Lens Flare Preview Suggestion

[imgaryshap74]

Hello Hello - 

for certain projects - i like adding a lens flare between the foreground and background to back-light my subject.  I add the flare to black layer, and then set that black layer's mode to Screen. 

It can be a tedious process, because there is no preview function on lens flares.  When adding one, all you can see is the layer itself, not the entire project.  So I have to use trial-and-error, to make sure the flare is placed exactly where I want it inbetween the two layers.

Would LOVE the ability to preview and adjust lens flares as they appear in the entire project before applying them, and hoping others feel the same.

Thanks!

-G. 

[J E L]

Yes, I see what you mean. It's a great suggestion, and I'll vote for it!

[JohninEncino]

When I try to add any kind of lens flare to an image (JPG or PSD), the small preview box which would show where the effect is positioned on the image is black.

[Trevor.Dennis]

If I am understanding your workflow, you don't need to preview because you can move and transform the flare layer.  Especially if you make it a Smart Object.

I have all of the Nuckly Photoshop assets like his flares.   (Just the flares are $19.)

My favourite method of adding flares is the Prodigital Starfilter Pro 4 plugin, in which II use the same workflow you described. Fill a new layer to black and set it to Screen, and add tiny white spots with the brush where I want the flares to be.  If I want to get fancy, then I use Boris fx or+ Partical Shop, but that takes a lot longer and is less predictable.

[imgaryshap74]

 adding lens flares should be previewable,, otherwise it's constant trial and error with Control-Z.  And we shouldn't have to buy third party software to achieve this. 

[Trevor.Dennis]

I suspect you need to look at your workflow, because everything I described is entirely visible as it is created, and it is also non-restructive.  Do you use Smart Objects?  Even if you are using a thrid party plug-in like Star Filter Pro 4, then so long as you are working with Smart Objects, you can double click the flares you add at any time to edit them.

Using flare brushes, like the Nuckly assets I mentioned, go on separate layers that can be moved and resized in real time.  Yes you can create them from scratch natively, but that takes time, and if you are making a living at this, time is important.  There are near infinite free image assets online, and it pays to save the best to a local drive for future use, or better still, to a CC Library.

[imgaryshap74]

appreciate it, but respectfully disagree. i want to click Lens Flare and see a preview of where it falls on my project before entering. simple. I shouldnt have to add extra steps, change workflow, or use any third party software (abuse removed).  

[jane-e]

It can be a tedious process, because there is no preview function on lens flares. 

-G. 

By @imgaryshap74

Volunteers can give you viable workarounds, but we are not Adobe employees and we cannot make changes to their applications.

To make a feature request that the Photoshop team will see, start a new post (big blue button) and select "Idea" instead of "Discussion".

To submit an idea, please provide:

1. Description
2. Why is this valuable to you?

Jane

[imgaryshap74]

this was a feature request. not sure how it devolved or wound up here.


—————————-
Gary Shapiro

[Phone number removed]

[jane-e]

@Trevor.Dennis 

That's a fantastic workaround! Thanks for sharing!

Jane

[JohninEncino]

I don't recall having to do this before. I could just click on Render ––> Lens Flare and it would bring up a dialogue box where I could see where the flare was positioned on my image and which style it was.. I guess I don't understand why it has become more complicated than that now. At first, I thought it was a glitch of some kind, seeing a preview box that really served no purpose because it was just black.