Lightroom Photo Editing Light Effect 2025,
Therefore, Lightroom offers several ways to create and enhance light effects in your photos, primarily through local adjustments (like masking tools) and global adjustments (like the main Light panel sliders).
Therefore, here are the main techniques you can use for light effects:
Lightroom Photo Editing Light Effect 2025,
1. Creating a “Glow” or “Sunlight/Haze” Effect (Local Adjustments)
Therefore, this is great for adding artificial light sources, softening existing light, or creating a dreamy look.
- Radial Gradient/Masking Tools:
- Therefore, select the Radial Gradient or other masking tools (like the Brush or Subject/Sky Select).
- Place and Shape: In other words, click and drag on your photo to define the area where the light source is. This often works best if you place it near where a light source should be (e.g., in a corner or near a lamp).
- Adjust Settings (Inside the Mask):
- Exposure: In other words, increase this slider to brighten the area and simulate light.
- Dehaze: Decrease this slider (slide to the left) to add a soft, hazy, or glowing look.
- Temperature: Increase the temperature (slide to the right, towards yellow/orange) for a warm, sunny glow, or decrease it (to the left, towards blue) for a cool, moody light.
- Feather: Make sure the gradient has a high Feather value for a smooth, natural transition.
Lightroom Photo Editing Light Effect 2025,
2. General Light Adjustments (Global Adjustments)
Therefore, use the main sliders in the Light/Basic panel to control the overall light and contrast of the image.
- Exposure: In other words, it adjusts the overall brightness of the image.
- Highlights & Whites: Controls the brightness of the brightest areas. Decreasing these can recover detail in overexposed skies, while increasing them can add ‘pop’ to highlights.
- Shadows & Blacks: Controls the brightness of the darkest areas. Raising these can lift dark shadows, revealing detail and creating a “lighter” mood.
- Contrast: In other words, it adjusts the difference between light and dark tones. Increasing it makes lights brighter and shadows darker; decreasing it flattens the image (often used in “light and airy” edits).
- Tone Curve (Curves): Allows for precise control over the tonal range. Using an S-Curve increases contrast, while a subtle lift in the bottom left of the curve can create a soft, matte look that pairs well with light effects.
Lightroom Photo Editing Light Effect 2025,
3. Light-Specific Creative Effects:
- Clarity & Texture: Decreasing Clarity and Texture globally or locally can soften the image and enhance the dreamy “light and airy” feel, making the light appear more diffused.
- Color Grading / Split Toning: Use this to introduce color into the highlights and shadows, which can mimic natural or artificial light color. For example, adding a warm yellow/orange to the Highlights can simulate a sunset glow across the image.
Lightroom Photo Editing Light Effect 2025,
Using Presets:
Therefore, if you’re new or want a quick start, search for and install Lightroom Presets designed for specific light effects, such as:
- “Light and Airy”
- “Sun Flare”
- “Golden Hour”
- “Dreamy/Hazy”
These often apply a combination of the above adjustments with a single click.
