light effect in photoshop

[serena]

Hi everybody, i have to thank you for your wonderful tutorials, they helped me a lot!

I see a lot of LOs in gallery, with a simple composition but a wonderful shadow/light effect. For example: a black (or dark) gradient everywhere but a central lightened zone that enhance the pictures..i tried with gradients, but i think i should use other effects like dodge-light....or some light effect..i don't know if you can understand my question...and i don't know if i could put here a Lo as example...Sorry for my bad english, and thanks for your anserws :wave1

[SeattleSheri]

Hi Serena, if you can find a layout in the A5 gallery, feel free to post it here. That will help us understand the effect you are trying to achieve.

[serena]

Thank you SeattleSheri,
I found this Lo by Lisa:

http://www.afterfivedesigns.com/theartwall/showphoto.php?photo=47241

I'm trying to understand how to make a grey background paper enlightened like that on this page, with corners darker and a central area in full light (but not only necesary the central....i saw other pages with a light in the bpottom, for example)

[wendyp]

Hi Serena
I think i know what you mean.
I use that light too. Most of time i use a action for more color effect.
But i know there is also a light effect that also is used in the action and that can you find here:
http://i55.tinypic.com/2pocg7l.jpg

look at the blue beams
only mine is dutch LOL, but it is the same place you can find it i think.
If you go to filter above in you menu bar, there you can find Rendering. There you can find Light-effect


I hope you can find it, if not ask me

[serena]

Hi Wendy...thank you so much!
I'll try this evening....thanks also for translation from Dutch Lol:D

[SeattleSheri]

Depending on the color of the original image (a paper in this instance), you can either add a vignette to darken the edges or you can find a way to lighten the center. There are many ways to do this. I'd probably make a selection of the center, feather it and add a curves adjustment layer mask, but the are lots of other ways to do it too. I think most designers include similar papers in their kits, so it's not always necessary to create this effect on your own. HTH!

[createwings]

Serena.... were you able to try out Wendy's suggestion?
that is how some add the lighting effect to their pages.

It is a very cool photoshop feature!

I will show some steps and in English version too.


Here is the first step:

In Photoshop go under "Filter" then to "Render" and then to "Lighting Effects"
I usually use either "Omni" or "Spotlight"
(here I am showing you an example with "Omni"


http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/icreatewings/Screenshot2010-10-02at82839AM-1.png

Here is a screen shot of the Dialogue box...
I have Omni Selected and the most important box to worry
about is "Negative" I usually keep this around 17-19

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/icreatewings/Screenshot2010-10-02at83004AM-1.png

Here is what my page looks like after using that setting...
I also suggest that you make a duplicate layer of your flattened page.
Make the top layer "Convert to Smart Layer" this allows you to make changes easily
if the lighting is not the way you want it on the first few tries.
I also use this top layer and I can adjust the opacity to tone down the effect.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/icreatewings/Screenshot2010-10-02at83040AM-1.png

Here is the page before the lighting effect

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/icreatewings/Screenshot2010-10-02at83149AM.png

Here is the page after the lighting effect

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/icreatewings/Screenshot2010-10-02at83155AM.png

Have fun... one key thing is not to overdo the effect.

Wishing you all a fantastic day!

[serena]

Thanks to your advices i finally was able to reach this effect!!!

Girls you are so kind!!!

[wendyp]

I;m happy it worked serena!!

[Mirandana]

Thank you very much for the advice!

[Paula Bruno]

Thanks girls!

[Dislea]

thank's girl!!!

[xleannex]

thanks for posting this, been trying to get this effect on my pages, will try with these tutorials

[Benthai]

:bow Thank you...it is really a great filter to add light, deepness..or add a sort of emboss effect on papers or textures!!:blush