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Aurora Glow

Author: FotoFects Author's URL: http://www.fotofects.com More by this author

This aurora glow tutorial will automatically find highlights of an image and create an aurora on it.


image 1 1. Open the image for editing.

image 2 2. Duplicate the current layer (Ctrl+J).

image 3 3. On the new layer, apply a "Maximum" filter (Filter> Other> Maximum). Select a "Radius" that will slightly pixelate the image. Click OK.

image 4 4. Use the "Brightness/Contrast" tool (Image> Brightness/Contrast) to apply the following properties:

Brightness: -50
Contrast:+ 100

Click OK.


image 5 5. Rotate the image 90º clockwise (Image> Rotate Canvas> 90º CW).

image 6 6. Apply a "Wind" filter (Filter> Stylize> Wind) with the following properties:

Method: Wind
Direction: From the Left

Click OK.


image 7 7. Apply the previous filter again (Ctrl+F).

image 8 8. Add a layer mask (Layer> New Layer Mask> Reveal All) to the current layer.

image 9 9. With the layer mask selected, use the "Apply Image" tool to apply the following properties:

Source: filename
Layer: Merged
Channel: RGB
Invert: Uncheckmarked
Blending: Normal
Opacity: 100%

Click OK.


image 10 10. Rotate the canvas 90º counter-clockwise (Image> Rotate Canvas> 90º CCW).

image 11 11. Select the top layer to deselect its thumbnail. Set the current layer's blending mode to "Overlay".

image 12 12. Apply a "Motion Blur" filter (Filter> Blur> Motion Blur) with the "Angle" at "90º" and a "distance" that will slightly blur the solid white areas. Click OK..

Aurora Glow 13. Rollover the image on the left of this step to see the original image before this technique was applied.