Watercolor Painting in Photoshop

Getting Started

Here we cover setting up your file, the quick selection tool, quick masks and the mask and select dialogue and how to use these to rapidly cut out elements in your photos.

Extending the Background

Here’s how to use transforms to quickly extend a background—and how to use layer blending modes to add texture to an existing surface.

Adding the Umbrella

Here we show how to mask with paths, adjusting masks with effects and adding color to an object realistically with layer blending techniques.

Compositing the Umbrella

In this lesson we add a different handle to the umbrella and give the teddy bear a new arm—then we combine all three seamlessly.

Sky Replacement & Reflections

Learn how to replace a sky (a technique you can use in any composite) and how to create realistic reflections on a non-flat surface using the displace tool, motion blurs and smart object masks.

Creating the Painting Part I

Here the fun begins! Using smart objects and the Filter Gallery, we turn our composite into a realistic watercolor painting.

Creating the Painting Part II

After creating the painting, we use masks and custom brushes to create the painted on canvas watercolor effect.

Adding Drips and Splatter

To sell the painting, we add drips, splatter, running water and scratches to the painting with custom brushes, smart objects and masks.

The Final Touches

In this lesson we cover color grading techniques, file organization, using the high pass filter and other tools to give the painting the final touches that make it really sing.

The Power of Smart Objects

In this bonus lesson, you’ll learn how to use the watercolor photoshop file you’ve created to rapidly turn any photo into a watercolor painting using the power of smart objects.