Practical learning: photography, image editing and creating a poster in the style of Lara Croft's Tomb Raider
Put your models and motifs in the water with Photoshop editing - find out how in this video tutorial on photography and image editing.
Action heroine Lara Croft - first she let herself play, then millions of viewers followed her adventures on the big screen. Now you can create your own movie-ready poster by following Gabor Richter's instructions in this tutorial and getting hands-on with the working files. This way, the techniques and methods presented will go straight into your workflow. Inspired by previous Tomb Raider appearances from film, television and video games, you will work on this project: Enter your own "Skull Island"!
Realism in the middle of the Lara Croft poster: create an authentic water wave in Photoshop
As you can see, model Jessica Bisceglia can be seen standing in the water on the final poster. You will build this wave completely in the tutorial using Photoshop. To do this, you will prepare the wave shape, add suitable motifs and create a depth effect by painting with light. Color adjustments, overlaying a texture and, of course, adding the water splashes provide more realism and action. And since it's all about the detail, you can also tweak the transition between the water and the water surface and give the trousers a wet appearance.
Photography and image editing: creating a poster
Before the waves are created, the model, already covered in dirt and accessories, must of course be photographed. You are present at the shoot and Gabor Richter explains in detail how he works with studio lights and brighteners and why he uses them in this particular way. Learn from a professional photographer what is important for such shots.
In the area of image processing , you will add additional effects to emphasize the action of the poster. Use vignettes and brightening to draw the viewer's attention to the model. On the left-hand edge, let fire particles and red light sources flare up. Integrate the presumed explosion further into the motif by adding self-created ash particles and creating a fiery reflection on the model.
Work in lights, dodge and burn, crop with the pencil tool, create a wave, add a reddish glow to the skin, place a cinematic-style text - learn image editing techniques that you can use to create a poster and certainly for many other purposes too.
That's what you'll learn in the photography and Photoshop tutorial:
Follow along with a photography and Photoshop pro and give your photography and image editing skills a boost. You don't just need these techniques to create posters - your learning checklist:
Photographing a model for a movie poster & raw development
- Lighting setup: How to use studio lights and brighteners
- Details: How to pay attention to the smallest details using the control monitor
- Shooting: All steps and decisions are explained in detail
- Raw development: How to emphasize details and ensure contrast
Photo and image editing:
- Highlight: Create a water wave (montage, water splashes, depth effect, wetting trousers)
- Highlight: Work in an explosion (light sources, reflections, fire and ash particles)
- Photo editing: Use raw processing to create contrast and emphasize details
- Retouching: Use Dodge and Burn for a more vivid appearance of the model
- Retouching: How to edit clothing with the liquefy filter
- Crop: Create a path selection with the drawing pen, enhance the hair automatically
- Effects: Cinema-style font, vignette to draw the eye, water splashes, explosion