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How to Create Photoshop Light Leaks (Step by Step)

Joris Hermans
Last updated: March 13, 2024 - 4 min read
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Light leaks can add an interesting and creative touch to your photos, but they can be difficult to create. Here are three ways to create amazing Photoshop light leaks.

What are Photoshop Light Leaks?

The term comes from film days. It’s caused by a small hole or breach in the body of a camera. Light leaks into the camera where it’s not supposed to and exposes the film with extra light.
Cameras developed leaks between their various interchangeable parts or in their old leather bellows.
The light leaks were usually a soft light but parts of the camera would cast a hard shadow. Light leaks were always treated as a problem for photographers but in the last decade, they’ve become a popular creative technique.
They give your photos an extra dimension or dreamy effect.
You can create light leaks on purpose by removing the lens, for example. But you can also create them in digital photography with Photoshop.

How to Create Light Leaks in Photoshop

Step 1: Open the Photo

Open the photo you want to use and determine the direction of the light. For the most natural result, you need to create a light leak in the same direction that the light is coming from.
In my example, the light is clearly coming from the left.
Two dogs playing on a beach

Step 2: Add More Highlights

Click on the “Create new fill or adjustment layer” icon and select “Curves…”.
A screenshot of how to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop
A screenshot of how to use curves to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop
Click the diagonal line in two different places to create anchor points.
A screenshot of how to create anchor points in Photoshop
Now, drag the points like this:
A screenshot of how to drag anchor points in Photoshop

Step 3: Add a Gradient

Light leaks can have different colors. Usually, it’s a warm red or yellow glow.
Click on the “’Create new fill or adjustment layer” icon again and select “Gradient…”.
A screenshot of how to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop - add a gradient
Click on the gradient preview. The gradient editor will appear.
A screenshot of how to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop - gradient editor
Double click on the bottom left slider to pick a color.
A screenshot of how to use gradient editor to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop
“ff3232” is a good shade of red to start with.
A screenshot of how to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop - gradient editor
Click ”OK” two times. Now, change the angle by dragging the arrow around the dial. You can also type a number. For my example, I’ll choose 10°.
A screenshot of how to use gradient fill to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop

Step 4: Change the Blending Mode

Change the Blending Mode of the layer with the gradient to “Screen”.
A screenshot of how to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop - changing the blending mode
A screenshot of how to add light leaks to a photo in Photoshop - changing the blending mode
That’s it, a beautiful light leak. You can now experiment by changing the color and opacity of the light leak.
A pet portrait of two dogs on the beach with creative light leaks

How to Use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop

You don’t have to create the light leak yourself. You can download tons of light leak overlays and they’re super easy to use. There are light leaks that you have to pay for but also a lot of free ones.

Step 1: Save the File

Save the light leak overlay file to an easy-to-find location.

Step 2: Add the Light Leak overlay

Open a photo in Photoshop.
Open the folder where you’ve saved the light leak overlay. Drag and drop a file onto the photo.
A screenshot showing how to use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop
It will automatically appear in a new layer. Resize or reposition if needed and double click on the photo to confirm.
A screenshot showing how to use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop - resize or reposition

Step 3: Change Blending Mode

Click on the Blending Mode dropdown menu and select “Screen”.
A screenshot showing how to use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop - change blending mode
A screenshot showing how to use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop

Step 4: Change the Color of the Light Leak

Select the layer with the light leak overlay.
Go to Image > Adjustments and select “Hue/Saturation…”. A new window will appear.
A screenshot showing how to use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop - hue/saturation
Drag the Hue slider to the left or right to change the color of the light leak.
A screenshot showing how to use Light Leak Overlays in Photoshop - hue/saturation
Now, save the photo and that’s how you use light leak overlays in Photoshop.
A photo of a rocky landscape with creative light leak overlays

Conclusion

You can find free light leak overlays all over the internet. They’re easy to add and adjust but if you want something really special, create your own light leak in Photoshop.
Experiment with different colors, gradients and blending modes to create something unique.
We have a post on creating light leaks in Lightroom too!