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Design a Surreal Desert Scene in Photoshop

Posted by Ciursă Ionuţ in Photoshop Tutorials on January 12th, 2010

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create a surreal time-themed photomanipulation using Photoshop. The name of this photomanipulation is "Time Guardian" and it was originally created by Mariusz Karasiewicz (aka FISHBOT1337). I want to take this opportunity to thank him for collaborating with me on this tutorial.

Materials Needed:

I would like to thank the great photographers and artists for giving me permission to use their images: Rene Asmussen, night-fate-stock, vividlight, jdbartlett, Mind-Illusi0nZ-Stock, Amor-Fati-Stock, ewark, lpdragonfl, Andrew C., Sage-Dreamer, redheadstock.

Before you use any stock images from these photographers, please make sure that you read their stock rules and respect them. They have worked very hard to create all these stock images.

Step 1: Create a new document and add the sky

Go to File > New (Ctrl+N) and create a new document in Photoshop. Then download this sky stock image, open it in Photoshop and move it into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Then go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T), hold down the Shift key and resize this image. Name this layer "sky", hit Ctrl+G to put it inside a group and name the group "background."

Step 2: Add a small galaxy on the sky

Create a new layer inside the "background" group and name it "galaxy." Then download these brushes and install them. Select the Brush Tool (B), chose one of those galaxy brushes, set the foreground color to #8c8c8c and create a small galaxy on your sky. Then set the blend mode of this layer to Color Dodge 25%.

Step 3: Add the first desert stock photo

Download this desert stock photo and open it in Photoshop. Double-click on the background layer to unlock it, then use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to select the sky and delete it. Move this image into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Hit Ctrl+M to open the Curves window and use the settings from the following image. Name this layer "desert 1."

Note: You can also use the Eraser Tool (E) and a soft brush to erase some parts of the sky from this photo.

Step 4: Duplicate the "desert 1" layer

Duplicate the "desert 1" layer (Ctrl+J), and then go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Use the Move Tool (V) to move this layer to the right side of your document and name it "desert 2."

Step 5: Add the second desert stock photo

Download this desert stock photo and open it in Photoshop. Double-click on the background layer to unlock it, select the sky using the Magic Wand Tool (W) and delete it. You can also use the Eraser Tool (E) and a soft brush to erase the top area of the desert. Move this image into your document using the Move Tool (V) and go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Double-click on this layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Gradient Overlay. Name this layer "desert 3."

Note: Arrange the image from this step in a way that makes visible the hills of the other two desert photos beneath it.

Step 6: Add the iron mask

Download this iron mask stock photo and open it in Photoshop. Use the Pen Tool (P) to separate the mask from the background and then use the Move Tool (V) to move it into your first document. Go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T), hold down the Shift key and resize this layer; right-click on the image, select Flip Horizontal and then hit Enter. Name this layer "iron mask" and put it inside a group (Ctrl+G). Name the group "iron mask" too.

Step 7: Add a Gradient Overlay layer style to the iron mask

Double-click on the "iron mask" layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Gradient Overlay.

Step 8: Mask the bottom area of the iron mask

The bottom area of our iron mask should be buried in the sand. To make this happen, make sure that you have the "iron mask" layer selected, and then go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Select a black soft brush (B) and paint with it over the bottom area of your iron mask.

Step 9: Add a Levels adjustment layer

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels, check the "Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask" option and use the settings from the following image to make the iron mask brighter.

Step 10: Create a shadow for the iron mask

Ctrl-click on the thumbnail of the "iron mask" layer to select it, then create a new layer and fill it with black. Put this layer beneath the "iron mask" layer, then go to Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical. Move this shadow at the bottom of the mask. Then go to Edit > Free Transform, hold down the Ctrl key and transform the shadow like I did. Blur this layer (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) and then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a big soft brush with the opacity of 20% to erase some areas of this layer. Keep in mind that the shadow should be darker at the bottom of the iron mask and brighter at the other end. Name this layer "shadow."

Step 11: Add a sign on the iron mask’s forehead

Create a new layer, set the foreground color to #cca899, select a soft brush (B) with the diameter of 100px and click once in the middle of the iron mask’s forehead. Name this layer "forehead light" and set its blend mode to Overlay 75%. Then download the Celtic Rune Charm Pack, open the "Rune-Ger.jpg" image in Photoshop and use the Pen Tool (P) to separate the sign from the background. Move this sign into your first document using the Move Tool (V) and put it above the forehead light. Name this layer "forehead sign" and set its blend mode to Overlay.

Step 12: Add two scars to the iron mask

Download this tree texture and open it in Photoshop. Move the image into your first document, use Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to resize the image and put it on the right cheek of your iron mask. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light and use the Eraser Tool (E) and a soft brush to erase the areas of this texture that you don’t need. Then duplicate this layer (Ctrl+J), go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal, use Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to resize this layer and put this scar on the other cheek of your iron mask.

Step 13: Create some lights coming out of the iron mask’s eyes

Create a new layer, select a white soft brush (B) and use it to create some lights that are coming out of the iron mask’s eyes. Name this layer "eyes light" and set its blend mode to Soft Light 85%.

Step 14: Add a bronze hand

Create a new group and name it "hand." Then download this bronze hand stock image and open it in Photoshop. Use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to separate the hand from the background and use the Move Tool (V) to move the hand into your first document. Go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T) resize this image and rotate it. Then select the Eraser Tool (E) and erase the bottom area of your hand to make it look like it’s buried in the sand. Name this layer "hand."

Step 15: Make some color adjustments to the hand

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves, check the "Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask" option and use the settings from the following image. Set the opacity of this layer to 80%.

Step 16

Add three more adjustment layers (Color Balance, Channel Mixer and Levels) using the settings from the following image. You can create all these layers from the "Layer > New Adjustment Layer" menu.

Step 17: Add a texture to the hand

Chose one of these rock textures that you like, or find another one on the internet, open it in Photoshop and move it into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Then use Free Transform (Ctrl+T) to resize this image and rotate it. Make sure that this layer is above all the other adjustment layers, then right-click on it and select Create Clipping Mask. Name this layer "texture" and set its blend mode to Soft Light 30%.

Step 18: Use the iron mask as a texture for the hand

Duplicate the "iron mask" layer from the "iron mask" group (Ctrl+J). Then move this new layer above the hand’s texture layer, right-click on it and select Create Clipping Mask. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 19: Create a clock needle

Download these Gearing Brushes and install them. Create a new layer, set the foreground color to black and use one of the brushes which you have downloaded to create a clock needle coming out of one of the hand’s fingers. Double-click on this layer and use the settings from the following image. Name this layer "clock needle."

Step 20: Color the hand in orange

Ctrl-click on the "hand" layer to select it. Then create a new layer and fill it with the color #d57426. Name this layer "orange hand" and set its blend mode to Soft Light 70%. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a big soft brush to erase the bottom area of this layer.

Step 21: Create some gears

Set the foreground color to black, create a new layer and use the brushes which you have previously download to create some gears inside the hand. Double-click on this layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a small hard brush to erase the area of the gears that you don’t need.

Step 22: Adjust the lights and the shadows of the iron mask

Double-click on your hand layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Gradient Overlay. Then use the Burn Tool (O) and the Dodge Tool (O) to create the lights and the shadows. Experiment with the Range and Exposure settings from the option bar to get the effect you want.

Note: when you have the Dodge Tool or the Burn Tool selected you can use the Alt key to quickly shift between them.

Step 23: Create a shadow for your hand

Create a shadow for your hand using the same process which you have used for the iron mask.

Step 24: Add some clocks

Create a new group and name it "clocks." Then download this image and open it in Photoshop. Use the Pen Tool (P) to separate the clock from the rest of the image. Then move the clock into your first document using the Move Tool (V). Go to Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T), hold down the Shift key and resize this image. Then use the Eraser Tool (E) and a grunge brush to erase some areas of this clock.

Repeat this step to add more clocks to your image. Change the size of each clock and rotate them. Take a look at the following image for reference. Select all your clock layers and merge them together (Ctrl+E). Name this layer "clocks."

Step 25: Add a shadow to the clocks

Double-click on the "clocks" layer to open the Layer Style window and use the settings from the following image for Drop Shadow.

Step 26

Create a new layer and fill it with black. Set the blend mode of this layer to Linear Dodge (Add). Then select the Brush Tool (B), select a brush with the diameter of 2-3px, select a nice orange color and create some random lines around your clocks. Take a look at the following image for reference.

Step 27: Add some birds

Download these brushes and install them. Then create a new layer and use those brushes to create some small birds on your sky. Name this layer "birds."

Step 28: Final color adjustments

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map and use the settings from the following image. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 29

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map and use the settings from the following image. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light 38%.

Step 30

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient Fill and use the settings from the following image. Set the blend mode of this layer to Soft Light.

Step 31

Create a new layer, select a big soft brush (B) and paint with yellow in the left side of your image and with blue in the right side. Then set the blend mode of this layer to Color 25%.

Final Result

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you learned something new. What we have obtained is a photo-manipulation with some ruins in the desert; the clocks, the gears and the clock needle make everything to gravitate around the time theme.

 

Download the PSD

Download the PSD

147 Comments

  1. Add point Subtract point
    Aleksandr (2 Points) April 5, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    This is totally amazing! Such a great scene ;)) In love

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  3. Add point Subtract point
    photoshopcs6 (1 Point) January 5, 2011 at 3:18 am

    Photoshop tutorials, from beginner to advanced. photo manipulation, icon design, text effects, interface, layout, painting, photo effects, psd tuts, maxon cinema 4d, designing.
    http://lernphotoshop.co.cc

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  4. Add point Subtract point
    webdevelopment (1 Point) October 23, 2010 at 8:27 am

    nice tutorial ……really superb it is very useful to all
    thanks for posting ………….

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  5. Add point Subtract point
    RAHUL (1 Point) October 18, 2010 at 7:32 am

    Thanks…….

    This site helpd me to mke interesting things..

    Thanks…….

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  7. Add point Subtract point
    jon (1 Point) August 20, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    http://photoshopbrushes.eu/misc/gear-brushes-2/ the link to the brushes download site encase u cant find it with his link cause i got a rar file from tht one

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  8. Add point Subtract point
    Sara Boyd (1 Point) August 14, 2010 at 9:02 am

    Really stunning end result and some handy tips in there too. Thank you!

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  9. Add point Subtract point
    pianlace | panggonepian (1 Point) August 13, 2010 at 4:25 am

    amazing tutorial … indeed !! :D

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  12. Add point Subtract point
    SEO Expert Nepal (1 Point) August 4, 2010 at 7:32 am

    Great job. Nice effect. I tried so hard but I couldn’t manage to give a realistic effect as you did. Well I’ll try again and again.

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  13. Add point Subtract point
    Oriana (1 Point) August 4, 2010 at 3:56 am

    It’s just amazing!
    One question…Which kind of font is the one you used for the main image? I love it! :D

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  14. Add point Subtract point
    Gagan Gurjar (1 Point) July 29, 2010 at 3:28 am

    hiiiiiii i m gagan
    thankd for give psd

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  15. Add point Subtract point
    Gebel Scarduzio (1 Point) June 19, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Download60s.com is a graphic designing website. photoshop tutorials.
    http://download60s.com

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  18. Add point Subtract point
    Web Design (1 Point) April 26, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    Amazing tutorial! just what i was looking for. Thanks so much.

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  19. Add point Subtract point
    Simon (1 Point) April 20, 2010 at 4:24 am

    Wow. Amazing tutorial. Thanks for sharing this!

    Flag as inappropriate
  21. Add point Subtract point
    Levi (1 Point) April 10, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    Wooot ! Nice Final. thx for sharing this!

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  22. Add point Subtract point
    Donald (1 Point) April 9, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    about how long (in hours) do you think it takes to complete this project?

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  23. Add point Subtract point
    lekofev (1 Point) April 7, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Gracias man.. de verdad gracias, tienes buenos trucos sobre manipulacion de color, muy bien

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  24. Add point Subtract point
    wueres (1 Point) April 4, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    I install Brushes to “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop 7.0\Presets\Brushes” and I can’t find this brushes in Photoshop :/ Where they are ?? Please, help :)

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  25. Add point Subtract point
    wueres (1 Point) April 4, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    Where I have too install this Brushes ??

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  26. Add point Subtract point
    MundoCaco (1 Point) April 4, 2010 at 6:09 am

    amazing tutorial, nice way to lear something about photoshop, love “Materials Needed” very useful, thanks!

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  27. Add point Subtract point
    Peyal (1 Point) March 14, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Amazing!! beautifull!! Some Pink floyd’s vibes in the air

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  28. Add point Subtract point
    angshu (1 Point) March 1, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    hi..BIG BOSS ..u r great man ….i am really crazy about urs work …..u just put photoshop in urs ming ….love u lots …god bless u .

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  29. Add point Subtract point
    garrett Lindgren (1 Point) February 25, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    the gearing brushes didn’t work :(

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  30. Add point Subtract point
    sunny (1 Point) February 24, 2010 at 4:01 am

    vielen dank für dies schöne und super beschriebene tut.

    Thanks so much for sharing this!

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  32. Add point Subtract point
    Web & Graphic Designer (1 Point) February 22, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    A modern day salvador dali!!

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  33. Add point Subtract point
    BuckHanson (0 Points) February 22, 2010 at 7:19 am

    I don’t know. This is cool and all, but I thought ALL the elements in this tut would be created. The sand, clouds, and mask etc. I visit conceptart.org all the time and the work posted there is not only incredible, the artists create their work from scratch. Like I said, this is really cool, but you wouldn’t be able to say you made this because it is all stock photos.

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    • Add point Subtract point
      mng (1 Point) April 9, 2010 at 5:50 pm

      Most tutorials use stock photos,you DON’T have to create every single item yourself.

      Does a painter make paper,the brushes,and paints himself? No. Those are his resources to create his final piece,as with this.

      This is a photo manipulation,unlike the art on the website you suggested,those are painted and drawn,there is a big difference between the two.

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    • Add point Subtract point
      David Leggett (2 Points) April 9, 2010 at 6:31 pm

      Hmmm, maybe you’re both right? Certainly when practicing, having some materials at the ready can help in learning specific techniques. In an art piece for display it may make more sense to develop all the resources used by yourself. Sometimes maybe there is room for a mixture of the two.

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  34. Add point Subtract point
    Tibi3000 (1 Point) February 18, 2010 at 4:52 am

    Awesome tutorial with so many useful tips&tricks. Very well written and absolutely wonderful scenery you created.

    Thanks so much for sharing this!

    Flag as inappropriate
  35. Add point Subtract point
    PsdDude (1 Point) February 15, 2010 at 2:25 am

    Double uauuu! It looks pretty amazing dude! A very good surreal work and the tut is very good written as well! Felicitari !

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  37. Add point Subtract point
    raja (1 Point) February 13, 2010 at 4:27 am

    I Became a big fan for ur creation

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  38. Add point Subtract point
    MS (1 Point) February 11, 2010 at 4:05 am

    wow…………….. hi thanks ha………….I LOVE U & UR TUTORIAL

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  39. Add point Subtract point
    adamkecap (1 Point) February 11, 2010 at 1:35 am

    wow..that’s cool way to composting ever

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  40. Add point Subtract point
    William Amorim (2 Points) February 10, 2010 at 7:08 am

    first boss of God of War 2 :D

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  42. Add point Subtract point
    joost (1 Point) February 9, 2010 at 7:26 am

    great inspiration! cool that you made it into a tutorial

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  43. Add point Subtract point
    spiderm0nkey (1 Point) February 8, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Shouldn’t those clocks be casting shadows on the ground too??

    Looks like a great tut asides from that :)

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  44. Add point Subtract point
    VS (0 Points) February 4, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    when i saw the picture i was falling over my seat. this is so awesome. amazing job.

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  45. Add point Subtract point
    danny (1 Point) February 3, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    Felicitaciones, muy buen trabajo.

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  46. Add point Subtract point
    โหลดเพลงmp3ฟรี (1 Point) February 3, 2010 at 2:37 am

    great i never seen before.56

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  47. Add point Subtract point
    แจกเพลง (1 Point) February 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    great i never seen before.49

    Flag as inappropriate
  48. Add point Subtract point
    เพลงใหม่ล่าสุด (1 Point) February 1, 2010 at 1:53 am

    great i never seen before.44

    Flag as inappropriate
  49. Add point Subtract point
    Cody (1 Point) January 30, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    Alright. I cannot for the life of me make the shadow for the mask look… real. It just looks like shit. can someone help me out?

    Flag as inappropriate
  50. Add point Subtract point
    เพลงใหม่ล่าสุด (1 Point) January 30, 2010 at 9:52 am

    thanks for sharing. So mush

    Flag as inappropriate
  51. Add point Subtract point
    g3niuz (1 Point) January 29, 2010 at 6:09 am

    result looks cool – i like ;d

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  53. Add point Subtract point
    SHOAIB (1 Point) January 26, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    WO : WHAT A BEAUITFULL TUTORIALIZED

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  54. Add point Subtract point
    John (1 Point) January 23, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    This is believable. Photoshop is an amazing tool. Thanks for the tut.

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  55. Add point Subtract point
    Oliver (1 Point) January 19, 2010 at 8:40 am

    This is a great tutorial and the end result looks really good. Can’t wait to try this out and see what I end up with. Thanks.

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  56. Add point Subtract point
    Jiakasuma (1 Point) January 17, 2010 at 11:53 am

    Cool and all but I don’t really see the point of that galaxy being there

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  58. Add point Subtract point
    James (1 Point) January 15, 2010 at 3:02 am

    This was a great learning experiance. Thanks tutorial9. Please check out my rendition: http://james-banks.deviantart.com/art/quot-Relic-quot-150464411

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  59. Add point Subtract point
    Kuswanto (1 Point) January 14, 2010 at 11:03 am

    This is not an easy tut to follow. The color correction technique is way too advance, even for web designer.

    It’s nice to have a surreal tut :-)

    Flag as inappropriate
  60. Add point Subtract point
    TimHolmesDesign (1 Point) January 14, 2010 at 6:13 am

    Not over keen on this tutorial to be honest, some of the techniques are ok, but think it is a little long winded.

    Also notice that HV-designs new site design is very very close to the design of this Site… I have no doubt it is original but the inspiration/sub concious idea may have come from here. Which must mean your site design is very popular and very nice, which it is. :o)

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  62. Add point Subtract point
    aditia.numberone (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    huh, i think this tutorial is hard to follow

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  64. Add point Subtract point
    Regie Rivera (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 10:11 pm

    ayos! congratulations! thanks for sharing. :)

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  65. Add point Subtract point
    Mamat (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 9:41 pm

    Hatur nuhun ah tutorialna ;)

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  66. Add point Subtract point
    Brian Jones (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Excellent tutorial and the best I have seen in quite some time. Thank you for sharing!

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  68. Add point Subtract point
    Blue Buffalo (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 11:19 am

    Very cool, surreal image. Thanks!

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  69. Add point Subtract point
    Joe (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 11:08 am

    Seriously this is the crazies tuts ever! lolz..

    I never imagine this could be done on Photoshop!

    Amazing you guys..

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  70. Add point Subtract point
    jack bobby (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 10:29 am

    nice work … thanks for tutorial

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  71. Add point Subtract point
    Yuffie (1 Point) January 12, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing!

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