Creating a Lens Flare Effect and Dust Particles in Photoshop
This article isn’t about how to magically transform your images using Photoshop. The real magic of Photoshop is trying to convince the viewer that no effects were added at all, and that the image was captured in camera. Photoshop can add that little extra to your imagery. Conversely, it can also ruin an image if it’s overdone. I shoot to capture the best possible image as I can get at the time, but more often than not, time is not on my side. If I am shooting for a client, time is money. Deadlines and strict schedules are uppermost when dealing with a client. When shooting outdoors, I am dealing with natural light which is constantly changing and weather conditions, which may force me to shoot faster or abandon the shoot completely.So, when I get to look at my image(s) on the computer, I take the time to critically review them. As I shoot RAW, I need to apply basic post-processing to all my images. In some cases, I may need to add an extra enhancement, but that will depend on the image and what I need it to say.
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Lens Flare and dust particles added using Photoshop
When applying any Photoshop effects, It’s not just about technique, although the know-how is important, but it is the application which is key:
- How to execute the technique – different methods to achieve the same end result
- When to use it – some images suit this technique over others
- By how much?
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Before
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After
- HOW = the technique. I will demonstrate how to create a lens flare effect non-destructively in Photoshop using the Lens Flare filter. I will also describe how to create your own simple custom dust particle brush. Plus, I’ll show you my own unique in-camera method to capture dust particles.
- WHEN = you deciding if this technique will work on the particular image in question. Just because you know how to use a technique doesn’t mean you have to apply it to every image. Yes, by all means practice on your images until you have refined the process.
- HOW MUCH = knowing how little of the technique to apply – less is more. Don’t be afraid to reduce the opacity on the layer that you have applied the technique on.
What is Lens Flare?
Flare is particularly caused by a very bright light sources either in the image – which produces visible artifacts – or shining into the lens but not in the image – which produces a haze. Most commonly, this occurs when shooting into the sun (when the sun is in frame or the lens is pointed in the direction of the sun), and is reduced by using a lens hood or other shade. – as seen in WikipediaIf applied well, the lens flare effect really does convey that good-feeling summer shot.
The Lens Flare Filter in Photoshop
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The Lens Flare filter is found under Filter > Render > Lens Flare.
As you can see in the image below, a small pop up dialog box appears with a preview window, and shows the four different types of lens flare available. Click inside the preview window to move the Lens Flare to whatever position you want.
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The Lens Flare dialog box.
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This is the 50-300mm zoom Lens Flare effect on a layer filled with Black.
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This is the 105mm Lens Flare effect on a layer filled with Black.
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Lens flare applied
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The
precise Flare Center dialog box appears when you click on the preview
window of the Lens
Flare while holding down the Alt key on a Mac (Option
on PC).
How to create your own custom dust particle brush in Photoshop
To create your own custom dust particle brush in Photoshop is relatively simple. Open a new document in Photoshop, I made mine 800×800 pixels on a white background, set the dpi to 240 or 300. Use a small brush, hardness set to 25%, and use the color black. Create random small dots on the canvas. Not too many. Go up to the Menu Bar > Edit > Define Brush Preset. Type the name of your new brush and click OK.
Create a new document with a white background 800px x 800px.
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Go to Edit > Define Brush Preset and name your new custom brush.
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Create a new blank layer over your image and fill it with black. Using the custom brush, set to white, start creating dust particles across the canvas. Change the blend mode to Screen and now you can see the dust particles as white specks. Add some Gaussian Blur and reduce the opacity down to around 75%. You can always add a new layer to build up the effect too.
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How to create dust particles in-camera
I have to admit, this technique made me smile. I had been wracking my brains for a while for a possible solution to capture dust in-camera. The other morning, I got up early, as usual, to get my girls off to school. I looked out the kitchen window, the skyline was a lovely orange from the sun.I then noticed all the specks (dirt) on the window and I had an eureka moment, I grabbed my camera and I focused on the specks using an aperture f/4. I also underexposed it by two stops. I wanted the specks to show through a dark background. I brought this image into Photoshop and applied a Levels Curve Adjustment to darken the image even more. I placed this image on the photo of the Gorilla. I then changed the blend mode to screen. I added some Gaussian Blur and reduced the opacity. Not bad for what is essentially dirt on a window.
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Dust and dirt particles on a window.
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The image of the Gorilla without the Lens Flare effect and dust particles.
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Zoomed in area to show the dust particles I took of my own window!
Have you got a technique for creating your own flare or dust particles in Photoshop? If so, please share in the comments below.
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