"The EASIEST WAY TO MAKE RAYS OF LIGHT: A Photoshop tutorial for beginners" by Anna Shaw

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THE EASIEST WAYS TO MAKE RAYS OF LIGHT

A Photoshop Tutorial for beginners

I have used Photoshop CS4 but it will work in earlier versions.

This tutorial is an adaptation of ‘Creating An Underwater Scene’ by the truly wonderful Mark Monciardini

As with anything in Photoshop, there are many ways to achieve the same end.Making rays of light is no exception. There are many ways to make these.This is the easiest and most effective way that I have found to do this.

Essentially it is only four main steps to achieve this result…

Steppleland Stock from Deviantart has kindly given permission to use the lovely start image.

If you click on this LINK you can download the image.

Make sure that you download the full size image and not just the thumbnail or the technique that you will be learning will not work properly. To do this click on the download button, and when the full size image shows, right click and use ‘save image as’.

Please make sure that you tick the Add to Favourites button before you download, as a way of saying ‘Thanks’ for the use of the stock.

Step 1
Open the image and immediately create a new layer by clicking on the new layer icon at the bottom of your layers palate. Name this layer ’Light Rays"
See below…

Step 2

Set colour palate to the default White foreground, Black background
Go to the menu bar and select Filter/Render /Clouds and hit ‘Enter’.
Your layer should now look like this…

Step 3

Go to your menu bar and select Image/Adjustment/Threshold and hit the ‘OK’ button in the little box that comes up.
Your layer will now look like this..

Step 4

Go to
Filter/Blur/Radial Blur

When the box pops up, set

Amount = 84
Blur Method = Zoom
Quality = Good

The arrow here shows you where the zoom will radiate from.

You need to place the blur centre over your light source ie the sun or the moon, or where the strongest light is in the sky. In this image, we need to have the Blur Centre it in the top left hand corner. So, with your mouse, slide the zoom centre to the top left of the square box.
The dialogue box should look like this…

Hit the OK button.

Your image will now look like this.

You are nearly there now!

Step 5

Now set the blending mode of this layer to Soft Light (See image below)
Reduce the opacity to 77%
Reduce the Fill to 94%
(The reduction in opacity and fill is a personal preference. Just adjust them until you are happy with the effect.)

Step 6

Now add a layer mask to this layer by clicking on the layer mask icon at the bottom of your layers palate. (See image below)

Now set your foreground colour to Black.
Set the background colour to White.

Select a soft round brush 200px.

With the layer mask selected, paint over the areas you want to hide with the black brush.

Here I have painted out the rays over the tree trunk, to give the impression that the light is falling behind it. I also painted out the front foreground to set the rays further back in the image.

If you go too far, change the foreground colour to White and that will bring the rays back.

And that’s it!! How simple was that?

Special thanks go to my dear friends LorraineCreagh &Francis
for their kindness and help in learning how to upload and post this tutorial.
xx

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artisandelimage

wow, it makes me almost want to get photoshop !!! lol
great tutorial…
my best, francis.
Anna Shaw:

xx
Thanks dear friend.
Anna Shaw:

So sorry Francis, I forgot to add my thanks to you and Lorraine for helping me post this. That is now remedied!!
xx
nishagandhi

very nice tutorial!!
Anna Shaw:

Thanks so much.
xx
Lorraine Creagh

Wow, this is such a good tutorial Anna. I must try it myself. x
Anna Shaw:

So sorry Lorraine, I forgot to add my thanks to you and Francis for helping me post this. That is now remedied!! Your help was invaluable.
xx
Sybille Sterk

Thanks for that. Good way of doing it. Mine was far more complicated. LOL
Anna Shaw:

Hi – I haven’t seen yours, could you send me the link please? As I said, there are so many ways in Photoshop to create the same thing. I think it is just a matter of personal preferences in the end. I love your work by the way!!
xx
Elaine Manley

awesome thank you :)
Anna Shaw:

You are welcome.
xx
laxwings

Anna, Great tutorial. I took a photo last week that I want to try this on. The arrows and labels make it so easy to read and understand. Hope you do one on removing a background with color range…think about it. We all learned something new and easy.
Anna Shaw:

Thanks Mary Ann – you never know!!
xx
Rosalie Scanlon

Thanks for the info Anna, put in my favorites to try it sometime.
Anna Shaw:

You are welcome dear Rosalie.
xx
RabbitHeart

This looks incredibly useful Anna! I’ll definitely have to give it a try. Thanks so much for posting this!
Anna Shaw:

That’s so sweet of you.
xx
Hugh Fathers

Nice and quick and easy . . . Good stuff . . .
Anna Shaw:

Thanks Hugh.
xx
Kelly Cavanaugh

Awesome! Thank you!!
steppeland

Great tutorial so to see, Anna, and lovely effect. I am happy you could use one of my stock images for this! :)
Dennis Stewart

awesome tutorial……thank you so much. – Dennis
Desmet

THank You Anna .
restlessd

How awesome is this? Wow, you have made it so “basic” – cool, I can’t wait to try it. – I have been “cheating” & using brushes but this looks so real.
Thank you for sharing Anna.
Hugz♥
Rhonda
Danica Radman ...

thanks!!!
Anna Shaw:

You are welcome.
xx
Helen Martikainen

Thanks Anna, the tutorial looks really good and easy to follow.
Anna Shaw:

Thanks dear Helen.
xx
Andrew Gordon

Nice One Anna
I knew the clouds filter was good for something!
Anna Shaw:

Thanks Andrew. The clouds filter is equally good for texturing and image and for creating mist. Very under-rated tool I think!
xx
o0OdemocrazyO0o

nice one :D
Anna Shaw:

Thanks so much.
xx
Bob Culshaw

Thank you Anna, will give it a try. Thank you so much for sharing. xx
Anna Shaw:

Thanks so much.
xx
Anna Shaw

Thanks so much.
xx
Geoff Carpenter

Anna you are a wonder! Many thanks for taking the time to post this tutorial. I found it very clear and concise. All In nedd to do now is try it out!!!
Anna Shaw:

Thanks Geoff.
xx
redtree

Many thanks for this tutorial, this will save me so much time. xx
Anna Shaw:

You are so welcome. Thank you.
xx
Phil Parkin

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing :-)
Anna Shaw:

You are welcome. Thanks so much.
xx
jacqleen

wowwwwwwww…the fact that you included pics to go along with your words……made MY DAY :))) LOL
thank you sooooo much for sharing this :)
Anna Shaw:

Oh, what a great response. Thank you so much.
xx
Chris Wahl

Heh, never knew you could drag the zoom centre around. Thanks for that tip.
Anna Shaw:

I am so pleased. Thanks for letting me know.
xx
Sybille Sterk

Hi Anna,

Just used your tutorial to great effect in my latest photo collage: Fire and Water. Many thanks for posting this! :-)
Anna Shaw:

That is wonderful. I am so pleased.
xx
kristiane

I often wondered about rays like this…thank you Anna for sharing this…very kind
Anna Shaw:

You are so welcome.
xx
Linda Gregory

Fantastic tutorial, Anna. I’m definitely going to try this.
Anna Shaw:

I am delighted Linda. Thank you.
xx
Mariano57

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been struggling with this issue!! I love you for sharing this Ann!! I am so happy I could hug you!!
Anna Shaw:

How lovely – thank you so much, – it is lovely to wake up to an internet hug!
xx
Jenny Dean

now this is cool, can’t wait to try it!
Rafferty-Evans

so cool thanks
Isa Rodriguez

wow!!!! i am soo appreciate of people like you whom teach us ! yay! this is really awesome.. thanks so much ..
Terence Russell

Excellent tutorial. I use Corel software instead of Adobe software (less expensive) so I will definitely have to experiment a bit to do the same thing, but I already have the idea how to do it from this tutorial.
Andrea Rapisarda

Fantastic tutorial!!!
terezadelpilar

well done, thank you:))
SandraRos

I love, love your tutorials you really make it so clear what to do !!! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!
foppe47

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing :-)

Foppe
Paul Albert

Thanks Anna ! It’s settled ! I have my winter months filled to capacity ! Still a student ! Most appreciative ! paul
Rafferty-Evans

Wow thanks how easy was that" I have just tried it on sky to look like a long exposure and the clouds moving and it has turned out really well! Thank you
Anna Shaw:

Fabulous. Do please send me the link if you upload it.
xx
ellcot

Wow, thanks Anna! You’re amazing!
StacyLee

Wonderful :)
Lori Deiter

Thank you Anna – I just used your tutorial and it worked!!! I just need a bit more practice!!
Rafferty-Evans

Hi Anna here is one I have done, so impressed and thank you for the guide!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raffertyevans/4065...
Anna Shaw:

Dear Lee- Anne – that is just wonderful!!! I am so thrilled. Thank you so much for sharing it – and for the link. That has made me day.
xx
Carol Lewsley

Thanks Anna this is awesome thanks for sharing it
M a r i e B a ...

Thanks Anna, I will try it! Looks easy enough!!!
Ü
Teresa Burnett

Thank you Anna for sharing these tutorials with us.
Trudy Wilkerson

thank you kindly for that tutorial…. I’ve tried to do this several times but not with such great effects….took out a pic I took this past summer and created it with the rays today…gave it a religious feel….like it a lot… I’ll submit here shortly….thanks a million for taking the time out to teach us that…best wishes, Trudy Wilkerson
Anna Shaw:

That is wonderful, thank you so much. I look forward to seeing what you have done.
xx
Mel Brackstone...

Thanks Anna, I had a go here
RickGeorge

Excellent tutorial!
Barbara Manis

Thank you very much!
Cathleen Taraw...

Thanks Ann, I love learning something new, especially when it’s made into easy steps :)
Maxoperandi

Great tutorial…perfectly put together!
JudyBJ

thanks,very nice tutorial and helpful too
RavenSoul

AWESOME!
LudaNayvelt

excellent, thanks for taking your time and publishing this
Rosie Appleton

Fantastic… thanks for this and to Mel for leading me here!!!!
DragonFlyer

WOW! And here’s been me layering actual photos of rays of light in…..
Ms.Serena Boed...

Thanks for sharing! ;)
L. Haverkamp

thankyou for sharing this,its very helpful.ty
ANNABEL S. A...

how unselfish of you to share this wonderful idea,i don’t have a photoshop yet but I’m thankful
of this for future use,
Ann J. Sagel

You’re just the best for sharing. That’s why I’m always ready to help. So many have helped me. THANKS
Bill Atherton

Thank you Anna
Dinni H

great tutorial!
mollymum

thanks, I’m sure I’ll try this one out :-)
Jason Asher

Very comprehensive looking tute Anna, thank you! :)
mtozier

thanks
kenmatcham

Another excellent tutorial Anna and so easy to follow.
Laurie Search

Wow, this is excellent!! I can’t wait to try it!! Thank you so much!!! :)
Anna Shaw:

xx
Mudgers

Thank you for this, I found it most useful :D x
allicata

I work in PS but I didn’t know this trick! thanks!
Manfred Belau

Thank you Anna! Works great
shadowlee

thanks anna, the effects look good
jaffa

cracking tutorial cheers Anna.
inkedsandra

Thanks anna… how do you make the rays a particular colour?
Anna Shaw:

Hi – you cannot using this technique as the threshold filter turns it to B/W.

I suspect that if you create a new layer above it and fill it with the colour you want, – changing the blending mode to soft light or overlay – this would work.
xx
inkedsandra

Thanks I did try this and it does work!
CarolM

I’ve been trying to find an easier way to do this. I have to give it a try. Thanks a million!!! So nice of you to share.
foxfoto

You write very easy and neat tutorials – please keep them coming!! and yes a huge thank you for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us :D
Ladyshark

Thank you – I’m going to try it!
maremarie

Thank you very much, Anna! :-)) Gotta try this as well :-)
Angela Burman

Anna thank you so much x
mltrue

Thank you so much, Anna! This is awesome! I tried it and it turned out fairly well, I don’t have CS4, though, I have Photoshop Element 8, was not sure how to add a Layer mask, I found something called a Clipping mask and used it, it that is not the same if someone can tell me where the layers mask is- this is new to me. Also could not find a fill adjustment area (step 5)- so I just omitted that part- if there is a different place to do that on my version, would someone let me know? Thanks again- it still turned out pretty cool!
Evita

Excellent tutorial !! :D ♥
Kymjay

Thanks so much tried this and I was so excited

Thankyou for sharing this information you have made my day
Thow's Photogr...

Great work Thanks
Charuhas Images

Thank you
Lance Barnard

Thank you for taking the time to show us this tutoriol. I have aved it for one day when I get photoshop.
izzybeth

thankyou
Pat Moore

Anna, thank you so much, your tutorials are so great and I learn so much!!
bicyclegirl

Have seen other tutes for this online… this is a fast and easy (as you said!) way!
Thanks :D
carol brandt

Thanks Anna. Must go try this :)
Sandra Harris

Thank you Anna, I have a lot still to learn in PS, will be trying this out soon !
Andrea Meléndez

thank you very much for this little tutorial! is excellent! fully explain all the steps! I will definitely apply this in my work from now on!!!
Jan Timmons

Excellent tutorial! We’ve just begun a *Tutorials Library* , alphabetized by category into forums. We’d like to invite you to join and we’ll add your avatar to our group. Then either you or we, with your permission, will add a link to your tutorial under the appropriate category. That way you still receive the views and comments, but new people might find your tutorials more easily.

Hope you’ll consider this.
Anna Shaw:

I will do that – what a great idea.
xx
Anna Shaw:

I have posted two tutorials there – what a great group!!
Clare Colins

Thank you so much for sharing and for giving such easy to follow directions.
clare
Colleen Milburn

Your tutes are always fantastic, Anna :))
Russ Styles

Excellent tutorial, thank you very much for sharing it.
Russ
Norble

This is great and it works in PSE 8 if you have the mask add on. You have to use the filter “Dark strokes” to get the clouds to be black and white though. I’ll post a link when I’m done with my pic! Thanks for sharing!
John44

Good job done Anna!
Charmiene Maxw...

Thanks so much – I am hopeless at photoshop so every tip is greatly appreciated
Elaine Bawden

Thank you :)))
michellerena

Great tutorial, very easy to understand:)
RosaCobos

Thank you so much….I have an idea…and done rays but love to learn more and more and then use the one that would fit. This is really nice and I think that is great when you really have found an adequate photograph for it..like this one….a woody scene is great..for this type of trick.
Rosa
Anna Shaw:

Big hugs dear Rosa and thank you.
xx
Dianne English

Thanks so much Anna, I’ve had a “go” at this and will now post my image, the tutorial was excellent and easy to understand…
Anna Shaw:

That is great, thank you. Do let us know when you have posted it.
xx
Dianne English

Hi Anna,

Have just posted it, called “Remembering You”, pls give me any feedback….
Anna Shaw:

It is a triumph!! I have left my comments on your page. Well done – I am so chuffed that this has worked so very well for you.
xx
enchantedImages

Thank you!!!
I have been wondering how to do this. : -))
- Bobbi
Anna Shaw:

You are so welcome.
xx
Aurora Pintore

Thank you very much, very easy and beautiful tutorial, love it !!!!!
Anna Shaw:

Thanks Aurora, I am delighted that you like it.
xx
Maria Elena B...

I have Photoshop 7 and was stumped at step 3. When I go to Image there is no Adjustment/Threshold. Is there some other step I should go to instead?
Anna Shaw:

Hi Maria, I am afraid I cannot help you with this at all. I do not have PS7 and do not know it. This tut was written for the CS series. I hope that someone else reading this may be able to help.

So sorry and good luck.
xx
Kostas Koutsou...

Excellent tip, very helpful.
Charmiene Maxw...

Thankyou for sharing, I want to learn this!!
patjila

Thanks lots for sharing I will try it out in time Anna!
Rita Blom

Thank you Anna, I have decided I need to understand more about PS as I am very negative about it. This is a late post but I had to comment because it is so interesting. I will endevour to see if I can accomplish something. Again many thanks.
IngeHG

This looks wonderful, thank you for sharing this knowledge and this great tutorial !
Diane Johnson-...

Awsome tutorial, thank you!!!
ajlphotography 3 days ago

I really must conquer my fear of photoshop and try this! Excellent tutorial!