Close Menu
PSD VaultPSD Vault
  • VIP Area
  • Photoshop Basics
  • Photo Effect
  • Text Effect
  • Premium Tuts
  • Resources
  • Drawing
  • Inspiration
  • Web Graphics
  • Abstract
  • Freebies
  • Advertise
  • Get in Touch
  • About PSD Vault
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube TikTok
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube TikTok RSS
PSD VaultPSD Vault
  • VIP Area
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
  • Photoshop Basics
  • AI
  • Photoshop Error Fixes
  • Video Tutorial
  • Photo Effect
  • Text Effect
  • Premium Tuts
  • Drawing
  • Opinion
PSD VaultPSD Vault
Home»Photo Effect»Design a Dark, Super-Natural Magic Figure with Fire Element in Photoshop
Photo Effect

Design a Dark, Super-Natural Magic Figure with Fire Element in Photoshop

By James QuFebruary 19, 20115 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to create this Dark, Super-Natural Magic Figure with Fire Element in Photoshop. We will be revising the techniques shown in recent tutorials, including masking, vexel hair, and basic retouch skills. Have a try!

The PSD file of this tutorial is available to buy on PSD Vault Shop, or via the PSD Vault VIP members area.

This is an intermediate tutorial so some steps can be tricky – if you’re having difficulty with it, I suggest you go to the basic section of PSD Vault and practice those tutorials first, then come back and do this one.

Here is a preview of the final effect I have for this tutorial: (Click to Enlarge)

PSD Vault VIP Membership

You can download the PSD File for this tutorial via the VIP Members Area for only $6.95/Month (or less)! You will not only get this PSD File, but also 200+ other PSD Files + Extra Goodies + Exclusive Photoshop tutorial there. Signup now and get exclusive!

Ok Let’s get started!

To complete this tutorial, you will need the following stock:

Model – by jagged-eye

Crack Brushes – choose one

Fire image – need to login before download

Step 1

Create a new document sized 1280px * 800px with black background, create a new layer and render some cloud on it: (set layer opacity to 10-15%). Duplicate this cloud layer once and compress it down – this way we can create a standing ground for the model:

Use the crack brush you downloaded, erase some parts of the background cloud to add some crack patterns:

Use the crack brush as eraser to add some cracks on the ground too:

Step 2

Load the model image into Photoshop, cut out the model and paste onto our document:

Use a combination of the crack and soft brush eraser tool, add the following layer mask to the model:

Let’s do some basic retouch and add the following adjustment layers to the model as clipping masks:

Black and white

Mask on the black and white adjustment layer:

Levels (It’s very important to set the levels correctly for this image, as it helps to darken certain areas of the body)

Mask on Levels adjustment layer

Curves

Mask on Curves adjustment layer:

and here is the effect so far:

As you can see, because the layer mask added to the black and white adjustment layer, we reveal a number of areas with red colour – we will attach the fire texture to those area later:

Step 3

Use a soft black brush to paint shadow under the feet:

Load the fire image into Photoshop, use the Lasso Tool (30px feather) to select a portion:

Copy and paste the selection onto our canvas, use the liquify filter to warp the fire texture and make it soft:

Your result should look similar to below:

Duplicate this fire texture layer a few time, resize the duplicated layers to create a flowing pattern as shown below:

Step 4

I decide to add some texture on the girl’s left leg. So go back to the fire image and select the following portion with a 30px feather Lasso Tool:

Copy and paste the selection to our image, resize and rotate to fit the left leg:

Apply the following black and white adjustment to it:

Change the layer blending mode to “overlay” and you will have the following effect:

Step 5

We can create some flying rock around the model to make it look even more surreal. Go back to fire stock image, this time we use the Lasso Tool (30px feather) to select this portion below:

Copy and paste the selection onto the document, apply the following black and white adjustment settings to it:

After the b/w adjustment, use a soft erase to remove the edge, until it forms a rock shape:

Duplicate this rock layer a few times and move them around the model, make sure you adjust the size as you go to create more depth:

Duplicate and merge those rock layers, apply the following Radial Blur to the merged layer:

Move this blurred layer below the rock layer, reduce its layer opacity to around 50%, and here is the effect so far:

Step 6

Lastly we can add some vexel hair to the model. Because we’re making a surreal image, I think it would be good to have some sort of epic hair style, rather than the original one.

I have two tutorials here on PSD Vault also covers vexel hair – with different model and surround environment. If you would like to take a look, you can click on the links below:

Create a Surreal Fiery Burnt Wood Lady Figure with Vexel Hair in Photoshop

Create Awesome Grungy Style Artwork with Vexel Hair in Photoshop

If you have tried my previous tutorials on this topic, you will know we always start with picking a darker hair colour from the model:

Create a work path following the shape of this model’s head with Pen Tool:

Stroke this path with the brush settings below: (we want a 2px hard brush)

Stroke the path a few times, each on a different layer:

Once you’re done with the dark hair strokes, pick a light hair colour from the model:

Stroke the work path with the light colour brush repeatly, mix it in with the darker ones. You will have some nice layered hair effect:

Repeat the above steps on the right side and create some vexel hair there too:

and here is the effect so far:

I then added a few colours via a colour balance adjustment layer, and here is the final effect I have for this tut: (click to enlarge)

Hope you enjoy this tutorial and find it useful! Till next time, have a great day!

flame girl photoshop magic photoshop figure photoshop flame effect
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
James Qu
  • Website

James is a seasoned Photoshop expert with over 25 years of experience, mastering the software since its 5.0 version. As the driving force behind PSD Vault, he authors the majority of its in-depth tutorials and insightful articles.

Related Posts

Create Colourful Fiery Portrait in Photoshop

May 7, 2025

How to Swap Faces in Photoshop Quickly & Seamlessly

May 2, 2025

How to Use Photoshop’s AI Content-Aware Crop for Perfect Image Transformation

April 26, 2025

16 Comments

  1. Панков on February 20, 2011 7:38 PM

    Nice,,, ;)

  2. Princ3Bunny on February 20, 2011 8:11 PM

    awesome tut dude
    very artistic^^ tnx for sharing it^^

  3. csabi on February 22, 2011 9:50 PM

    Hi! I just love your tutorial! Congratulations!
    I know this is not the best way to say it, but I`we just opened a tutorials indexing website and I would like to ask you to submit your tutorials or to publish using our Publishing system, it will bring you some extra traffic
    Please give a chance for my website: http://www.tutorialswindow.com

    Thanks!

  4. Resimleri on February 25, 2011 6:24 AM

    Amazing tutorial. I like it very much.

  5. rajasegar on February 28, 2011 12:44 AM

    Great Tutorial and techniques well explained!
    Thanks for sharing…
    Featured in Tutorials of the week in http://www.hangaroundtheweb.com

  6. söve on February 28, 2011 8:55 PM

    Amazing tutorial.Thank u

  7. Expert Logo Design on March 3, 2011 8:07 PM

    new and awesome Tutorial !!!! i will try this ..!!!

  8. Free Word Press Theme on March 9, 2011 7:59 PM

    this is really nice! like this tutorial! i will try it!

  9. Dev on March 9, 2011 8:45 PM

    Pazta(that mean amazing and Beautiful)

  10. Rajesh on March 13, 2011 2:51 PM

    wow it is well techniques to show what you are well tutorial i learnt how to use fire for creating nice tutorial Thanks !

  11. Bara on March 23, 2011 1:49 PM

    Not enough detail for me as beginner, like layer mask i don’t know that, yet. But, nice Job

  12. logo design of famous brands on May 9, 2011 10:41 PM

    that’s really perfect tutorial .. i will gonna check your other post about tutorials !

  13. AVINASH on May 9, 2011 11:03 PM

    nice

  14. ian on June 2, 2011 8:40 PM

    hey guys can someone make it in video tutorial . i cannot really follow as a beginner. BTW the this very nice .
    if someone can make , this my email .
    salvacionian@gmail.com

    tnx (“”)

  15. PSD To Wordpress on April 21, 2012 4:20 PM

    This is really a great tutorial a useful one, You explain it a simple way ..it’s been very useful for us as well as others also…

  16. graphic design blog tutorial on April 13, 2014 8:52 PM

    Amazing tutorial. I like it very much.

Don't Miss

Removing Backgrounds with Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop: A Beginner’s Guide

May 24, 2025

How to Resize Images Without Losing Quality in Photoshop 2025

May 17, 2025

The Beginner’s Guide to Photoshop AI Masking Tool

May 10, 2025

For Beginners

Basics

Removing Backgrounds with Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop: A Beginner’s Guide

By James QuMay 24, 20255 Mins Read

How to Resize Images Without Losing Quality in Photoshop 2025

May 17, 2025

Curves or Levels: Choosing the Right Tool for Stunning Edits

May 9, 2025

Photoshop Clipping Masks – Everything You Need to Know

May 8, 2025

You May Also Like

Photo Effect

Create Colourful Fiery Portrait in Photoshop

By James QuMay 7, 20254 Mins Read
Photo Effect

How to Swap Faces in Photoshop Quickly & Seamlessly

By James QuMay 2, 20253 Mins Read
AI

How to Use Photoshop’s AI Content-Aware Crop for Perfect Image Transformation

By James QuApril 26, 20255 Mins Read
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • About Us
  • Get in Touch
  • Advertise
  • VIP Area
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
© 2025 PSD Vault. All Right Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}