Rock bridge and sky in chess game composing design

In this section of the guide, you will learn how to add depth and reality to your Composing by incorporating a Felsenbrücke and creating a cloudy Himmel. With the right tools in Photoshop, it is possible to achieve impressive effects and truly bring your image to life.

Main insights

• Placing new elements like Felsenbrücken can create an exciting atmosphere.
• The use of masks and brush tools is crucial for creating seamless transitions between elements.
• Contrast and color corrections help to integrate new elements harmoniously into the overall image.

Add Felsenbrücke

To add the Felsenbrücke to your Composing, start by selecting the rock group. Follow these steps:

Select the rock group in the layers palette. Then click on File and choose Place. Navigate to the desired image file for the Felsenbrücke and place it above the rock group. To adjust the size, hold down the Shift and Alt keys while dragging the corners of the image. Position the Felsenbrücke in an appropriate location and confirm the placement with Enter. Don’t forget to name the layer meaningfully to maintain clarity.

First, remove the part of the bridge that does not belong in the image by creating a mask. You can easily paint over the areas that are not needed with a brush without leaving a sharp edge. You can adjust the opacity of the brush to create finer transitions.

Create Himmel

Once the Felsenbrücke is positioned, it is time to define the color of the sky. Go to your background layer and create a color field with the values 154, 204, and 240. Name this layer "Sky Color".

To make the sky look more realistic, you should make the middle background layer more bluish gestalten. Navigate to the middle of the background, create a color field with the values 108, 139, and 196, and apply it as a clipping mask. This color will support the impression of an atmosphere and add depth to the image.

Now you can work with a softer opacity of 25% with the brush to gently paint the blue shimmer into the image. Play around with the settings until you achieve the desired gradient.

Add Clouds

To add clouds to your sky, open a new file with clouds and make sure the blue background is removed. Use a tone correction to enhance the contrast.

Isolate the bright and gray areas for the clouds by creating a new layer and filling it with white. The selection can easily be deselected with Control + D.

You can then drag the clouds into your main image and position them as desired. To adjust the clouds to the scene, use duplication. Give each cloud meaningful names.

Work on the clouds by resizing them and using masks to avoid hard lines. Don't forget to mirror the clouds horizontally if necessary to create interesting perspectives.

After each editing step, make sure to regularly save your image and check the various layers to ensure everything looks good and harmonious.

Summary - Chess Composition: Added Felsenbrücke and Himmel

In this guide, you learned how by adding a Felsenbrücke and creating a sky, you can significantly enhance the visual impact of your Composing. By effectively using masks, color, and tonal adjustments, you can create a realistic and appealing image. Experiment with your own ideas to develop your individual styles.