Add atmosphere with digital lightbeams

Jon Adams explains how you can turn your photos into mesmerising sunlit shots with this month's free Lightbeam Brush Kit

- Jon Adams

THE MISSION

Use your free Lightbeam Brush Kit to add atmospheric beams of light to images

Time needed 45 minutes

Skill level Beginner

Kit needed Photoshop CC

If you want to add striking lighting effects to one of your images, the free gift supplied with this issue will have you beaming. It comprises 20 custom-made brushes that can be used to add amazing lightbeams to your shots. Whether you want to have rays of light boosting the mood in a window-lit interior or streaming through the canopy in a woodland scene, you can find the ideal effect in our 20-brush kit in download link (bottom left).

The brush shapes aren't limited either, because they're designed to be applied to a fresh layer and then pulled into the exact form you want via Photoshop's Free Transform command. Between Free Transform and the variety of the brushes supplied, you should be able to manifest the exact lightbeams you want in any photo.

In this easy project, we take you through the process, from installing the brushes to adding them to a shot and getting them into shape. Once you've practised it a few times, you'll be amazed at how quickly you can achieve some great effects.

STEP BY STEP ADD RAYS OF SUNSHINE

Use your free Lightbeam Brush Kit to let light stream in to any image

01 LOAD YOUR LIGHTBEAM BRUSHES