Tutorial: Create Light Rays in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial, we’ll learn to create realistic light rays. This simple technique is great for bright images with light sources. No special Photoshop skills required to create your own cool rays and this tutorial will let you create rays in five minutes.

Create Light Rays in Photoshop

Tutorial Details and Resources

Difficulty: Beginner
Apps: Adobe Photoshop (CS or later)
Estimated Completion Time: 5-10′ Minutes
Resources: Green Lake

Step 1 > Rays

Let’s go straight to the point and create a new layer. Pick the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) on your toolbox and create a quick selection in the area where you want to add rays of light. Next, fill the selection with black color and press (Ctrl + D) to deselect.

Step 2 > Difference Clouds & Threshold

With the black shape layer active go to Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (image a). Next, go to Image > Adjustments > Threshold and press OK with the default values (image b).

a)

b)

Step 3 > Radia Blur

Go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur and add change the settings like the image below:

Amount: 80, Blur Method: Zoom, Quality: Good. Make the Blur Center follow the light rays angle and press OK.

So far:

Step 4 > Blending Mode & Opacity

Change the Blending Mode to Soft Light and lower the opacity between 50% to 70% depends on your taste.

Conclusion

Remember to change the angle of radial blur similar to your direction. If your source of light is not the sun but a continuous artificial light then you must skip step 2.