Building a Surreal Composite, Step by Step

Composites succeed when every layer agrees about light. The process below is the order that keeps that agreement intact.

1. 01Background plateShoot the environment first, at the lowest ISO you can, with the horizon level and exposure protecting highlights.
2. 02Light sourceDecide where the impossible light comes from, then paint its spill on the ground before adding any object.
3. 03Hero objectShoot or build the object under matching direction and colour temperature. Mask with a soft edge that matches the plate's depth of field.
4. 04FigureScale the figure from the horizon line, not by eye. Add a contact shadow; it does most of the convincing.
5. 05Atmosphere & gradeUnify with haze, grain, and a single grade across all layers. Grain last, so it sits on top of everything equally.

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Flat (simulated)Final