How to make sunlight. Adding Sun Rays to a Photo in Photoshop

In this short tutorial, we'll learn how to create sun rays using tools such as gradients, blending modes, and adjustment layers to make the rays more realistic.

Creating sun rays in the program AdobePhotoshop- a fairly simple task, and since there are many ways to create them, I will show you how to do this using gradients. For execution this lesson, I advise you to use the version AdobePhotoshopCC.

Step 1

Transfer the image to AdobePhotoshop or just open it in the program ( Ctrl+O).

Now let's go to the filter Camera Raw by selecting it in the tab Filter(Filter) and apply the same settings as in the screenshot with the existing result:

Step 2

Now let's create new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N) and let's call it rays, and then apply an adjustment layer to it Gradient.

Translator's note: in the color transition selection window, by default, there will be those colors that were originally used as background color foreground. The author did not intentionally choose the colors that he had, but it is better to use the same ones as his, or similar ones, so that the effect is as consistent as possible.

Translator's note: in the selection windowGradient Type (Gradient type)select No ise (Noise).

Using the button Randomize(Randomize). (Translator's note: either generate) you need to combine gradients, choosing the one that appears in the screenshot or something similar:

After increasing the value Roughness(Roughness) up to 100% , we get the following result:

Also, you will need to change color model RGB on Lab,

and also hide the light alpha channel sliders under the dark ones until the result is shown in the screenshot:

Then, use the button again Randomize(Randomize) with which Adobe Photoshop eliminates colors that are too out of the general range.

and remove the check mark next to the inscription Restrict Colors(Color Limit) (excludes particularly bright or oversaturated colors from the noise gradient).

And this is what should happen:

Then change in the gradient settings window Style(Style) on Angle(Angle) with the result appearing:

Let's change the blending mode of this layer to Screen(Screen).

Then, click on the adjustment layer icon again Gradient Fill(Gradient Fill) and drag the resulting result to the same place where the light source is supposed to be and change the settings a little:

Author's Note: because to soften the edges of the sun's rays, we will use a filterGaussian Blur (Gaussian blur),with subsequent editability, let's convert this layer to S mart Object (Smart object) (right click on the layer in the layers palette).This action will help us change everything numeric values, which we will set for this layer.

Let's switch this layer to mode Smart Object(Smart object).

Translator's note: as a result of this action, a layer mask will be applied to the layer. Then let's go to Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur(Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur) and set the blur radius in the area 47 pixels. And here is the result:

Step 3

Translator's note: for more realistic effect, use adjustment layers Hue/Saturation(Color tone/Saturation) orCurves (Curves) andLevels (Levels) asClipping Mask (Clipping Mask)to layerrays and add a little yellow tone withCurves (Curves)orLevels (Levels).

Create a new adjustment layer Hue/Saturation(Hue/Saturation) and apply it as Clipping Mask to layer rays. Set the same settings as in the screenshot:

Then, create a new adjustment layer Curves(Curves) and also apply it as Clipping Mask(Clipping mask). Adjust the same settings as in the screenshot:

Step 4

Double click on the layer rays and change the gradient settings to those shown in the screenshot. Again, combine gradient options using the button Randomize(Randomize):

Translator's note: the author uses the button very often R andomize (Randomize)in order to make future sun rays as realistic as possible.

Then create Layer mask(Layer mask) for the layer rays and, on it, using a tool Gradient(Gradient) (G) (black to white) with Angle Using a (corner) style, draw it out as shown in the screenshot:

Translator's note: the author masks the sun's rays so that they look as real as possible due to the trees through which they must filter.

Double-click on the previously created adjustment layer Hue/Saturation(Hue/Saturation) and adjust it a little, as in the screenshot:

Step 5

Create a new layer Shift+Ctrl+N and immediately change its blending mode to Screen(Screen). On it, using a tool Brush(Brush) (B), medium diameter , with color # a99446b make 1 click in the area where the sun is shining.

Also, let's double-click on the adjustment layer we created earlier. Hue/Saturation(Hue/Saturation) and move the slider Lightness(Brightness) slightly to the left, as in the screenshot:

Now let's create a new adjustment layer Color Lookup(Color Search) at the very top of the layers palette and apply the same settings as in the screenshot:

Then change the blending mode of this adjustment layer to Hue(Color tone) and reduce Opacity(Opacity) to 35-40% . The resulting result:

Finally, let's create a new adjustment layer. Curves(Curves) and apply the same settings as in the screenshot:

Result:

OK it's all over Now! It turns out that you can draw sun rays so easily. I hope you enjoyed the lesson.

So I decided to make my own master class. It is very simple, designed for people just learning Photoshop. I tried to make everything very clear so that any teapot could figure it out)

Sometimes this happens: it seems like a good photograph, but something is missing. For example, the sun flooding the free edge. And now I will show you how to “fill” the space with sunlight. I’ll say right away: I always do this when I want to add some kind of light. Maybe someone knows another way, a more beautiful one, but for me it’s simple and convenient to follow this path.

So, we will need:

Any Photoshop version(I have CS3);

Any photograph;

Hands (you can even have crooked ones).

The result I got was this:

Let's get started.

We open through Photoshop the photo to which we want to add light.

Let's create a new layer on which we will “shed” the rays: click the icon at the bottom of the layers panel. Everything is shown in the picture)

On the side we have a toolbar. Below we see two squares: black and white. Click on white and select any bright color, similar to the sun:

Click OK.

Select a “bucket” with a fill on the toolbar, right-click and change the “bucket” to a gradient. We carefully make sure that a circular gradient (radial) is selected so that our rays illuminate the photo smoothly and naturally. We can see the gradient mode in the second line from the top:

Let's make sure that the active layer is our new one, and in no case the layer with the photo itself. The active layer is shown in dark gray (in the layers panel on the right).

Now we need to make sure that yellow was at the top and black was at the bottom. To do this, click the arrow above the black and yellow squares. (If you don’t understand, I indicated everything in the picture =))

Select the gradient tool, and holding down the left mouse button, drag it from the place in the photo where you want to see the brightest light to the place where the light should diffuse. For example, I wanted to lighten the right top corner. To do this, I extended the gradient from the very corner down, almost to the place where the girl is sitting.

Don't be alarmed that everything has turned black) That's how it should be. To make this blackness disappear, change the layer blending mode to Screen. This is done like this: in the layers panel we see a window with the word Normal. Click the arrow next to the window and select Screen from the list that opens.

Voila! Now our photo looks much better. But that is not all.

To make our light look more natural, let's change its transparency. Move the Opacity slider next to the layer blending modes.

Personally, I was satisfied with the result of 70%.

Now we can say with confidence that our photo has become more sunny, summery and cheerful!

This effect can be used for more than just adding sunlight. In the same way you can create fog and simply beautiful color effects. For example, if you create many layers and draw multi-colored gradients of different diameters on each one, you can make any “bland” photo much more interesting. Below I will show what will come of it.

And if you are not very happy with the color of your “sun”, you can adjust it by pressing ctrl+U and playing with the sliders. For example, like this:

And now, the promised photo with color gradients:

Tip: if your “light” obscures the subject (person, animal) - take the Eraser tool with a transparency of about 15-20 and go through the places where the light should not fall. This will help your photo become even more expressive.

And if you're doing a lot of gradients, don't forget to change the mode of EACH layer to screen.

OK it's all over Now! I hope you found it clear and interesting) This is the simplest lesson I could do. I repeat that this was written for absolute beginners in Photoshop.

Happy experimenting!

It often happens that a photo lacks the smallest element to transform it and sparkle with new colors and emotions. The picture gains volume through the combination of light and shadow. Light can add shine, brightness, positive mood, and the shadow is volume and fundamentality. Today we'll look at how a beam of light can change a photograph. We start by opening the image in Photoshop.

Make a copy of the layer Ctrl+J.

Change the blending mode to Screen (Lightening)

Now let's create the rays. Open: Filter – Blur – Radial Blur. Set up the filter to best suit your image.

In Figure 6a you can see what should happen. Now you need to place the rays in the right place. By pressing the V key, we can move the layer with rays along the image plane. Using transformation (Ctrl+T), we stretch the rays to the desired size.

If the rays turn out to be too bright, their intensity can be reduced by changing the opacity. If the brightness of the rays, on the contrary, is too low, then you just need to create a duplicate layer.

Now you can compare the pictures.

You can finish the processing here, or you can do a few more manipulations to apply texture or toning.

Based on materials from the site:

It often happens that a photo lacks the smallest element to transform it and sparkle with new colors and emotions. The picture gains volume through the combination of light and shadow. Light can add shine, brightness, and a positive mood, while shadow can add volume and fundamentality. Today we'll look at how a beam of light can change a photograph. We start by opening the image in Photoshop.

Make a copy of the layer Ctrl+J.

Change the blending mode to Screen (Lightening)

Now let's create the rays. Open: Filter – Blur – Radial Blur. Set up the filter to best suit your image.

In Figure 6a you can see what should happen. Now you need to place the rays in the right place. By pressing the V key, we can move the layer with rays along the image plane. Using transformation (Ctrl+T), we stretch the rays to the desired size.

If the rays turn out to be too bright, their intensity can be reduced by changing the opacity. If the brightness of the rays, on the contrary, is too low, then you just need to create a duplicate layer.

Now you can compare the pictures.

You can finish the processing here, or you can do a few more manipulations to apply texture or toning.

Based on materials from the site: