How to Add Lighting Effect Through Photoshop

Adding lighting effects to a photo can significantly enhance its visual impact and create a more dramatic and dynamic look. Photoshop offers several ways to add lighting effects to an image, including using filters, layer styles, and adjustment layers. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to add lighting effects through Photoshop:

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop.

Step 2: Duplicate the layer by pressing Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (Mac). This will create a copy of the image layer.

Step 3: Go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects. This will bring up the Lighting Effects dialog box.

Step 4: Choose the type of lighting effect you want to apply from the drop-down menu. There are several options to choose from, including spotlight, directional, and omni.

Step 5: Adjust the settings to your liking. You can use the sliders to adjust the intensity, direction, and color of the lighting effect.

Step 6: Click OK to apply the effect to the image.

Step 7: Create a new layer by clicking the New Layer button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Step 8: Choose the Gradient tool from the toolbar.

Step 9: Select the Radial Gradient option from the Gradient Preset picker.

Step 10: Click and drag on the new layer to create a gradient. The gradient will act as a light source for your image.

Step 11: Change the blending mode of the layer to Screen to blend it with the image.

Step 12: Adjust the opacity of the layer to fine-tune the effect.

Step 13: Create a new adjustment layer by clicking the New Adjustment Layer button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Step 14: Choose the Curves option from the list of adjustment layers.

Step 15: Adjust the curves to enhance the contrast and brightness of the image.

Step 16: Save your image by going to File > Save As.

That's it! You have successfully added lighting effects to your image using Photoshop. Remember to experiment with different settings and techniques to achieve the desired effect.