Photoshop tutorial 6

Spotlight Drama

Overview:

This tutorial will show you how to use Lighting Effects to add drama to your photos.

STEP 1: Open your image

File --> Open (Ctrl-O) Open your image.

And duplicate your background by dragging the ‘Background’ layer (in the layers palette) to the ‘Create new layer’ icon at the bottom of the ‘layers palette’.

STEP 2: Lighting Effects Dialog Box

Let’s start by opening the Lighting Effects Dialog Box with, Filter à Render à Lighting Effects

With the Dialog Box open, chose ‘Flashlight’ from the ‘Style’ drop down menu.

You can move the light around (in the preview box) by grabbing the center handle, and/or change the size of the light by grabbing onto one of the outside handles. I made the light larger and moved it up.

I also changed some of the settings in the Dialog Box. I turned the ‘Ambience’ way down. I went a little bit more then I thought I might need, but I will fix this later. Also set the ‘Light Type’ to “omni” directional, and moved the ‘Intensity’ slider to 57.

Feel free to play around with different settings. That’s the beauty of PS.

STEP 3: Fade Lighting Effect

To adjust the overall effect, normally we would use the ‘Opacity’ slider in the ‘Layer Dialog Box’. This time I want to show you something else. Anytime you use a ‘Filter’ you can ‘Fade’ the effect by going to, Edit --> Fade Lighting Effects (shift, ctrl, F).

I turned the ‘Opacity’ down to 89 to bring back a little background detail, and left the Blending ‘Mode’ set to ‘Normal’. Sometimes changing the Blending ‘Mode’ can create some great effects, but not this time.

Before/After