May 17

Written by: Steve Gray
5/17/2011 12:46 PM 

The screen shots here are from PH7, but should work in any version.

This will show you how to create a ‘glint’ effect in Photoshop: sunlight reflecting off a surface. The effect that we want to create will look like this when we’re done

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, be sure that ‘fill pixels’ is selected.

Now, create a new image, and draw a line two pixels wide, using the line tool. You can hold down the shift key to constrain the rotation to horizontal.

 

Choose Filter>Blur>Motion Blur as shown in here. Add enough distance to get a nice tapered look. Make sure the angle matches the angle of the line.

 

Duplicate the Layer with the dash on it

Press Ctrl (Windows) /Cmd (Mac) +T for free transform

Rotate the dash while holding down shift to constrain the rotation

 

Choose both dash Layers and press Ctrl/Cmd+E to merge them (On version CS and earlier, choose the top layer and press Ctrl/Cmd+E to merge with the layer beneath) Careful not to merge with background

Duplicate the merged dash layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J)

Press Ctrl/Cmd+T for free transform Rotate 45 deg, grab a corner point and scale toward the center to make the new star smaller (hold down alt/option+shift to scale from center and constrain)

 

You now have your starburst and you may be happy right here. For those of you who want to add a lens flare to the starburst continue...

Create a new Layer

Grab the elliptical marquee tool (circular selection tool)

Create a circular selection over the starburst (hold down shift)

 

Choose Edit>Stroke

Choose a 1 pixel white stroke

Deselect

Choose Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur to soften the effect