05 photo art blends manual
By Linda Sattgast
Photo Art Blends | Lesson 5 Lesson 5: Adding Light Leaks In this lesson we’re going to show you a super quick and easy way to add a faux light leak to your photos. Light leaks used to make photographers cringe, as they indicated low quality cameras and lenses. Now they are all the rage. The secret to our technique? Gradients! • Open Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop. • Select File > Open and select a photo from your system to apply a light leak effect. • Click on the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button (half black/half white circle) located at the bottom (or top depending on version) of the Layers Panel (alternatively select Layer > New Adjustment Layer). Select Gradient. • Click on the gradient color picker. • If you haven’t already loaded the gradients from the class kit, click the Load button, then browse your system for the class kit where they are located in the Word Art folder and click Load. Choose any gradient from the class kit. Click OK. • Set the blend mode of the Gradient adjustment layer to “Screen.” • Now, double click on the Gradient layer thumbnail. • Adjust the angle and scale until you are satisfied with the gradient’s placement (I used 55 degrees and 90% scale for this image). • Adjust the opacity to a desired percentage. We’ve found that 60-80% works best. • Select Layer > Duplicate Layer, click OK when the dialog box appears. • Then set the blend mode of the copy to “Pin Light”, lower the opacity to somewhere between 10 and 20%, depending on preference. • Save in .psd format to retain layers and allow for future editing. • Save as high quality .jpg to upload to preferred print vendor for printing. See Printing Tips in your classroom for print vendor suggestions and other printing advice.
Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
Here’s another sample of a gradient light leak: the before and after, along with the Layers Panel.
Page 2
Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
Photo Art Blends | Lesson 5 Lesson 5: Adding Light Leaks In this lesson we’re going to show you a super quick and easy way to add a faux light leak to your photos. Light leaks used to make photographers cringe, as they indicated low quality cameras and lenses. Now they are all the rage. The secret to our technique? Gradients! • Open Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop. • Select File > Open and select a photo from your system to apply a light leak effect. • Click on the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button (half black/half white circle) located at the bottom (or top depending on version) of the Layers Panel (alternatively select Layer > New Adjustment Layer). Select Gradient. • Click on the gradient color picker. • If you haven’t already loaded the gradients from the class kit, click the Load button, then browse your system for the class kit where they are located in the Word Art folder and click Load. Choose any gradient from the class kit. Click OK. • Set the blend mode of the Gradient adjustment layer to “Screen.” • Now, double click on the Gradient layer thumbnail. • Adjust the angle and scale until you are satisfied with the gradient’s placement (I used 55 degrees and 90% scale for this image). • Adjust the opacity to a desired percentage. We’ve found that 60-80% works best. • Select Layer > Duplicate Layer, click OK when the dialog box appears. • Then set the blend mode of the copy to “Pin Light”, lower the opacity to somewhere between 10 and 20%, depending on preference. • Save in .psd format to retain layers and allow for future editing. • Save as high quality .jpg to upload to preferred print vendor for printing. See Printing Tips in your classroom for print vendor suggestions and other printing advice.
Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
Here’s another sample of a gradient light leak: the before and after, along with the Layers Panel.
Page 2
Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
