Stylish Light Effect

Stylish Light Effect

Create a fascinating 80s look with a modern vintage twist by using various filters and tools in Pixelmator.

Stock images of a girl, colorful background and eclipse are recommended for accomplishing the tutorial, but are not required. Feel free to substitute them with your own preferred pictures.

Layers, layer masks, transform tools, filters and painting tools are used in this tutorial.

Step 1

Create a new image in Pixelmator. Feel free to use any size. However to achieve a result similar to that shown in the tutorial, use a size of 1440×2000 pixels.

Step 2

Place an image of a girl or any other object that you want to use in the artwork.

Step 3

In order to create a bit more saturated and warmer look, first duplicate (Layer > Duplicate) the layer of the object. Then choose Image > Hue and Saturation. Increase the Saturation to 20 and click OK.

Step 4

If you’re using a person as a main object in your artwork, make the skin soft and smooth:

1. Duplicate (Layer > Duplicate) the layer of a person with an increased saturation and rename it “Smooth Skin.”
2. Choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set Radius to 20 and click OK.
3. With the “Smooth Skin” layer selected, choose Layer > Add Layer Mask.
4. Select the Brush Tool (B). In the Brushes palette (View > Show Brushes) select a soft brush and start painting on the layer mask over the eyes, nose, mouth in order to hide the blurry layer, but leave the facial features (use the example in the image below as a reference).

Step 5

Duplicate the layer with an increased saturation but without a blur. Drag it above other layers. Choose Image > Desaturate. Then change layer’s Blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 6

In order to hide the background of an image, first click the Add button (+) to add a new layer in the Layers palette. Set main color to black. Using the Brush Tool (B) start painting with black color and soft brush around the object or person (use the example in the image below as a reference).

Step 7

Add another new layer by click the Add button (+) in the Layers palette. Using the Brush Tool, paint with red and orange colors on the left in the bottom, on the right and left in the top. To make the colors of the brush more subtle, play with the Brush Tool Opacity in the Tool Options bar (View > Show Tool Options).

Step 8

Place a stock photo of colors or any other similar picture of your own on the top of other layers. Then change layer’s with colors Blending to Hard Light and reduce the Opacity to 40%.

Step 9

Add a beautiful defocus effect for an image:

1. Add a new layer above the other layers and rename it “Defocus”.
2. Choose Filter > Quartz Composer > Generator > Defocus. Set values: Time to 10.0, Pace to 0.06, Size to 0.07, Blur to 0.25, Density to 1.00, set Primary Color to white and click OK.
3. Change “Defocus” layer Blending to Color Dodge, since the Color Dodge creates a nice light effect.
4. Choose Image > Levels and increase the White input in order to make the Bokeh stronger.

Step 10

In order to delete the Bokeh parts which appear on the object, first, add a Layer mask (Layer > Add Layer Mask) to the “Defocus” layer. Then use the Brush Tool to paint over the object.

Step 11

Add a little lens-flare effect to the object by placing the stock image of eclipse (in our case – on the eye). Resize the image (Edit > Transform), set Blending to Screen and reduce the Opacity to 80-90%.

Step 12

Add a Sunbeams filter:

1. Add a new layer between the colorful brushes layer and the layer with a stock image of colors (see the Layers palette in the image below).
2. Make sure the colors in the Tools palette are black and white.
3. Choose Filter > Generator > Sunbeams. Move the controller far to the top right. Set values: Sun Radius to 800, Max Radius to 100, Strength to 50, Contrast to 258, Time to 0. Click OK.

Step 13

Add a new layer and fill it (Edit > Fill) with black. Position the layer below the layer with the Sunbeams filter. Select both layers and merge them into one (Layer > Merge Layers). Change the Blending to Color Dodge and reduce the Opacity to 40%.

Step 14

Duplicate the Sunbeams layer, change the Blending to Soft Light and reduce the Opacity to approximately 60%. Then add layer mask to both Sunbeams layers and use the Brush Tool to erase too intensive parts (in our case – mostly in the edges).

Step 15

To warm up an image, first click to add another new layer on the top of others. Fill it (Edit > Fill) with a yellow color, change Blending to Soft Light and reduce the Opacity to 22%.

Conclusion

Now, it’s all about adding some noise and your logo. The effect is done. We basically played with brushes and blendings to create this effect. Now it’s up to you to apply the technique to your own projects.

© Pixelmator Team Ltd.