How to Create Cool Effects With Photoshop
Creating cool effects with Photoshop can range from the very simple to extremely difficult, depending on the effect you are trying to achieve. A cool-looking light streak or two placed appropriately on an image that you already have can dramatically change the mood of the image.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Open the picture that you want to apply the cool lighting effect. Click the new layer icon at the bottom of the layers palette, so that you can work with the image. This new layer is "Layer 1."
-
2
Select the pen tool from the left hand tool bar. An options bar will appear at the top of the screen. Click on the second icon, which indicates the paths tool.
-
-
3
Choose where you would like your light streaks to be. Each time you click your pen tool, you deposit an anchor point. Click at the beginning of your light streak and then pull the mouse to the next point and click again. Click in several areas and curve them around some. Work your light streak around your original image.
-
4
Select the brush tool from the left hand tool bar. Click the brushes palette on the top options bar. Select "Brush tip shape" and click on the #40 brush. Reduce the spacing to 1 percent--(found at the bottom of the brushes palette. Click on the "Shape dynamics" and change the control to pen pressure. Press "D" on your keyboard to reset your color palette to black and white, and then press "X" to make white the foreground color.
-
5
Switch to the paths palette, which is located on a tab in the layers palette. The default name for your first path is "Work path," but if you draw another line, it will erase your original path. Therefore, it is necessary to rename the path. Double-click on "Work path" and save the path as "Path 1" and click "Ok."
-
6
Click on the small arrow at the top of the paths palette. Choose "Select path" from the available options. A dialogue box appears with stroke path options. Choose brush for the tool and click the "Simulate pressure" check box. Click "Ok." When you click ok, Photoshop will automatically stroke the path and form the first stroke of light.
-
7
Select the layers palette tab, where you will see your light stroke. Choose layer styles from the bottom of the layers palette and select "Outer glow." Choose "Linear light" for the blend mode. Select the color swatch, and choose the eye dropper. Click the eye dropper on a color in your original photograph that will help the glow of your light. Change the opacity to 75 percent. In the elements section, choose softer for the technique, and 30 pixels for the size.
-
8
Select "Inner glow" and change the blend mode to "Linear light." Choose a color to add glow to your streak of light, using the color swatch and the eye dropper tool. Set the opacity of the layer to 75 percent and the size to 10 pixels.
-
9
Edit your light streak by going back to the paths menu. Press "Control" and move your mouse over the streak of light. A white arrow appears. You can use this arrow to move anchor points on the path to suit your preferences, but do not touch the beginning or ending anchor points.
-
10
Restroke the path after you are done editing it. Press the "[" three times to make your brush a smaller size and then click the "Stroke path" icon at the bottom of the paths palette.
-
11
Add a few more light streaks using the entire method above. This will give you a cool effect hat you can alter to suit your preferences.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit streaks image by Dave from Fotolia.com
