How to Shine Light Through Windows in Photoshop

Lighting effects in Photoshop can be tricky, especially when you're trying to work with natural light. Some light isn't even perceivable until you see it reflected from a wall. Shining light through windows can enhance the realism or improve the composition of any Photoshop image.

Instructions

1. Open the image you want to edit. It should be an interior shot with two walls (one with the window and one without) or a single wall.

2. Create a grid of white rectangles on a new layer in the shape of the windowpanes you want to cast your light. The solid rectangles should represent the glass, the empty spaces the window frames. If you use the vector shape tool, merge the rectangles to a single layer. Position the window shape over the image where you want to cast the light.

3. Use the Distort command (Edit menu > Transform submenu) to reshape the grid. Try to follow the angles of the wall to create a realistic sense of perspective.

4. Change the layer blend mode to "Soft Light." This will cause the white to mix with the colors underneath. Adjust the opacity to increase or decrease the lighting.

5. Apply a "Gaussian Blur" filter with a setting of 5 to 10 pixels. This will feather the edges of the windowpanes to create a more diffuse effect. (If you have Photoshop CS3 or later, you might want to convert the layer to a smart object so you can edit your filter settings later).

6. Apply the "Liquefy" filter or use the smudge tool to bend the shadow from the window frames around objects. This will enhance the realism of the lighting effect.