This lesson we'll learn how to make a nice illustration from a simple photo, how to download and use ready brushes and also how to change colors.

Open the photo, picturing a girl: File ? Open (ctrl+o). You'll have to copy the layer, applying Layer - Duplicate Layer, before working with the picture. Erase the previous layer with the fast button on Layers window.



Apply Magic Wand Tool to mark out the entire background and to delete it after that: Edit ? Cut (ctrl+x)



Increase now the layer's brightness, using next selection: Image ? Adjustments ? Curves (ctrl+m)



Copy the received layer. Then hide the visibility of the upper layer and continue working with the lowest one.



Apply to it Filter ? Filter Gallery ? Poster Edges



Change the picture now, using Image ? Adjustments ? Posterize.
Increase the picture's contrast, making use of the next selection: Image ? Adjustments ? Brightness/Contrast



Make the color transition on the skin smoother, applying Image ? Adjustments ? Selective Color

 

Take the Brush Tool next and give back the white color to the eyes .



Change the black color on the layer with the red one.



Get back to the upper layer. Make it lighter first of all with the next combination Image ? Adjustments ? Desaturate (shift+ctrl+u).



Apply the next selection after that: Image ? Adjustments ? Threshold



Using Polygonal Lasso Tool, mark out the girl's clothes.



Select another color, red one, applying Image ? Adjustments ? Selective Color



Change the layer's type on Color Burn. Merge both layers, applying Layer ? Merge Down (ctrl+e).



Choose the next tool (Smudge Tool) and smooth out the sharp transition form one color to another.



Pass to the background now. Create a new layer and place it under the girl's layer, just clicking on it and moving on that place. Paint it with the necessary color, making use of Paint Bucket Tool.



Copy the girl's layer (Layer ? Duplicate Layer) and make it look lighter with the next combination Image ? Adjustments ? Brightness/Contrast



Copy the indicated layer now and apply to it Filter ? Distort ? Twirl

 

Choose a ready brush now, having flower's and plant's ornaments. It's possible to download it here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/37536715/
?qo=2&q=by%3Aanarasha-stock&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps. Download the necessary brushes and insert them in a special map Brushes, that will be contained in the Photoshop program's map. Choose the Brush Tool on the upper panel's window and download the necessary brushes. To get back to the standard brush's set choose in the same window Reset Brushes.



Paint the ornaments on several layers, above and under the girl's layer. Apply the next selection Edit ? Free Transform (ctrl+t), Edit ? Transform ? Flip Horizontal and also Edit ? Transform ? Flip Vertical to turn the ornaments around or to change their dimensions.



Insert on the new layer the butterfly's picture. Open it on a new window and mark it out with Polygonal Lasso Tool. Copy it (Edit ? Copy (ctrl+c)) and get back to the processed picture's file. Insert it on the new layer.



Work now with the butterfly, using Image ? Adjustments ? Posterize



Copy the fixed layer several times and change the butterflies' position, dimension and the color. To change the butterfly's color, decolorize it first and then give a nuance to it, using Image ? Adjustments ? Photo-Filter



Next step includes increasing the brightness and the contrast.



Finally, use next instruments (Crop Tool and Rectangular Tool) to insert the picture in a frame.

 
The illustration is ready.

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