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How Do You Make a Light Overlay in Photoshop?

Last updated on November 19, 2022 @ 6:41 am

There are many ways to create light overlays in Photoshop. One way is to use the Screen mode. To do this, go to the top of your Photoshop window and click on the “Create new fill or adjustment layer” icon.

A drop-down menu will appear. Select “Screen.” A new layer will appear in your Layers palette.

Next, go to your foreground color picker and select a light color. I usually go for a light blue or light pink.

Once you have your color selected, create a new layer in Photoshop by pressing Command + Shift + N on a Mac or Control + Shift + N on a PC. A new layer will appear in your Layers palette.

With your new layer selected, grab a soft, round brush and set your brush opacity to around 50%. Begin painting over your image with your light color. You may need to do this in multiple passes to get the desired effect.

Once you’re happy with the result, go to the top of your Photoshop window and click on the “Create new fill or adjustment layer” icon again. This time, select “Soft Light.

With your Soft Light layer selected, go to your foreground color picker and select black. Grab a soft, round brush and begin painting over any areas that are too light. You can also lower the opacity of this layer if you want a more subtle effect.

And that’s it! You’ve now created a light overlay in Photoshop using the Screen and Soft Light blend modes.

PRO TIP: If you are not familiar with Photoshop, or light overlays in general, this tutorial may not be for you. The author assumes a basic understanding of the program and its capabilities. Additionally, some of the steps involved are specific to Photoshop CS6.
Dale Leydon

Dale Leydon

Sysadmin turned Javascript developer. Owner of 20+ apps graveyard, and a couple of successful ones.