So manipulation is a necessity for all graphic designers on Wattpad, and actually it's simpler than people think.
But what you need is patience. Patience, creativity and intelligence.
Here is a manip that uses patience (this took close to an hour), creativity (this was an original idea) and intelligence (the colours match and everything works together):
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That is an example of a manipulation.
This is what the original image looked like:
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Now she looks completely different.
So how did I do it?
Tip #1) Think
What do you want it to look like? I know some of the best ideas are made as you go, but you should have some foundation to begin with.
What mood do you want? What genre, what color scheme?
What resources will you use?
What textures?
After you've finished that, you can move on to Tip #2.
Tip #2) The model.
Some people start with the textures first, but I start with the model, so when I'm done with the model I know exactly what I want the background to look like.
DO NOT FORGET THE SHADOWS! This is very important, and it makes the difference between a realistic and unrealistic manip! Also pay attention to the lighting!
Tip #3) The resources
Now is the time you add all those little things like shields, ribbons and mirrors.
Remember that the model is usually the main focal point, so don't take too much attention away from her.
A cool Photoshop trick is using 'Auto Color' or 'Auto Tone' so everything blends together.
Tip #4) The background
Finally you can add all the textures and backgrounds you've been dying to add.
Believe it or not I used around four different backgrounds and three textures, and yet they all blend to look like one.
That is what you want. Don't go using bubbles with a dark house! Have some contrast but not too much.
Tip #5) Filters, PSDs and all the little things
PSDs are lifesavers as all my photoshop users will know.
I used five different PSDs here, playing around with the opacity and arrangement.
This is an image without a PSD:
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Not bad, but still pretty plain, with low saturation.
This is with a PSD:
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So much better and brighter, and finishes everything off nicely.
And that's it!
Hope that made sense - I know I'm bad at explaining things, but I hope this was okay!
