In this tutorial you will learn how to create a sparkling effect on a photo. I will try to explain everything in as much detail as possible so that even the newcomers who first opened Photoshop could handle it. The above is the result that we get at the end of the lesson.
1. Preparation
To begin, open the photo with which we will work. To do this, go File – Open (File – Open), find the desired image on the computer and click the Open button. Next we need to check some parameters of the document:
- Photo must be in RGB color mode. 8 bits/ channel (8 bits / channel). To check this, go Image – Mode (Image – Mode).
- For best results, I recommend using a picture size of 2000-3000 pixels in width / height. To check this, go Image – Image Size (Image – Image size).
- The snapshot must be a background layer. If not, apply to it Layer – New – Background from Layer (Layer – New – Layer from the background).
2. Create a sparkling brush
Step 1
In this section, we will create the brush needed to create the effect. Activate the tool 
Brush Tool (B) (Brush) and choose a soft brush. Then go Window – Brush (Window – Brush) and customize the brush as shown below:
Step 2
Now, to save the brush with the new settings in the lower right corner of the panel Brush (Brush) click on the icon for creating a new brush and in the opened window write the name “Sparkles”.
3. Create sparks
Step 1
In this section we will create sparks. Create a new layer Layer – New – Layer (Layers – New – Layer) and call it “Little_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Small_1”).
Step 2
Now take Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select the “Sparkles” brush and set its diameter to 10 pixels. After that, select the white color (#ffffff) and draw on the working canvas, as shown below (draw from the edges of the photo to the center, gradually reducing the size of the brush):
Step 3
Create a new layer Layer – New – Layer (Layers – New – Layer) and call it “Little_Iskra_2” (“Sparkles_Small_2”). Move this layer under the layer “Small_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Small_1”).
Step 4
Now take Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select the “Sparkles” brush and set its diameter to 10 pixels. After that, select the white color (#ffffff) and draw on the working canvas, as shown below (draw from the edges of the photo to the center and gradually reduce the size of the brush):
Step 5
Create a new layer Layer – New – Layer (Layers – New – Layer) and call it “Average_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Medium_1”). On the layers panel, drop this layer under the layer “Small_Iskra_2” (“Sparkles_Small_2”).
Step 6
Now take Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select the “Sparkles” brush and set its diameter to 35 pixels. After that, select the white color (#ffffff) and draw on the working canvas, as shown below (draw from the edges of the photo to the center, gradually reducing the size of the brush):
Step 7
Create a new layer Layer – New – Layer (Layers – New – Layer) and call it “Average_Iskra_2” (“Sparkles_Medium_2”). On the layers panel, drop this layer under the layer “Average_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Medium_1”).
Step 8
Now take Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select the “Sparkles” brush and set its diameter to 35 pixels. After that, select the white color (#ffffff) and draw on the working canvas, as shown below (draw from the edges of the photo to the center, gradually reduce the size of the brush):
Step 9
Create a new layer Layer – New – Layer (Layers – New – Layer) and call it “Big_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Large_1”). On the layers panel, drop this layer under the layer “Average_Iskra_2” (“Sparkles_Medium_2”).
Step 10
Now take Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select the “Sparkles” brush and set its diameter to 50 pixels. After that, select the white color (#ffffff) and draw on the working canvas, as shown below (draw from the edges of the photo to the center, gradually reducing the size of the brush):
Step 11
Create a new layer Layer – New – Layer (Layers – New – Layer) and call it “Big_Iskra_2” (“Sparkles_Large_2”). On the layers panel, drop this layer under the layer “Big_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Large_1”).
Step 12
Take Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select the “Sparkles” brush and set its diameter to 75 pixels. After that, select the white color (#ffffff) and draw on the working canvas, as shown below (draw from the edges of the photo to the center, gradually reducing the size of the brush):
Step 13
Select the layer “Small_Is_1” (“Sparkles_Small_1”), go to Layer – New Fill Layer – Solid Color (Layers – New fill layer – Color …), call the fill layer “Color_MI_1” (“SS_1_Color“) And choose the color for it # eea815:
Step 14
Now press Ctrl + Alt + G to transform the fill into a clipping mask. Then select the layer “Small_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Small_1“) And switch its blending mode to Linear Dodge (Add) (Linear clarifier (add)).
Step 15
Select the layer “Color_MI_1” (“SS_1_Color“) And press Ctrl + J to copy it. On the layers panel we place a copy above the layer “Average_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Medium_1“). After that, press Ctrl + Alt + G to convert the copy into a clipping mask.
Step 16
Name this layer “Color_SI_1” (“SM_1_Color“). Then select the “Middle_Is_1” layer (“Sparkles_Medium_1”) and switch its blending mode to Linear Dodge (Add) (Linear clarifier (add)).
Step 17
Select the layer “Color_SI_1” (“SM_1_Color“) And press Ctrl + J to copy it. On the layers panel we place a copy above the layer “Big_Iskra_1” (“Sparkles_Large_1”). After that, press Ctrl + Alt + G to convert the copy into a clipping mask.
Step 18
Call the duplicate “Color_BI_1” (“SL_1_Color“). Then select the “Big_Is_1” layer (“Sparkles_Large_1”) and switch its blending mode to Linear Dodge (Add) (Linear clarifier (add)).
Step 19
Select the layer “Color_MI_1” (“SS_1_Color“), Hold down the Shift key and click on the” Big_Is_2 “(” Sparkles_Large_2 “) layer to select all the layers between them. Then we group these layers. Layer – New – Group from Layers (Layers – New – A group of layers) and call the group “Iskra” (“Sparkles”).
4. Create a defocus effect
Step 1
In this section, we blur some of the photo to create a defocus effect. Select a layer Background (Background), turn Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Levels (Layers – New Adjustment Layer – Levels) and call the adjustment layer “Focus_1” (“Focus_1”).
Step 2
Double click on the thumbnail of this layer to open the panel Properties (Properties) and adjust the adjustment layer as shown below:
Step 3
Activate Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select a soft brush, set the foreground color to black (# 000000) and drag over the mask of the adjustment layer to remove the effect on the book:
Step 4
Next, select the layer Background (Background) and press Ctrl + J to copy it. Then apply the filter to the copy. Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur (Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur) and set Radius (Radius) by 10 pixels.
Step 5
Move on Layer – Layer Mask – Reveal All (Layers – Layer Mask – Show All) to add a white mask.
Step 6
Activate Brush Tool (B) (Brush), select a soft brush, set the foreground color to black (# 000000) and drag over the book to remove the blur at this point:
Step 7
Name this layer “Focus_2” (“Focus_2”).
5. Final color correction
Step 1
In this section, we will complete the final color correction. Select the group “Iskra” (“Sparkles”), go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Curves (Layers – New Adjustment Layer – Curves) and call the layer with the curves “Common Color” (“Color Look”).
Step 2
Double click on the layer thumbnail to open the panel Properties (Properties) and adjust the adjustment layer:
Step 3
Pressing the D key resets all colors to standard black and white. Then go Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Gradient Map (Layers – New Adjustment Layer – Gradient Map) and call the layer “Overall Contrast” (“Overall Contrast“).
Step 4
Switch the blending mode of this layer to Overlay (Overlap) and reduce its opacity to 10%.
Step 5
Add the next adjustment layer Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Vibrance (Layers – New Adjustment Layer – Juiciness) and call it “Overall Saturation” (“Overall Vibrance / Saturation”).
Step 6
Double click on the thumbnail of the adjustment layer and on the property bar set Vibrance (Juiciness) on +10 and Saturation (Saturation) by +5.
Step 7
Add an adjustment layer Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Levels (Layers – New Adjustment Layer – Levels) and call it “Overall Brightness” (“Overall Brightness”).
Step 8
Double click on the layer thumbnail and set it up as shown below:
Step 9
Press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E to create a combined copy of all visible layers, then bleach it (Ctrl + Shift + U). After that we apply Filter – Other – High Pass (Filter – Other – Color Contrast) and set Radius (Radius) by 2 pixels.
Step 10
Switch the blending mode of this layer to Vivid Light (Bright light) and reduce the opacity to 50%. After that, rename the layer to “Overall Sharpness” (“Overall Sharpening”).
We are done! Congratulations! Here is the final result:
If you want to create a more interesting photo with additional effects in just a couple of minutes, the author recommends watching his Magic Dust 2 action (for a fee).
Posted by: Marko Kozokar
