Custom lens flares tutorial (Photoshop)

[Ramiel]

Ok, this is just a basic "guide" to realize a custom lens flare in Photoshop.

Here we go...




Now add a new layer, and...








The blue lines are just the Photoshop guides (click on the rulers [Ctrl+R] and drag to the image to use them)


Now add another layer...




On another layer...













Now merge all the layers (Ctrl+Shift+E) and save the file...

Now you can copy the final image into your render and set the opacity on "Screen" (or whatever you want)...


Remember, with these basic tutorial you should be able to realize a lot of different kind of lens flares.

I hope you find this small tut useful for your projects.

[Ozylot]

Very helpful, but could this be expanded to include a repeating lens effect, as is often seen when one points a camera into the sun or other bright source?

[Ramiel]

Do you mean the colored diamonds or circles that you can see in a picture?
Well, that should be easy... give me a sec.

-EDIT-

Ok, it's doable, but it's not "automatic"... You have to move every shape into position manually, one by one, following a line... So... I can't cover that in this tut, sorry.
But this could be an example of the result...

[Ozylot]

Originally Posted by Ramiel

Do you mean the colored diamonds or circles that you can see in a picture?
Well, that should be easy... give me a sec.

Yes exactly, Its hard to find realistic ones.

[IRML]

Originally Posted by Ozylot

Very helpful, but could this be expanded to include a repeating lens effect, as is often seen when one points a camera into the sun or other bright source?

I think those are called lense reflections, I think you'll find tacky reflections kill an image more than tacky flares do, most of the time just the flare on it's own looks great

[Ozylot]

Originally Posted by Ramiel

..
Ok, it's doable, but it's not "automatic"... You have to move every shape into position manually, one by one, following a line... So... I can't cover that in this tut, sorry.
...

Well, could ya tell us how ya did the shape?

I like how that looks!

[Dallidas]

Originally Posted by Ozylot

Well, could ya tell us how ya did the shape?

I like how that looks!

there is a poly draw mode thingy in PS where you pick the # of sides.

and thats ramiel, this is exactly what I have been needing. but how do you creat eyour own gradients for custom colors?

[Ramiel]

If I remember correctly, You could change the colors of the gradient as you wish... I will check and I let you know