Clipping Mask.
Change the Master settings to saturate this selected area.

Step 10
Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to match the color of the path to the background.

Step 11
Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the path. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the middle and top of the path.

Step 12
Create another Curves adjustment layer with the same purpose. The selected area shows where to paint on the layer mask.

Step 13
Add another Curves adjustment layer to make the top of the path hazier. Paint on the rest so it isn’t affected by this adjustment layer.

2. How to Add Flowers and Plants
Step 1
Open the path 2 image. Use the Lasso Tool to select the left side of the path with flowers and place it on the left of the main canvas.

Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges and blend it with the existing ground.
Step 2
Add the right side of the flower path from the original image to the right of the canvas.

Step 3
Select the flower layers and press Control-G to group them. Change the mode of this group to Normal 100% and create a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the flower color a little.

Step 4
Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the flowers. On the layer mask, use a soft black brush to lighten the effect on the shadow areas.

Step 5
Open the plants 2 image and use the Lasso Tool to select the plant area, then add it to the right corner of the ground.

Use a layer mask to remove the unwanted red details.

Step 6
Create a Hue Saturation adjustment layer and change the Midtones values.

Step 7
Add a Curves adjustment layer to add light to the plants.

Step 8
Create a Curves adjustment layer to increase the shadows a little.

Step 9
Create a new layer below the plant layer and use a soft brush with the color # 100303 and Opacity around 40% to paint shadows under them.

Step 10
Drag the plants 1 image into the document and place it on the right side of the path. Put this layer below the flower path layers.

Use a layer mask to remove the parts covering the midground of the path.

Step 11
Create a Color Balance adjustment layer and change the Midtones settings, making the color of the plants redder and stronger.

Step 12
Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the plants.

Step 13
Open the flower 1 image. Cut out the flower using the Magic Wand Tool (W) and place it on the right edge of the main canvas.

Step 14

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur with Radius 6 px. This step increases the depth of the scene.

Step 15
Create a Hue Saturation adjustment layer to change the color of the flower.

Step 16
Create a Color Balance adjustment layer to make the flower more orange.

Step 17
Add a Curves adjustment layer to darken the flower.

Step 18
Apply a Gaussian Blur 6 px to this layer to make the flower softer and give it depth.

Step 19

Use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to saturate

Step 20

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the flower. Use a soft black brush to paint on the front of this flower so it isn’t affected by this effect.

3. How to Composite the Trees

Step 1

Cut the tree out of the tree 1 image and add it to the left of the canvas. Use a layer mask to remove the unneeded parts .

Step 2

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the tree. Use a soft black brush to create the tree’s shadow

Step 3
Open the tree 2 image and use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to select the whole front tree. Place it on top of the tree 1 image and use a layer mask to blend the two trees together.

Step 4

Use a Hue Saturation adjustment layer to blend the colors of the two trees together

Step 5

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the tree.

Step 6

Use another Curves adjustment layer to increase the haziness of the base next to the top of the path, creating a fitting softness for the scene. The selected area shows where to paint on the layer mask.

Step 7

Create a new layer, change it to Overlay 100% and 50% gray.

Activate the Dodge Tool (O) to paint more light onto the outline of the tree. Below are the two modes: Normal and Overlay.

Step 8

Cut tree 3 out of its background and add it to the top of the existing tree. Use Control-T and Warp to change the shape of the tree a little.

Go to Edit > Puppet Warp to bend the tree a little. Then, use a layer mask to blend this part with the existing tree.

Step 9

Create a Curves adjustment layer to make this part of the tree a little darker. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to reduce the effect on areas you feel are dark enough.

Step 10

Use another Curves adjustment layer to make this part of the tree, and especially the front, hazier.

Step 11

Create a new layer, change it to Overlay 100% and 50% gray. Use the Dodge Tool to brighten the outline of the tree trunk.

4. How to Add the Mushrooms

Step 1
Extract mushroom 1 from its background and add it to the right of the path. Use a layer mask to blend the base of the mushroom with the ground.

Step 2

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the mushroom a little.

Step 3

Create a Curves adjustment layer to adjust the brightness of the mushroom. Paint on the shadow area of the mushroom so it isn’t affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 4

Curves adjustment layer to enhance the shadow area of the mushroom.

Step 5

Create a new layer, change the settings to Overlay 100% and 50% gray. Use the Dodge and Burn Toolto to adjust the light and shadow of the mushroom.

Step 6

To create a shadow for the mushroom, create a new layer below the mushroom layer. Hold Control and click the thumbnail of the mushroom layer to make a selection.

Fill the selection with the color #100303 and flip it vertically. Use Control-T to transform the shadow to match the direction of the light source.

Reduce the Opacity of the layer to 50% and apply a Gaussian Blur 8 px to this layer.

Use the layer mask to reduce the opacity of the shadow, especially the part close to the ground.

Step 7

Open the mushrooms 2 image. Cut out the mushrooms in mushrooms 2 and place them next to the existing mushroom.

Use a layer mask to blend the color of the mushrooms with the ground.

Step 8

Group the mushroom layers and add them to a Hue Saturation adjustment layer in the group to desaturate the mushrooms. Change it to Master.

Step 9

Create a Color Balance adjustment layer to change the color of the mushrooms

Step 10

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the mushroom stems, especially the shadow areas of the mushrooms. On the layer mask, brighten the front of the mushrooms, where they are lit by the light.

Step 11

Isolate mushroom 3 and place it near the top of the path. Use a layer mask to blend the color of the mushroom base with the ground, as we did with the other mushrooms.

Step 12

Create a shadow for this mushroom as we did earlier, following the direction of the light.