Image editing for the rest of us
In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a super, simple light effect inspired by a similar effect that I saw recently in a Sony advert.
Step 1
Open Pixelmator and create a new document. Select 1440×900 pixels and then fill the layer with #121212.

Step 2
Next, add another layer and select Filter>Generator>Clouds. Set the colors to black and white.

Step 3
Choose options Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Set the Radius to 40.

Step 4
Use the Eraser Tool (E) to delete most of the layer, leaving just a little of the middle. In Blending, select Color Dodge and set the Opacity to 60%.

Step 5
Create a third layer and fill it with black. Then, use the Rectangle Marquee Tool (M), to create a rectangular selection. Fill this with white.

Step 6
Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and change the Radius to 25 . Then resize the rectangle by reducing its height in Edit>Free Transform. This should make it thinner along its vertical access (as shown). Change the Blending choice to Color Dodge.

Step 7
Add a new layer and fill it with black. Change the Blending to Color Dodge. Now select a very soft brush with 30-50% Opacity from the Brush Tool (B) options and paint some areas around the length of the rectangle as shown in the image below.

Step 8
Create a new layer on the top of the others and use the Gradient Tool (G) to create a gradient in purple, red, yellow, and green. Fill the layer with this gradient. Change Blending to Multiply, and then set Opacity to 90%.

Step 9
Add a further layer and select Filter>Generator>Stripes. Set the Width to 3 and the Sharpness to 55 . Then change the Opacity to 3% and the Blending to Screen.

Step 10
Select the stripped layer and choose Filter> Distortion> Twirl. Set the Radius at 340 and the Angle at 100 . Then, position the controller over the line as shown in the image below.

Step 11
Repeat the same filter but change both the position of the controller and the Angle to -100.

Conclusion
This is a wonderfully simple technique that creates a beautiful light effect with a very unique texture. It can be achieved in less than 20 minutes with a professional looking outcome. You may wish to experiment with different colors or more than one streak.
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November 10th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I’m having trouble with the black layer “color dodge” technique you use a lot. When i create the black layer and change the blending mode, it just essentially becomes completely transparent. is this a bug? or am i just doing something incorrectly?
November 12th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Same problem as Kyle for me..
November 16th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Works great and it’s really cool, thx
November 20th, 2009 at 3:49 am
@ Kyle and Stein: that’s completely normal, he’s just forgot to say that you have to paint with white ^^
It should be:
STEP 7
Add a new layer and fill it with black. Change the Blending to Color Dodge. Now select a very soft brush with 30-50% Opacity from the Brush Tool (B) options and paint [with a bright color, better if white] some areas around the length of the rectangle as shown in the image below.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:12 am
Nice tutorial. Very detailed!
Although, I am still fascinated on how to create something similar to abduzeedo’s rainbow font!
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Boo, mine looks nothing like yours :( Fun tho and I’ll keep trying. Thanks!
November 26th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
what the hell happened between steps 9 and 10? Mine didn’t go dark around the edges!!!
December 6th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Wow… Mine starts to fall apart at 7. Then at step 8… BAM! I’m lost.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Looks great but I don’t get the effects as in 9, 10, 11 even though I’ve followed the instructions. Mine just fades out to grey. A bug perhaps?
December 12th, 2009 at 7:52 am
New at this, and have tried this technique about 10 times now. Hit a brick wall at step 7 – the brush effect doesn’t come out right….and so of course the final product doesn’t even look close… Boooo… I’m sure I’m doing something wrong but will be darned if I can figure out what…
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:30 am
Went through the whole thing but when I got fed up of trying to achieve the same effect, and failing, I ended up experimenting with other filters and ended up with a somewhat different result: http://blinky981.deviantart.com/art/Stripes-149045678
January 16th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Great tutorial, but the only part I had trouble with was using the right brush to make the light effect on the white line. Any suggestions?
January 21st, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Pixelmator works differently from Photoshop?
February 7th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
sigh. i cant get the stripes to show upon step nine. i do what it says but it doesnt apear.
March 16th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
This Pixelmator tutorials are soooo Photoshop that sometimes the Pixelmator Master mention PS keys… Please the samples are good but try to imitate less and create more with this “new” graphic tool. * ahem-photoshop wannabe-ahem * sorry…
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:08 am
Well I gave it my best shot in photoshop
No way near as good as Fabios
good tutorial
July 28th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Having trouble with step 4…I can’t erase so that there’s just the middle left, when i apply the eraser it ripples removing the parts that it’s choosing to!
it seems to be erasing using a radius rather than a straight line so leaving the middle is seemingly impossible…should i be on the cloud layer of the background
will have a go at another tutorial in the meantime!!!