Image editing for the rest of us
This is a beginner level Pixelmator tutorial that will show you how to add a rain effect to your photo.
Step 1
Choose an image to which you want to apply a rain.
Step 2
Create a new layer. Name it “Rain.”
Step 3
Choose Filter > Generator > Clouds. Make sure that the primary color is black and the secondary color is white. Apply filter.
Step 4
Choose Filter > Stylize > Noise. Make sure that “Monochrome” is checked. Adjust noise value. Values from range 50-70 are mostly used. Apply noise filter.
Step 5
Change “Rain” layer blending mode to “Screen” and lower its opacity (40-70 is fine).
Step 6
Choose Filter > Blur > Motion. Change “Radius” value to ~10 and “Angle” at any value you want. The “Angle” parameter controls rain-falling direction. Apply filter.
That’s all. You have a rain effect in your image.
Conclusion
In this simple tutorial, you have learned how to add a rain effect to your photo. We have used Pixelmator filters (such as clouds, noise, and motion blur) and “Screen” blending mode.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Problem !!! I cant find Noise in the Filter>Stylize menu !!! Its just not there ! I searched in Help but it will only give me the “Noise Reduction” and i need noise to complete this tutorial !!
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 am
The noise filter is not in the Stylize menu. There is only the noise reduction filter.
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:04 am
You should download newest Pixelmator version 1.4.1 http://www.pixelmator.com/download/
June 1st, 2009 at 1:38 am
Whoa, so cool…
August 8th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Amazing! I have been dying to get Photoshop because, I hate switching laptops to use Paint Shop Pro and I just downloaded the trial to this and it is amazing! I really want this! It’s going to help me a lot with my site!
August 15th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Loved it! This was my first try and now I’m happy I bought the program. I’m a beginner that has no knowledge of programs like this or similar and I was able to follow along.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Photo-shoped! I know it actually is and that’s the point, humour aside, you’ve forgotten the uninterrupted ripples in the water. I realise that this isn’t applicable in every picture but perfection lies in details.
September 19th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Wow, that definitely looks real, especially at a quick glance. If somebody didn’t know that was photoshopped, they’d wouldn’t think to question it at all
September 25th, 2009 at 2:00 am
it is very good thanks share it.
October 1st, 2009 at 1:19 am
VERY Big problem!!!!! I can’t turn down the opacity in in blending mode!!!!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Sorry. Not convinced over here.
First, the woman’s blouse should be wet. Were she actually sitting in the rain, it would be, and we would all be able to see through it.
Second, there are no splashes in the water in the picture. There should at least be some water splashes from the rain drops.
Good effort, though.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
That is really cool how you did that. Question…if this picture didn’t already have wet ground in the forefront, how would you have addressed that? If you use an image with dry ground and add rain it isn’t going to look right!
Great job at this, I totally thought this was a picture of a woman in the rain. I was wondering though, why none of her skin was visible through her white clothing. Then I scrolled down the page and saw the rain was added in and it made sense!
January 4th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
It works well, and the steps are easy to follow. I love it.