My proven technique for drawing dark and mysterious fantasy scenes in Photoshop
Creative Bloq
by Murat Gül February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Murat Gül, a renowned digital artist known for his cinematic, painterly style in dark fantasy art, shares his proven technique for creating moody, atmospheric scenes in Photoshop. His approach involves three key stages: establishing composition and value structure, base colouring with the Gradient Map tool, and refining textures and materials. By focusing on shape-based composition early on and avoiding pure blacks or whites during the greyscale phase, Gül ensures flexibility when introducing colour later.
Gül begins with a loose sketch in Photoshop using large, textured brushes to define major forms like towers, terrain, and trees. This step emphasizes clear shapes and silhouettes to quickly establish structure, depth, and scale before moving on to details. By almost fully resolving the environment in greyscale first, he simplifies the introduction of colour in later stages.
For base colouring, Gül uses Photoshop’s Gradient Map tool to translate greyscale values into a cohesive palette. This step involves refining lighting, atmosphere, and adding fog or soft transitions to separate depth layers. By limiting colours and controlling contrast, he guides the viewer’s eye toward focal elements while maintaining balance and clarity in the overall composition.
In the final stage, Gül refines textures and materials using the Smudge tool for natural movement in organic elements like snow flow, while selectively applying the Sharpen tool to harder surfaces like stone. This process enhances storytelling details near figures or structures while keeping backgrounds softer for depth and visual hierarchy. His method demonstrates how careful attention to texture, lighting, and colour can elevate the mood and atmosphere of a piece.
This approach is particularly valuable for digital artists looking to create atmospheric environments with impact. By prioritizing composition and value structure early on, then building
Verticals
designart
Originally published on Creative Bloq on 2/24/2026