Photoshop composing tutorial: The spirit of sport

Photoshop composing tutorial: cropping, using brushes, color looks

While the basketball player's sporting spirit runs wild, you'll learn about techniques and methods of image composition. Take a look over the shoulder of trainer Marco Kolditz in a Photoshop composing tutorial lasting over an hour on cropping, using brushes, applying filters and fine-tuning.

Removing the basketball player from the background

In order to merge image components from different source materials, these components must first be cut out. In this respect, cropping is an essential step in almost every composing process. And every motif brings its own challenges that you can overcome with a wide variety of approaches. Let the tutorial show you how your trainer crops the basketball player, paying attention to even the smallest details.

Placing the subject in compositing and working with light and shadow

Placing is more than just inserting. You should pay attention to highlights and shadows so that your compositing doesn't end up looking like a piece of work. In the tutorial, you will learn what is important when placing image components. You will also use the Dodge and Burn method with the Dodge and Burn tool to add more vibrancy to the sports spirit.

Create and adjust brushes and use them to create eye-catching effects

You create the threads of the animal spirit and the glitter effect from large and small glowing dots entirely yourself. During the tutorial, you will create and customize your own brushes and use them to paint the effects. The course will also teach you how to use filters and layer modes as well as how to fine-tune all components.

What you'll learn in the Photoshop compositing tutorial

Using a practical example, you will completely recreate the creation of a compositing from the source material to the fine-tuned image. The following techniques, which you will need again and again in your composing work, are covered in detail:

• Cropping: How to crop the basketball player from the background using Photoshop tools
• Create brushes: Create your own brush tips to paint threads and create glitter effects
• Light and shadow: Create a more three-dimensional appearance
• Filters, look, fine-tuning: Use filters and layer modes to create a harmonious atmosphere

The images used in the training are available for free on Pixabay. A readme file with links to the images is included so that you can follow the instructions yourself.