How To Create A Matte Painting Inspired Scene

How to Create a Matte Painting Inspired Scene
A P R B SY A N 2 T 0 O S 2 H 0 1 K 2 0 O 1 N C E R O M with M us E Advertise U N T S
In this Adobe Photoshop tutorial, we are going to go over a method for composing a beautiful matte painting style scene. Matte paintings are typically used in movies to create expensive or surreal landscapes and scenes that are stitched together with regular footage. Note that we are not actually making a matte painting that would be suitable to use in a Hollywood film, but rather, composing a scene inspired by these great matte painters and film technicians.
Preview
Advertise Here
Advertise Here
Tutorial Resources
Here are various resources suggestions for you to use. Do not feel obligated to use them and feel free to experiment.
Advertise Here Advertise Here
Rocky Mountains National Park landscape Paisaje de montaas /Mountains landscape Niagara Falls Ice Mass
American Falls Niagara Falls, New York 4
Grand Mosque blue mosque istanbul ortakoy mosque Sheikh Zayed Masjid Blue Mosque 4 istanbul Sultanahmet Mosque-2 Mosque
Articles Digital Art Drawing & Illustration C i t Freebies Graphic Design Icon & Logo Design
Print Design Photography Text Effects e s Tools & Basics Visual Inspiration Web Design
New Mexico Landscapes New Mexico Landscapes (2) New Mexico Landscapes (3)
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
Up in the mountains 2 Tasman Glacier
P M T S F
a o r e l
t n e a o
h k e g c u k
Arches 2
Laos meditation
Apple tree 2
l o f B i r d s
Seagull
Homing pigeons
Introduction
Traditionally, matte paintings were made by artists using paints or pastels on large sheets of glass for integrating with the live-action footage in film. As the ages passed, the technology has developed and helped in creating some groundbreaking matte paintings for the films like Avatar, Indiana Jones, created by artists such as Linwood G. Dunn and Norman Dawn. To see more matte paintings, visit the gallery section of MattePainting.Org.
Step 1: Sketching the idea

Before starting the matte painting scene, make a rough sketch of the world that we are going to create. It does not have to be pretty, it just gives us a rudimentary picture of how to lay out our scene.
Step 2: Look for images to use as inspiration and reference

Its good to use some reference images that could help us in our matte painting for colour correction and for the depth of field. These images might not be used in the scene, but rather, are just to serve as our guide for how things look in the real world. You can have them open in Photoshop and/or another simple image viewer that you can look to whenever you need a reference point. Here are a few reference images used in composing the scene:
y N
aM t o i u o n n t a a l i
nP s a
m s
a o
jn
et
a d e a
a Mr
aa
s F
Step 3: Creating the perspective

The first step is to make sure that our perspective, angles and vanishing points are accurate. We will be bringing in various stock imagery at different sizes and angles, so we need a sort of guide to make sure that they fit together well. First things first, create our main Photoshop canvas with the canvas size set to 1680x1050px. Mark a vanishing point on the canvas and draw a series of lines from that point with the Line Tool (U), as shown. This will just be a reference layer that we can switch on and off.
Step 4: Make the waterfalls

Import the American Falls stock image on to the canvas and transform it (Ctrl/Cmd + T) to fit the perspective with the Move Tool (V), using the lines we created as our guide. Keep the work organized by naming the layer something intuitive like "niagara 1". Then erase the edges of the waterfalls using the Eraser Tool (E).
In the similar way, import another view of Niagara Falls (you can use the Niagara Falls, New York 4 from the Resources listing) and place it under the "niagara 1" layer. Name this layer "niagara 2".
Step 5: The making of the first Temple City

Now import a mosque image (you can view a collection in the Resources listingI used the Grand Mosque stock image for this part), move it to a location according to our sketch and name the layer as "mosque 1". Use the Perspective Transform command (Transform > Perspective) to tweak and align the mosque to our vanishing point grid. Note: for each object that we place into our composition, you will need to extract them from their background using your favorite method (such as using the Polygonal Lasso Tool to trace around their edges). I leave it up to you to do this for each image that we import.
Similarly, import another mosque and place it above the "mosque 1" layer, then name the layer as "mosque 2". Here, I chose blue mosque istanbul but this process of building our mythical Temple City into our scene is very subjective, and you should feel free to experiment with your own stock images.
Now import another mosque and place it below the "mosque 1" and "mosque 2" layers. This time, I used the ortakoy mosque image. Keep our work consistent by naming the layer "mosque 3".
Step 6: Adding some fog

Make a new layer above all the layers named "fog 1" and add some fog into it using the Brush Tool (B) with a soft brush tip. Make sure that the colour selected is white (#ffffff). Experiment with various brush tips as well as the Flow and Opacity brush options if the fog is too prominent. Additionally, you can lower the Opacity of the layer.
Step 7: Colour correction through exposure adjustment

Once the fog is added, merge all the mosque layers into one by selecting them in the Layers Panel and then pressing Ctrl/Cmd + E. On the newly-merged mosque layer, change the exposure values by going to Image > Adjustments > Exposure. Here are suggested settings: Exposure: 0.00 Offset: +0.1204 Gamma correction: 1.13
Step 8: The making of the second Temple City

In this step, we will make yet another Temple City, at the opposite side of the scene. This will be the exact same process as the step for the making of the first Temple City. Use your favorite mosques from the resource listing or experiment with your own structures.
In order to blend the structures into the scene, we have to set the Curves and the Exposure values.
Step 9: Create the mountain backdrop

Import a hill image that you think will be a good match for our matte style scene (I used the New Mexico Landscapes stock image from the Resources listing). Erase the sky in the image before importing it on to our main canvas. After copy and pasting it into our scene, name this layer as "hill 1".
Now place the "hill 1" layer behind the second Temple City as shown.
Import another hill image (see the Resources listing for suggestionshere we can use the New Mexico Landscapes (2) stock image) and name it "hill 2". Move the second hill beside "hill 1" with the Move Tool (V). As shown in the reference/inspiration images, the mountains that are furthest from our standpoint look dimmer and paler. To be able to do this to our matte scene, adjust its Curves (Image > Adjustments > Curves) to the values shown below.
Now, to make the mountain look dimmer, use the Exposure image adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Exposure). Here are suggested settings for adjusting the exposure of the image: Exposure: 0.00 Offset: +0.0469 Gamma Correction: 1.0
Since the "hill 2" mountain is cut off on its left, we have to digitally extend it using another image.
Import the extension image of the hillNew Mexico Landscapes (3) from the Resources listing and flip it horizontally using the Flip Horizontal Transform command (Transform > Flip Horizontally or right-click on the image and choose Flip Horizontal). Scale as needed to match "hill 2" using the Free Transform command (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and try to match it seamlessly.
Colour correct the hill extension layer by changing the curve levels (Image > Adjustments > Curves). For further colour correction and matching, use the Exposure image adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Exposure) to change the Offset value to +0.1204.
Lets make it colder by importing a vastly different mountain from the Nevada desert mountains: Up in the mountains 2 and Tasman Glacier.
Again, adjust the Exposure of the image, this time setting Offset at +0.1857.
Step 10: Adding the sky

To make the scene look realistic, we will need a sky. For artistic purposes, we can use a grey, overcast sky to give the scene a darker mood. Also, you would not expect to find a rainbow (which we will paint in later) when it is bright and sunny outside. Make a new layer for the sky beneath all the layers and fill the layer with grey colour (#d9d8d8) using the Paint Bucket Tool (G).
Now add clouds using a brush tip of clouds (you can check out this one and install it) with a white foreground colour (#ffffff).
Step 11: Adding more fog

Since the scene contains huge waterfalls, there must be some fog covering the view. Make a new layer above all the layers and add some fog using a soft brush tip with a white foreground colour (#ffffff).
Step 12: Making the pathway to the Temple Cities

Now we need to make a pathway to the cities so that people can get to thema pathway which is carved out of rock (Arches 2 from the Resources listing). Cut the portion of the stock that we need using the Lasso Tool (L) and place it onto our main canvas. Position it as per the sketch we made at the first step.
Step 13: Correct the colour of the pathway

Correct the colour the pathway using Curves (Ctrl/Cmd + M).
Now change the pathways Exposure values. Here are suggested settings: Exposure: 0.00 Offset: +0.0102 Gamma Correction: 1.09
Step 14: Add our monk

Step 14: Add our monk

Cut out the monk from its original image using the Pen Tool (P), right-clicking on the path and choosing Make Selection.
Then import it into the canvas. Resize our monk to fit the scale of our scene using Free Transform (Ctrl/Cmd + T). Colour correct the monk using the curves and the Exposure values.
Make a new layer under the monk layer for the shadow of the monk. Using the Brush Tool with a soft-tipped paint brush, add some black colour to resemble the shadow of the monk and set the opacity to 40%.
Step 15: Cutting out the tree from its background

Now we are going to incorporate an apple tree into our scene, but because the stocks background and the trees branches are a bit more complex, Ill share with you a method of how you can effectively cut it out from its background. First step is to open the Apple tree 2 stock in Photoshop (included in the Resources listing). Go to the Channels Panel (if you do not have it open, go to Window > Channel first) and then hide all of the channels except the Blue channel. Afterwards, go to Image > Calculations.
Select Blue in the Channel option drop down list for Source 1 and Source 2, as well as set Blend to Multiply.
Now go to Select > Load Selection and select "Alpha 1" in the drop down list of Channel which will create an selection around our tree. Turn on all of the Channels again. Copy (Ctrl/Cmd + C) and paste (Ctrl/Cmd + V) the tree into our main canvas, placing it over the "monk" layer.
If done correctly, you will have saved some time manually cutting out the tree from its background.
Step 16: Use Curves to correct the colour of the tree

Use the Curves image adjustment (Ctrl/Cmd + M) to colour correct the tree, making it match our scene.
Step 17: Add fog on the tree and monk

In the same method as previously mentioning in this tutorial, add some fog that covers the tree and some part of monk.
Step 18: Import the seagulls into the composition

Import a seagull or an interesting bird (such as Seagull from the Resources listing) into our matte scene and resize it to fit our perspective. Place the seagull in the desired position using the Move Tool (V). Once the image is placed in the position, go to Image > Adjustments and change the Curve levels and the Exposure values.
Now using the Lasso Tool (L), select the wings and the edges of the tail of the seagull and feather the edges to 40px. Add a radial blur (Filter > Blur > Radial Blur) with Amount set to 12.
Step 19: Add distant birds

Now import the flock of birds into our matte scene (Homing pigeons from the Resources listing) and name its layer "birds flock".
Let us soften up the edges of our flock of birds. Having the "birds flock" layer selected, run the Gaussian Blur filter on it (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) with the Radius set at 1.5 pixels.
After, change the Exposure values (Image > Adjustments > Exposure) of the "birds flock" layer to the following values: Exposure: 0.00 Offset: +0.0755 Gamma Correction: 1.0
Place the "seagull" and "birds flock" layers under all the fog layers.
Step 20: Paint the rainbow

As the last step, we are going to paint the rainbow. As seen in the reference/inspiration images that we used in the beginning, there was a rainbow near the waterfalls. So lets add one in our matte painting style scene. Make a new layer for the rainbow (name the layer "rainbow"). Press B to activate the Brush Tool, set the brush tip to a soft, round brush, the Master Diameter (the size of the brush) to 18px, and then select an orange foreground colour (#ff940a). Now select the Pen Tool (P) and make an arc; were using the Pen Tool first because it is easier to create a good arc with its Bezier curves than doing it freehand with the Brush Tool.
After creating the arc path, right-click on the path and pick Stroke Path.
Select Brush for the Stroke Path option.
Similarly, add a few more colours like red, yellow and green.
Still on the "rainbow" layer, add a Gaussian Blur filter (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) with the Radius set to 26.1 pixels to soften up its edges and also to blend the colors together.
Place the rainbow layer under the fog, "monk" and "tree" layers. To give it a bit more transparency, reduce opacity to about 75%.
Tutorial Summary
Thank you for following along. In this Adobe Photoshop tutorial, I shared with you many tips and techniques for composing a surreal and matte-painting-like scene. I discussed a technique for using images as reference and inspiration, having them open in Photoshop or an image viewer just as a grounding point for our work. You saw the need for making a vanishing point grid to help us align the stock imagery that we bring into our matte painting style scene. We used a variety of processes to ensure that the elements we use in the scene are consistent in colour; particularly, we relied heavily on Curves and Exposure image adjustments. We covered a technique of cutting out a complex object (an apple tree) from its complex background using the Channels Panel and the Image Calculations command. I also showed you an easy way of painting a rainbow into a scene. If you have questions, thoughts and opinions, please do not hesitate to share them in the comments!
Download Tutorial Source Files

matte_painting_tutorial (ZIP, 16.3 MB)
advertise here
Author: Santosh Koneru

Santosh is a freelance graphic designer based in India. He recently completed his college courses majoring in 2D Animation, and has decided to continue on to Film Production. His weapon of choice: Photoshop. You can see more of Santosh's work via santosh' portfolio. Connect with him through Twitter.
Tweet
Like
32
77
21 Comments (Add yours)

Aaron Kato APR 20 2010 Love it! Pretty nice work man!
REPLY TO COMMENT
Q APR 20 2010
Really nice looking art work. Although just mentioning vanishing point and going to the wikipedia page isnt very helpful.
REPLY TO COMMENT
zxh APR 21 2010
Wow , Great work!

REPLY TO COMMENT
Pam APR 23 2010
The tree leaves still have a blue halo around them where they go in front of the monk. Whats the best way to get rid of that?
REPLY TO COMMENT
santhosh APR 25 2010
After selecting the Calculations change the levels from Image>Adjustments>Levels(Increase the darkness).
REPLY TO COMMENT
killer JUN 06 2011
are u mad or something dude its not like that

REPLY TO COMMENT
santhosh JUN 06 2011
There are several ways in achieving a similar effect. If you have any other method share it.
zauberer
wow, thats a very good tutorial, so often i see, i have a lot of things to
zauberer APR 24 2010
wow, thats a very good tutorial, so often i see, i have a lot of things to learn :) thanks for sharing this thoughts
REPLY TO COMMENT
ammar MAY 16 2010
amazing tutorial :D
REPLY TO COMMENT
mahesh sutar AUG 02 2010
Nice work.
REPLY TO COMMENT
Prasanth AUG 18 2010
Good work but why you have mentioned vanishing point i doesnt get dude cos matte paintings are done without any vanishing point with the help of our eye view & imagination more over to put a rainbow effect on the layer instead of your idea try out my idea with gradients in tool pallete fill the required color radial gradient & decrease the opacity simple, it seems that you have used pen tool a lot but with the help of brush tool you can make this matte painting in simple 6 to 7 steps. Try out Cheers.
REPLY TO COMMENT
shruti nanda SEP 15 2010
great -great work. im glad to see that most of the tutorials are yours. great. Thank you soo much. i l try all of your tutorials, for sure. Thanks.
REPLY TO COMMENT
rumaiza fathima MAY 20 2011
done a good job.. cheers..

REPLY TO COMMENT
Sasi AUG 21 2011
Fantastic Work.
REPLY TO COMMENT
satnam SEP 01 2011
thanks so much for this information. will try to make this one.. very soon.
REPLY TO COMMENT
Amgad Ibrahim NOV 30 2011
FANTASTIC and WONDERFUL !!!

REPLY TO COMMENT
Divyesh Patel JUN 15 2012
superb workand thanks for sharing thanks again..

REPLY TO COMMENT
hitesh verma JUN 29 2012
so great work////
REPLY TO COMMENT
kate FEB 03 2013
Hi. Great looking picture! But can you please explain how you made the vanishing point grid? I tried other tutorials too, with not much help. I find the vanishing point very hard to work with in PS. Please tell me how you
make a perspective grid. Thanks in advance!

REPLY TO COMMENT
Edi Liu MAY 16 2013
Very great design idea :), give you 5*.

REPLY TO COMMENT
Chiru MAY 25 2013
Great Work. Thanks alot

REPLY TO COMMENT
Y O U R
C ( O R E M Q M U E IN R TE D )
Y O U R
R ( E RA EL Q U N IA RME ED )
Y O U R ( R E E M Q A U I L I R E D
K G E R P A T V P A R T IA V R A S T E )
U S E D
F O R
Y O U R ( OU PR T L I O N A L )
Submit Comment C O M M E N T N O T I F Y R S S M E F E E D F O L L O W U P C O M M E N T S V I A E - M A I L
O F
W T R H I ET
E S
I F T O CE R O
NU NS E
W O
IP
TY
H R
U G
SH
About Design Instruct Advertise with Us Writing Guidelines Contact Us Upcoming Features FAQ Freebies Freebies Usage Terms Our Friends
Are you a talented designer eager to share your expertise to a worldwide audience? We want you to write for us real bad! Read our writing guidelines and contact us any time, we'd love to talk.
Get our RSS feed Follow us on Twitter Become a fan on Facebook Browse our Flickr stuff Join the Flickr group pool Check us out on deviantART
2010-2013 Design Instruct and its respective owners. All rights reserved.
Six Revisions Check it out, it's awesome.

How To Create A Matte Painting Inspired Scene

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

How To Create A Matte Painting Inspired Scene

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How to Create a Matte Painting Inspired Scene

American Falls Niagara Falls, New York 4

Up in the mountains 2 Tasman Glacier

Step 1: Sketching the idea

Step 2: Look for images to use as inspiration and reference

Step 3: Creating the perspective

Step 4: Make the waterfalls

Step 5: The making of the first Temple City

Step 6: Adding some fog

Step 7: Colour correction through exposure adjustment

Step 8: The making of the second Temple City

Step 9: Create the mountain backdrop

Step 10: Adding the sky

Step 11: Adding more fog

Step 12: Making the pathway to the Temple Cities

Step 13: Correct the colour of the pathway

Step 14: Add our monk

Step 14: Add our monk

Step 15: Cutting out the tree from its background

Step 16: Use Curves to correct the colour of the tree

Step 17: Add fog on the tree and monk

Step 18: Import the seagulls into the composition

Step 19: Add distant birds

Step 20: Paint the rainbow

Select Brush for the Stroke Path option.

Download Tutorial Source Files

Author: Santosh Koneru

21 Comments (Add yours)

zxh APR 21 2010

Wow , Great work!

Pam APR 23 2010

santhosh APR 25 2010

killer JUN 06 2011

are u mad or something dude its not like that

santhosh JUN 06 2011

zauberer APR 24 2010

ammar MAY 16 2010

mahesh sutar AUG 02 2010

Prasanth AUG 18 2010

shruti nanda SEP 15 2010

rumaiza fathima MAY 20 2011

done a good job.. cheers..

Sasi AUG 21 2011

satnam SEP 01 2011

Amgad Ibrahim NOV 30 2011

FANTASTIC and WONDERFUL !!!

Divyesh Patel JUN 15 2012

superb workand thanks for sharing thanks again..

hitesh verma JUN 29 2012

kate FEB 03 2013

make a perspective grid. Thanks in advance!

Edi Liu MAY 16 2013

Very great design idea :), give you 5*.

Chiru MAY 25 2013

Great Work. Thanks alot

Six Revisions Check it out, it's awesome.

You might also like