lighting effects/lens flare flexibility

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

I know lens flare is is an overused filter, but I need to ask...

The "render" filters only seem to work on areas of a layer that are already filled with pixels. Is there any way to get the lens flare or lighting effect into a layer that could be moved around and transformed at will, to apply transparently to the underlying layers? The best I've come up with is to apply the effects onto a black layer, then set the layer transparency to "lighten." This works pretty well, but you can't adjust the brightness of the lens flare or lighting effect without also lightening your black, which can destroy the effect (since it will lighten all underlying blacks in the process).

Is there a better way I haven't figured out? Or is this more of a feature request?

[barry_gray@adobeforums.com]

This is will work,
Down load "Peel Off White" filter here:
<http://www.bergdesign.com/plugins/>
It doesn't work in OSX- you'll have to use PS7 in classic-unless he's written it for OSX by now.
Black layer>flare>invert>peel off white>invert.

You could also try "advanced blending mode" in the styles dialog. Pull Black slider all the way to the right> opt. click slider to split and drag the half back to the left. Then apply Levels to bring up your flare.

[Doug_Katz@adobeforums.com]

I'd use Screen mode before Lighten. Brighter highlights, deeper black. You can "compound" the flare by duplicating the layer it's on.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

Doug ... great suggestion. I'm also going to download that Peel off white plugin though, for other reasons. I've needed that capability for a long time. That ability should be built into Photoshop. (Looks like he has it available for OSX now)

[Lando@adobeforums.com]

Add a layer and fill with 50% gray. Change it's mode to hard light. Apply the filter. You can move the flare around the page that way.

[Chris_Cox@adobeforums.com]

Lando - it's more accurate using black and screen blend mode (which is exactly what Lens Flare does).

Lighting Effects needs some pixel content to work on...

[Lando@adobeforums.com]

Wow. Thanks.