Advanced Lighting Effects in Photoshop
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DifficultyAdvanced
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Length3.75 hours
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Description
Master lighting effects in Photoshop! This tutorial explores our top ten dynamic techniques, from cinematic glows and sparkling skin to dramatic sun flares and retro film aesthetics. Discover how to intensify highlights, sculpt light trails, and infuse vibrant color into any photo.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 27 Sample Images
- 10 Sample PSDs
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Table of Contents
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01 - Cinematic Lighting30:23m
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02 - Sparkles Effect29:40m
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03 - Light Trails20:01m
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04 - Sun Flares20:33m
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05 - Soft Lighting17:23m
Course Downloads
Transform with Light
AFTER
BEFORE
Crafting Lighting Effects
Lighting is key to making your photos stand out, creating mood and drawing the eye. Learning how to control light in Photoshop is a game-changer for any editor. In this tutorial we’ll teach you our top 10 techniques for creating amazing lighting effects, helping you make your pictures truly shine.
Combining Images
Learn to combine different images to create a variety of lighting effects. We’ll show you how to seamlessly integrate these elements, from adding subtle glows to skin to creating dynamic, full-frame luminosity. The focus is on making these added lights appear naturally part of your original photograph.
Using Blending Modes
Blending modes are essential when creating light effects. These powerful settings seamlessly integrate layers, transforming how different effects interact with your images. We’ll show you exactly how to wield blend modes like Lighten and Screen with precision, so you can achieve realistic results every time.
AFTER
BEFORE
Analyzing Light
Understanding your image’s existing light is fundamental to creating believable effects. It’s not just about adding a glow; it’s about seamlessly integrating it so it feels natural. In this tutorial, you’ll learn to analyze the direction and quality of light already present in your photos. We’ll make sure your lens flares, light rays, and sun glows will look completely natural and enhance your images beautifully, without any artificial feel.
Dynamic Path Blurs
Discover how to create dynamic light streaks and rays using the Path Blur filter. This powerful tool in Photoshop’s Blur Gallery gives you precise control over the direction and speed of light, making still photos feel full of energy. We’ll teach you the ins and outs of this tool, so you can add stunning, directional light that brings your photos to life.
Channels & Layer Masks
Uncover hidden light in your images by extracting light with channels, selecting the brightest areas to form a new, workable layer. Then, fine-tune where that light appears using layer masks for selective application. You’ll learn to precisely paint in or out the effect, ensuring your light enhancements are seamlessly integrated and perfectly placed within your photos.
Add Interest & Drama
Lens Flares, Sun Rays & More
Discover how to sculpt light to create captivating focal points, adding radiant glows, creating vibrant light trails, and generating realistic sun flares for breathtaking results.
AFTER
BEFORE
Cinematic Effects
Learn how to add textures, noise, and light leaks to create beautiful cinematic effects, that feel just like a Polaroid! You’ll discover how to perfectly blend in subtle grain, vintage light, and rich overlays. This will give your photos a unique, timeless, and film-inspired feel that truly makes them special.
The Power of ACR
Explore the power of the Camera Raw Filter’s Lens Blur to sculpt depth in your photos. This tool helps you create realistic background blur or even selectively blur areas, making your subjects pop in no time. You’ll master its intuitive controls, including painting in blur for artistic effects, to perfectly guide the viewer’s eye.
Make it Cohesive
Beyond specific effects, mastering generic adjustments is key to perfecting your light work. You’ll learn to sculpt your image’s overall look using Curves for precise contrast and brightness adjustments, ensuring your light effects pop. Plus, dive into diverse color adjustment options like Channel Mixer, Color Balance, and Gradient Map, allowing you to seamlessly integrate your luminous enhancements with perfect color harmony.
AFTER
BEFORE
Adding Skin Glow
Make skin glow from within by paying special attention to certain colors and understanding how light passes through skin. In this tutorial, you’ll master isolating highlights using channels and levels, then apply Gaussian blur for luminous effects. Discover how Blend If and other blend modes infuse warm, vibrant colors into highlights and shadows, creating natural and radiant skin tones.
Non-Destructive Editing
If you know PHLEARN, you know that we champion non-destructive editing, and this tutorial is no exception! In this tutorial we’ll show you how to create smart objects, apply flexible edits, and easily revert changes, ensuring your original image remains untouched and your workflow stays efficient.
Special Effects Learning Path
Master the art of stunning special effects with our Special Effects Learning Path. Learn the secrets behind creating mesmerizing text effects, mastering double exposure techniques, crafting dispersion wonders, and adding that magical glow to your images. Get ready to impress with your newfound skills and bring your imagination to life!
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
View More Classes by Aaron Nace
Special thanks to Allan Lainez, Hannah Popowski, Albert Salim, Kier in Sight Archives, Kym MacKinnon, Luke Besley, Jay Soundo, Simon Humler, Annie Spratt, Guilherme Stecanella, Yichen Wang, Mariola Grobelska, Joel Mott, Evie S, Medapati veerendra, Mockaroon, Neom, Valentin Bolder, Vivek, and Karsten Winegeart.
Images for this PRO course were sourced from Unsplash .
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This was such a fun tutorial, and I learnt loads of new techniques.
absolutely love this! I always learn something new
Fun training. You do such a great job of explaining things and always offer interesting classes.
I have watched the whole thing. Very interesting to see almost same effect done with the newest tools. The way you are showing us those techniques, personally what I like the most, is how I can use them in so many other ways. One tutorial that I would like to see one day, is how to edit infrared pictures. I have searched on youtube and on your channel, and I have found only one very old. I am sure there are better ways today for black and white, but also for color infrared editing. Thank you Aaron and team for this great tutorial. Those are the reason why I renew my subscription every year 😉
Absolutely brilliant tutorial .. as always. I always learn so much. More like this please 🙂
Very creative effects, well explained, but for me a little too fast for me to follow along and I am pausing and replaying. This breaks up the continuity. A personal issue which shouldn’t detract from the excellent quality of your work. This oldie just needs a little more time to understand.
I really, really liked this tutorial. Learned some great techniques and new possibilities to enhance pictures. As always great presentation. More of this please. Great Job!