How to Create Silhouette in the Sun

November 11th, 2011 in Photo Effects | Written by Photoshop Star | 11 Comments

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Learn to create a silhouette effect in the sun on this photo manipulation tutorial.

Final Image Preview

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun

Resources

Step 1

Open girl photo in Photoshop.

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 1

Duplicate layer (Ctrl+J). On duplicated layer apply Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 2
How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 3

Update layer mode to Pin Light.

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Duplicate current layer with Ctrl+J (leave layer with original photo untouched for now) and apply Image > Adjustments > Color Balance to duplicated layer.

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 5
How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 6

Step 2

We have too much yellow on photo and we need to replace yellow for another color. Duplicate current layer (Ctrl+J) and on duplicated layer apply Image > Adjustments > Replace Color.

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How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 8

We need to keep replacing color until we get the result we want. Apply again Image > Adjustments > Replace Color

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How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 10

Now we have a lot of blue. Apply again Image > Adjustments > Replace Color

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 11
How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 12

Keep changing color with same process till you have a result you like.

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Step 3

We now need to make girl more visible and add more attention to her face. Select and duplicate original layer using Ctrl+J and place it above all layers. After that apply Image > Adjustments > Desaturate to duplicated layer.

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Keep working on top layer. Apply Image > Adjustments > Invert.

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Apply Image > Adjustments > Levels to make image a bit darker.

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How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 17

Apply Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast to create more contrast.

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 18
How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 19

Apply again Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast to increase effect.

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How to Create Silhouette in the Sun 21

Update layer mode to Soft Light for current layer.

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Step 4

Duplicate layer selected (should be layer on top) with Ctrl+J.

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With duplicated layer selected apply Image > Adjustments > Invert.

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Update layer mode to Multiply on current layer.

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Step 5

Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 30%, soft-brush). Clean almost anything on layer leaving some paths to slightly emphasize the face and darken lower area off the photo. You can see on image below area that was left after using Eraser Tool.

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This tutorial is now complete but you can improve it a bit more. Select third layer when counting from the top (my third duplicated layer) and apply Filter > Gaussian Blur.

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Final Image

How to Create Silhouette in the Sun

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11 Responses to “How to Create Silhouette in the Sun”

  1. karen Reply November 12, 2011 at 10:15 am

    what a dreadful tut, take one photo and crap it up.

  2. jameslee Reply November 14, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    great!!!!! i am trying to do this in photo shop..Thanks for sharing…

  3. Grafis 71 Reply November 15, 2011 at 12:15 am

    Thank you for this tutorial…

  4. Doc Sam Reply November 15, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Good Effect Sir. Thank you so much

  5. Leo Reply November 17, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Thank you for good lesson!

  6. Amber Reply November 17, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    cool

  7. Katherine Reply November 21, 2011 at 10:07 am

    Cool!!!!

  8. Thaddeus Reply November 29, 2011 at 8:10 am

    a lot of work for a very small result

  9. ranjit Reply December 1, 2011 at 7:16 am

    really great… i have gained some thing from ur post…

  10. Thandi Reply December 21, 2011 at 6:42 am

    Thank you this is wonderful.

  11. Seo Reply January 10, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    Your Silhouette tutorial is great.it’s helps all people.thank u for sharing.