How to Create a Dramatic Light & Shadow Effect in Photoshop #2MinuteTutorial
Summary
TLDRIn this tutorial, the creator demonstrates how to add dramatic light and shadow effects to photos using Photoshop. They suggest starting with a portrait photo and using the Marquee tool to create a shape, such as lines over the subject's eyes. Adjustment layers, specifically curves, are then used to brighten the selected area and add a soft edge with a feather effect. The blend if options are adjusted to affect only the highlights, not the shadows. Finally, another curves adjustment layer is added to darken the overall photo, creating a high contrast effect. The video showcases the before and after results and encourages viewers to try the technique for themselves.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Use Photoshop to create dramatic light and shadow effects in photos.
- 🖼️ Choose a portrait-style photo for best results, but the technique works with all types.
- 🔍 Start by creating a shape over the subject's face, like lines or circles.
- 📐 Use the Marquee tool to make selections for the shape.
- 🌟 Apply a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the selected area, simulating light.
- 📉 Add a layer mask and use the 'Feather' option to soften the edges.
- 🖌️ Adjust the 'Blend If' options to affect only the highlights, not the shadows.
- 🔄 Use the Alt/Option key to split the 'Blend If' icon for a more graduated effect.
- 📸 Add another Curves adjustment layer to darken the overall photo and increase contrast.
- 📝 Experiment with different shapes and effects to achieve a personalized look.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to teach viewers how to create a dramatic light and shadow effect in photos using Photoshop.
What type of photo is recommended for this effect?
-A portrait-style photo, such as a headshot, is recommended, but the effect can work with all types of photos.
What tool does the instructor use to create the shape for the light effect?
-The instructor uses the Marquee tool to create the shape for the light effect.
What is the purpose of using the Marquee tool in this tutorial?
-The Marquee tool is used to create an area around the model's eye to cast a specific shape of light onto the face.
How does the instructor adjust the brightness of the selected area?
-The instructor adjusts the brightness by using the Curves adjustment layer.
What is the purpose of adding a feather to the layer mask?
-Adding a feather to the layer mask softens the edges of the light effect, making it look more natural.
How does the instructor ensure the light effect only affects the highlights and not the shadows?
-The instructor uses the blend if options in the layer style box to remove the effect from the shadow areas.
What is the purpose of adding another adjustment layer after the initial light effect?
-The purpose is to darken the overall photo to create a high contrast effect, which enhances the dramatic light and shadow.
How does the instructor create a more graduated and natural effect?
-The instructor creates a more graduated effect by splitting the blend if icon and adjusting the sliders.
What is the final step to achieve the desired light and shadow effect?
-The final step is to move the sliders in the blend if options until the desired effect is achieved.
What is the instructor's recommendation for using this effect?
-The instructor highly recommends adding this dramatic light and shadow effect to the viewer's next portrait photo.
Outlines
🖥️ Creating Dramatic Light and Shadow Effects in Photoshop
The video tutorial begins by introducing the process of creating dramatic light and shadow effects in photographs using Photoshop. The presenter suggests starting with a portrait-style photo but mentions that the technique can be applied to various types of images. The first step involves selecting a shape, such as a window or circle, and casting it onto the subject's face using the Marquee tool. The presenter demonstrates this by creating two lines over the model's eye. Adjustment layers, specifically the 'Curves' tool, are then used to brighten the selected area, simulating the effect of light. To soften the edges and make the effect more natural, a 'feather' is applied to the layer mask. The presenter also explains how to use the blend if options to restrict the effect to highlight areas, avoiding the shadow regions. The tutorial then proceeds to add another adjustment layer to darken the overall photo, creating a high-contrast effect. The presenter advises adjusting the curves to achieve the desired light appearance and encourages viewers to experiment with different shapes to create a dramatic lighting effect in their portraits.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Photoshop
💡Dramatic Light and Shadow Effect
💡Portrait Style Photo
💡Marquee Tool
💡Adjustment Layers
💡Curves
💡Layer Mask
💡Feather
💡Blend If
💡High Contrast Effect
💡Graduated Effect
Highlights
Create dramatic light and shadow effects in photos using Photoshop.
Choose a portrait style photo for the effect.
The technique works with all types of photos.
Create a shape over the model's face, such as lines or circles.
Use the Marquee tool to select an area around the face.
Create two lines over the model's eye for the effect.
Select the area and adjust the brightness using curves.
Increase the brightness to simulate light being cast on the face.
Use the layer mask to soften the edges for a more natural look.
Add a feather effect to the layer mask to further soften the edges.
Adjust the blend if options to affect only the highlight areas.
Create a more graduated effect by splitting the blend if icon.
Move the blend if sliders until satisfied with the result.
Add another adjustment layer to darken the overall photo.
Drop the curves adjustment layer to create a high contrast effect.
Ensure the new curves layer is below the original one.
The effect works well for high contrast photos.
Experiment with different shapes to create unique light and shadow effects.
Add the effect to your next portrait photo for a dramatic look.
Compare the before and after results to see the impact of the effect.
Engage with the community by sharing your results in the comments.
Transcripts
in this video guys I'm going to be
sharing with you how you can create this
dramatic light and Shadow effect in your
photos using Photoshop and I'm going to
start right now
[Music]
right guys the first thing we'll do is
go ahead and choose a photo and I
recommend choosing a portrait style
photo like a headshot but to be honest
this works with all types of photos so
see what photo works for you so I'm
gonna be working on this photo here if
you want to work on the same photo go
ahead to the link in the description the
first we want to do is to create the
shape and it can be any shape it can be
like a window shape it can be circles
you basically go crazy with this I'm
going to use two lines over the model's
eye but again cast any type of shape
onto the face that you like that's what
I'm doing I'm going to go to the Marquee
tool I'm going to go ahead and create
just an area around the right hand side
or the right eye so I'm gonna go for
like that then I'm going to go ahead and
create another line so I'm creating
these two lines that you can see over
the model's face
right so once you've made the selection
shape go down to your adjustment layers
icon found in the bottom right hand
corner and go ahead and select curves
now with this you want to brighten that
area as you obviously we're casting
light onto the model's face so I'm going
to go ahead and increase the brightness
like so I'm going to go for an effect
that looks similar to this but as you
can see it's a little bit too sharp so
go to your layer mask that is part of
your curves adjustment layer go to the
properties panel and drop down to where
you can see it says feather you want to
go ahead and add in a feather I'm going
to add in around a 20 pixel feather in
this particular case as you can see it
just softens those edges makes it a
little bit more natural okay obviously
we don't want it affecting the Shadows
we just want to be effecting the kind of
highlight areas so what we can do is
double click on that curves adjustment
layer it'll open up our layer stylizing
box inside that you want to go to your
blend if options and go to where you can
see it says underlying layer inside that
you've got two kind of toggles go to the
one on the black side to the left hand
side and bring it over towards the right
this will remove that effect from the
shadow areas and to make it a bit more
graduated a bit more natural hold alt or
option on your keyboard and go ahead and
split that icon in too and as you can
see we're creating a bit more of a
graduated effect and then all you need
to do is move them around until you are
happy with the result so I'm going to go
for something like so now this effect
worked well when you're creating a high
contrast effect so what we're going to
do is add in another adjustment layer so
I'm going to go down to my adjustment
layers again guys and this time we'll go
ahead and select another curves making
sure this is below our original curves
adjustment layer and we're going to
darken the overall photo so I'm going to
go to my curves adjustment layer I'm
going to drop that down and to create a
high contrast effect go to the one at
the top and just make it slightly
brighter and as you can see we've got
this light appearing it's really nice
but again try with any shape of your
choice it works with all sorts and you
can create this corner of cool dramatic
light and Shadow effect in your photo
highly recommend adding it to your next
portrait photo here is the before and
here is the after and if this particular
effect worked for you write it down in
the comments below
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