Add Soft Light to your photos

Posted on May 5, 2010 in Photoshop, graphics | 1 comment

This is how I add a little bit life to most photos, it is a very simple and easy technique using Photoshop. I hope you find this useful.

• Open Your Image/Photo with Photoshop (JPG/PNG)
• Open your Layers Panel; you should see only one layer named “Background”.
  
  Right-Click on that Layer and Duplicate it. Or select the “Background” layer and on the Menu; Click Layer>Duplicate Layer. You will have a new Layer on top.
• Select the duplicated Layer and Change the layer mode to Soft Light.
  
• At this point it will be up to you if you still want to add another Soft Light Layer. I usually have two Soft Light Layers. So to add another Soft Light Layer, just Duplicate the upper layer add that’s It.
• Next is we will be adding a Basic Graduated Neutral Density Filter (I got the idea from pshero.com). I only do this if I have a dull sky. First is you need to add a new layer.
  
• Once you have added a new layer:
  
  1. Select the new layer
  2. Select the Gradient Tool
  3. Make sure that you have the Black to Transparent Preset. If you don’t; you need to Click on the Gradient Preset and select Black to Transparent.
  4. Now Create A Gradient Fill across the entire layer, make it straight by holding the Shift Key while doing the Gradient Fill.
• After-which change the Layer mode of the Gradient fill to Soft Light.
  
• Save it as JPEG or what ever format you want.

The end result is a great vivid picture ^_^