|
|
|
|
|
How to add a light leak effect to a photo in Gimp
Light leak effects have become quite popular lately, especially on phone apps with photo filters. This time I will show you how to create a simple light leak to a photo from scratch, using Gimp.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
1.
|
|
|
Open a photo you want to add a light leak to.
I'm using this photo of my friend taken in Chamonix and I'm going to add the light leak on the left side.
|
|
| |
2.
|
|
|
Click the Toggle Quick Mask button (see picture).
Your photo will turn red, don't worry everything's just fine.
|
|
| |
3.
|
|
|
Choose the Paintbrush Tool and press D and then X to set the white foreground color.
|
|
| |
4.
|
|
|
Set a really soft brush and an appropriate brush size.
Between 50 and 90, depending on the size of your photo.
|
|
| |
5.
|
|
|
Now paint where you want your light leak to appear.
By uncovering the red mask, you are also creating a selection.
If you revealed too much of the area, press X to set the black foreground color and cover that area by painting over it.
Remember white color unveils the mask the black color puts on a mask.
|
|
| |
6.
|
|
|
When done with masking and unmasking, again click the Toggle Quick Mask button.
|
|
| |
7.
|
|
|
This is how my selection ended up.
Now we need to add the actual light leak color.
|
|
| |
8.
|
|
|
In the menu click Colors and choose Curves...
Enable the Preview option.
Move the curve up in similar way as I did ...
Observe the changes on your photo as you try different curve shapes.
|
|
| |
9.
|
|
|
... choose the Red Channel and move the red curve up a bit the similar way as I did ...
|
|
| |
10.
|
|
|
... choose the Green Channel and move the green curve down a bit the similar way as I did ...
|
|
| |
11.
|
|
|
... choose the Blue Channel and move the blue curve down a bit the similar way as I did ...
When satisfied with the colors of your light leak, click OK.
|
|
| |
12.
|
|
|
The very basic light leak is done, but if you wish you can add a little touch to make it more realistic.
|
|
| |
13.
|
|
|
Press Shift + Q to enable the quick mask mode again.
Or click the quick mask button the same way you did in step 2.
Press D and X to set the white foreground color, choose the Paintbrush Tool again and paint over the existing light leak a bit. Only a bit though, don't exaggerate. Go through steps 6 to 11 again and you are done.
|
|
| |
14.
|
|
|
In the menu click Select and None to remove the selection.
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
