![](https://photo-techniques.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-19.png)
HOW TO CREATE A REALISTIC BEAM OF SUNLIGHT IN PHOTOSHOP
![](https://photo-techniques.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-18.png)
1
Image>Mode
Make sure you are in 8-bit RGB mode.
Also go to Preferences>Performance and make sure Use Graphics Processor is turned on (It should be on by default).
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop02.jpg)
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop03.jpg)
2.
Right click on the layer name and choose Convert to Smart Object. This is optional, but will give you more flexibility if you want to change it later.
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop04.jpg)
3
Choose Filter>Render Lighting Effects
From the presets, choose 2 o’clock Spotlight
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop05.jpg)
4.
Zoom out. Drag the dots to resize the ellipses
Drag inside the ellipses to move the light
drag outside the ellipses to rotate the light.
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop06.jpg)
5.
Click on color
Increase the Intensity to .57 This enables us to adjust the overall intensity more.
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop08.jpg)
6.
Make the adjustments as shown here (also on the video you can see easier).
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop09.jpg)
7. ADDING DREAMY SUNLIGHT
Click on colorize
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop10.jpg)
Choose a warm yellow/orange color
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop11.jpg)
8
Adjust intensity for the new color.
Reduce the metallic all the way down.
Adjust the gloss to get that dreamy haze, a higher number dials up the dreaminess. 🙂
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop13.jpg)
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop12.jpg)
Click ok to apply and we have a much more romantic looking image. We aren’t done yet, 1 final touch. We are going to add some pollen to sell the effect.
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop14.jpg)
9. MAKING A POLLEN / FAERIE DUST BRUSH.
Click on brushes in the tool box (B key)
At the top of the screen choose a soft round brush and set it to 0% hardness and 11 px.
10.
Go to the Brush settings panel (Window>Brush Settings)
Choose scattering.
Click on both Axes and turn the Scatter all the way up
Count jitter 100%
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop16.jpg)
11
Shape Dynamics
Size jitter 76% or higher
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop17.jpg)
12
Choose Brush Tip shape
Turn up the spacing quite high. I used 367% here
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop18.jpg)
13
Create a new layer
Choose White as the foreground color
Paint in a few particles, See how they look like pollen.
You could stop here, or try the next step to enhance them.
![](https://photo-techniques.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-19.png)
14
Choose fx and select Outer Glow
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop20.jpg)
15
Choose similar settings to what is shown here. This gives them a slight magical glow.
For fantasy work, choose a different color for the glow.
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop21.jpg)
And here is our final, may I say, a bit more interesting than the original?
![](https://photoshopcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/light-landscape-photoshop22.jpg)
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