FINALISE THE PIECE
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QUICKTIP:LASTMINUTEFIXES
Upon completion of the project, you may have a
nagging urge to tweak or nudge something
slightly. Instead of backtracking, merge layers and
convert to a Smart Object. Go to Filter>Liquify and
make your gooey edits. Because Liquify is now
applied as a Smart Filter, you can continually
refine until you are completely happy with it.After completing the tutorial, take it even further
by transplanting the metallic model over a new
background. Merge layers. Use the Pen tool (set
to Path) to trace a path around the model. When
you have done that, press Cmd/Ctrl+Enter to
convert to a selection. Apply a bit of feathering
(Select>Modify>Feather) to keep the selection
from looking too scissor-cut, then add a layer
mask with the button in the Layers palette. Drag
into a new document or introduce new layers
below to build up the background. Above the
model, you can add further adjustments to
make everything mesh.14
APPLY MORE CAMERA RAW
Go to Filter>Camera Raw Filter. This time,
just increase Clarity to 100%. Click OK. Add a layer
mask. Paint black in the mask to soften up areas via
reduction of clarity. Merge layers again and convert
to a Smart Object. Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur.
Set Radius to 5.1. Click OK. Set to the Lighten blend
mode and drop Opacity to 60%. This gives a nice soft
glow. Add a layer mask and paint black at 50%
Opacity to reduce in areas.15
APPLY COLOR LOOKUP
Now you’ll continue finalising the image’s
look, starting with three more Color Lookup
adjustments. Click the Create New Fill or Adjustment
Layer button in the Layers palette, choose Color
Lookup. Pick Candlelight. Add another Color Lookup
adjustment layer and pick FuturisticBleak. Add a final
Color Lookup and use Candlelight again. Set to the
Overlay blend mode and drop Opacity to 50%. Invert
the mask. Paint white at 30% Opacity to deepen the
candlelit, bronzed look in a few strategic spots.16
APPLY COLOR BALANCE
Click the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer
button in the Layers palette, choose Color Balance. Set
Midtones to (from top to bottom) -29, -15, +26. Press
Cmd/Ctrl+J to duplicate the Color Balance adjustment
layer with the same settings. Invert the mask. Paint with
white to increase the effect in areas. Create another Color
Balance adjustment layer. Set Midtones to (from top to
bottom) 0, -21, -100. Set to Difference blend mode. Invert
the mask, paint with white at 40-60% Opacity to darken.17
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If you’d like to boost shadows and
highlights before the final Camera Raw application,
create a layer or two of 50% gray. Again, paint black
to burn and white to dodge. Start with low brush
opacities and work your way up. When done, place
Texture3.jpg. Set to the Overlay blend mode and
drop Opacity to 80%. Go to Filter>Distort>Displace,
click OK, then select the map we saved earlier. Alt/
Option+click the Add Layer Mask button, then paint
back with white at 60% Opacity to apply.18
APPLY CAMERA RAW
Merge layers again so we can apply one
last Camera Raw filter to lock down the look we’re
going for. Go to Filter>Camera Raw Filter. Under
Basic, reduce Contrast to -40. Increase both
Shadows and Clarity to +30. Under Detail, increaseSharpening Amount to 70, and set Luminance to
10 (which will set Luminance Detail to 50). Click
OK. The metallic look’s now complete. If you want
to take this project even further, continue with the
boxout steps.