The lens flare filter in Photoshop typically requires a background layer with content, making it difficult to apply the effect non-destructively. This limitation prevents you from easily adjusting, moving, or modifying the lens flare after applying it.
A simple workaround allows you to create lens flares on separate layers, giving you complete control over opacity, positioning, color adjustments, and blending modes. This technique uses filter history and the Screen blending mode to isolate the lens flare effect.
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Practical Tips
Follow these steps to create editable lens flares on separate layers:
- Apply the lens flare to your background layer first, then immediately undo it with Command/Ctrl+Z to save the settings
- Create a new layer, fill it with black using Shift+Delete, then apply the same lens flare using the recent filter option
- Set the black layer's blending mode to Screen to make the black transparent and reveal only the lens flare
- Use Hue/Saturation adjustments to change the lens flare color and warm up or cool down the effect
- Apply Transform (Command/Ctrl+T) to rotate, scale, or reposition the lens flare to better fit your composition
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