This sunlight photo effect is a part of the Rays Of Light Photoshop Action from my portfolio on Envato Market.
You can also the check the Animated Sunlight Photoshop Creator. The color tones of the sunlight rays and the flare effects are easy to edit and customize.
Tutorial Assets
For this tutorial, you have to download this image:
1. Add the Beach Stock Image
Create a new PSD file and add the Tropical Beach stock image on a new layer.
2. Create the Sunlight Effect
Step 1
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer and add a Gradient adjustment layer.
Step 2
Edit the settings of the Gradient Fill adjustment layer. Change the Gradient color tones: #ffffff (location 0%, opacity 100%), #ffba00 (location 36%) and #ffba00 (location 100%, opacity 0%).
Step 3
Change the gradient Style and choose Radial. Drag the image on the screen to move the sun as shown in the preview.
Step 4
Set the Blend Mode of the Gradient layer to Screen.
3. Create Rays of Light in Photoshop
Step 1
Create a new layer and fill it with color #000000.
Step 2
Use the Brush Tool and color #ffffff to add dots with different sizes.
Make sure the dots are added in the center of the layer.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur and make these settings to create the rays of light.
Press Control-F to apply the Radial Blur multiple times.
Step 4
Set the Blend Mode to Screen and move the rays over the sun.
4. Create a Sun Flare in Photoshop
Step 1
Create a new layer and fill it with color #000000.
Step 2
Go to Filter > Render > Lens Flare.
Step 3
Set the Blend Mode to Screen and move the flare over the sun.
Step 4
Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and adjust the contrast of the flare image to make it brighter.
5. Adjust the Color Balance
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer and add a Color Balance adjustment layer.
6. Create a Realistic Cast Shadow Effect
Step 1
The result looks beautiful, but it is not quite realistic.
For realistic results, we have to take into account the shadows that are already in the image. That will give you some clues about the position of the sun.
Step 2
So a more realistic result will be with the position of the sun higher and on the right side of the image.
You can easily move the rays of light, the sun flare, and the sunlight layers to a position that looks realistic.
Congratulations! You’re Done!
In this tutorial, you’ve learned how to create a sunlight effect in Photoshop from scratch using filters and adjustment layers. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial.
You can also the check the Animated Sunlight Photoshop Creator. The color tones of the sunlight rays and the flare effects are easy to edit and customize.
This sunlight photo effect is a part of the Rays Of Light Photoshop Action from my portfolio on Envato Market.