Illumination || Lights Effect Created by: Prof  

The Effects || Illumination Effects || Lights is a most interesting and challenging PSP Effect. It has exceptionally fine options that allow for a creation of lighting effects on an image or in its own right that is a way to enhance and/or create some fantastic images.

In this lesson we will only explore how to use the Lights effect so that one has an understanding of its various options. Once you understand how these options create lighting effects, you will have a PSP tool that can be used in most creative ways on any image of your choosing.

We will first create a background image using a very dark color for each of the six basic colors (Red, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Purple). Then we will explore how each of the Light Options affect these background colors.

One very important point is that the Light Effect will not work on a Black or White color. It requires other colors which it enhances with light/dark effects.

Basic Image Set Up

We will first draw a triangle shape which will divide the basic canvas into six triangular pieces. Each of the triangles will be colored in a dark color.

CANVAS:
1. New Image: 400 x 400 pixels, transparent, 16 M colors.

DRAW TRIANGLES

1. Use the PreSet Shapes:
-- Triangle
-- Retain Style checked
-- Antialias Checked
-- Create as Vector unchecked
-- Default Line Width and Style

2. Starting in the middle of your canvas draw a triangle until it is 200 x 200 (Third Set of figures in parenthesis in your status bar.)

3. Move the triangle so that its horizontal bottom will be at the bottom of your canvas and centered. It's apex (top of triangle) will be in center of your canvas.

TIP: An easy way to move the object is to click on the deformation tool and then use the SHIFT Key with the ARROW keys to move it to a location and then click on APPLY in the Tools Options Window.

4. Copy it [ctrl+C] and Paste it as a New Layer [ctrl+L].

5. Use Image || Flip. Then move it so the apex touches the apex of the first image and its horizontal edge is at the top of the canvas.

6. Now Create a New Layer and then draw a straight line from the left side to the right side intersecting the apex of the two triangles.

TIP: Use the Draw Tool:
– Type: Point to Point
– Width: 1
– Line Style: Default
– Antialias: N/A
– Create as a Vector: Checked
– Close Path: Unchecked

Set Foreground Color: Black

Widen your canvas by putting mouse button on a corner and open up canvas some. You will have an easier time getting the vertical and horizontal coordinates to draw the line through the apex of the triangles.

Draw the line around Horizontal 200 from left to right. Extend the line beyond one side of the canvas.

Then use: Objects || Align || Center on Canvas

Finally, convert the Layer to a Raster Layer

At this point you have six areas outlined by black lines.

Use: Layers || Merge Visible

Color The Triangles:

a. Use: Magic Wand.
b. Click inside a triangle.
c. Use: Selections || Modify || Expand with value = 2
d. Use the Delete Key to remove the black line

d. Set the Foreground Color from the color wheel with These Values for each Triangle starting with upper left triangle and moving clockwise.

1. R = 32, G = 0, B = 0
2. R = 32, G = 32, B = 0
3. R = 0, G = 32, B = 0
4. R = 0, G = 32, B = 32
5. R = 0, G = 0, B = 32
6. R = 32, G = 0, B = 32

e. Flood fill each Triangle.

2. Your canvas should appear as if it is black. (However, the basic colors are there as we will find out when we explore the Light Effect.

3. Since you may want to use this background for other exploration, DUPLICATE the layer and work with the COPY Layer.

Exploring Illumination || Lights

STEP 1. Use: Effects || Illumination Effects || Lights

At this point, you will see the Last Used Effect. Not knowing which Last Used Effect is being displayed, your will see some type of lighting effect and it will display the six basic colors in some fashion.

However, we will create our own outcome by exploring the Light Options.

A. In the Lights Window, bottom left corner above the OK button, are 5 'lights' buttons numbered 1 - 5.

1. Click on each button. Then in the light source area if the ON box is check, UNCHECKED it.

When you have turned off all 5 lights, your canvas again will be black.

NOTE: Do NOT click on the OK button until we have finished this exploration.

2. Notice at the top there are Two Boxes, both currently displaying a black canvas.

In the Left Box, your Lights will be displayed as a White Dot and one of them may have some symbols. If you do not see 5 white dots, do not panic as one or some of them may be off the left box canvas area. We will find them in a bit.

3. We will first position the lights, one in each corner and one in the center. It does not really matter which light is positioned where. However, for our purposes, we will position the lights as follows:

Light 1 = Lower Left Corner
Light 2 = Upper Left Corner
Light 3 = Upper Right Corner
Light 4 = Lower Right Corner
Light 5 = Center

Refer to the light source area:

There are two ways to move a light.

a) One is to set the Horizontal and Vertical coordinates.
b) The other is to place the mouse cursor on the light, hold down the mouse button and drag the light to a position wanted. Then refine it with the Horizontal and Vertical Settings.

1) Lower Left --- (1):
Horizontal = (minus) -100 Vertical = (plus) 100

2) Upper Left --- (2):
Horizontal = (minus) -100 Vertical = (minus) -100

3) Upper Right -- (3):
Horizontal = (plus) 100 Vertical = (minus) -100

4) Lower Right -- (4):
Horizontal = (plus) 100 Vertical = (plus) 100

5) Center Light - (5):
We want both to equal a value of 0.

NOTE: By setting the Horizontal (-100 to +100) and the Vertical (-100 to +100) you can position the light (source) anywhere on the canvas.

1. Click on Light 5 to activate it (the Center Light)
2. Turn it ON. (Check ON in Light Source Area) [All other lights are OFF].
3. Start with these Settings:
Darkness = 0

Color = White
Intensity = 0
Direction = 0
Horizontal = 0
Vertical = 0
Smoothness = 0
Scale = 0
Cone Size = 1 (lowest value possible)
Asymmetry = 1 (lowest value possible)

NOTE: Your canvas is Black.

4. In the Left Black Box note that the white dot has a Circle with an X in it, two straight lines pointing up with a Cross Hatch.

Currently it is 1. Set it to 1000.

Note that the Circle with the X in it now has disappeared at the top of the Light Box. If you place your cursor on the Down Arrow in the Asymmetry box, hold cursor and drag it left you can change the asymmetry from 1000 to 1.

Note also that you can place your mouse cursor on the Circle with the X, hold mouse button down and drag it up or even drag it around in a circle. Dragging it out away from the light source (white dot) changes the asymmetry value. Dragging it around in a circle changes the Horizontal and Vertical Settings.

Currently set to 1. Set it to 89.

Note: The value of 89 is the maximum cone shape possible. Again, either click on the down arrow and drag to change it's value or click on the Cross Hairs and drag them together or apart to change the value.

Return both Cone Size and Asymmetry to value = 1

Set both Intensity and Scale to a value = 100

You now have a circle in the center of your canvas with triangular colors (the six colors we set).

THE INTENSITY OPTION:
Return Scale = 100 and then vary the Intensity from 100 to 0. Again note that the color changes from intense to black as the value decreases. The change is subtle at first.

THE DARKNESS OPTIONS:
Return the Intensity = 100. Then vary the Darkness from 0 to 100. At first the change is vary subtle and eventually you get a black canvas.

THE SMOOTHNESS OPTION:
Return Darkness = 0. Then vary the Smoothness value from 0 to 100 and notice how the edges of the circle blur.

Use these values:

Scale = 100
Intensity = 75
Darkness = 25
Smoothness = 100

Note how the shadowing creates a 3D beach ball effect. Now, just play with these 4 values a bit to get an idea of other effects. When done playing just return to the above values.

To understand what the Asymmetry Option does, just vary the values to 1000. Start at 1000 and then decrease it ultimately back to 0.

Then set Asymmetry back to 1000. Change the Direction from 0 to 90. Note now you have a vertical rather than a horizontal effect.

By varying the direction, you can get the light to point to any direction on the circumference of a circle. Although it is subtle the right side of the vertical is more blurred than the left side.

If you change the direction to 315 (pointing left and up) the left side is more blurred than the right side.

In this exercise we will explore how the options work together. Changing one option will have an effect on some or all the other options.

1. Start with these Values:
– Darkness: 25
– Color: White
– Intensity: 75
– Direction: 0
– Horizontal: 0
– Vertical: 0
– Smoothness: 100
– Scale: 100
– Cone Size: 1
– Asymmetry: 1

a) Start with Cone Size:

Click on the up arrow to change the value by 1. Notice that the ball increases in size.

Change cone value again by 1. (now 3). Notice that the ball shape is now almost the full screen.

Change cone value once again now to 4. Notice that the ball shape again has increased.

Now, Change the Scale to 50. Note that by increasing Cone Size the Focus or spread of the light effect increases while decreasing the Scale reduces the spread size.

Now, lets play with the Asymmetry value.

First, set it to 1000. Notice how the light effect goes up to the top and blurs out in the yellow while the blue is still more intense.

If you now increase Cone Size and/or Scale you increase the size of the effect. Try it, first increasing cone size. With just these three options you can create some very interesting effects.

Then try decreasing the Asymmetry value by 200. You again can change the light effect. It has (though colored) the effect of a flash light or a lamp. Set the direction to 180 for a lamp effect that is colored.

Now, if you play with the Colors, you will find out that certain colors will mask out other colors and enhance others. Try it.

Finally, play a bit with the Darkness value and note how it lowers the intensity or darkens the effect. Playing with the Intensity and Darkness together you can create some very subtle lighting effects as well.

You now should have some idea of how these options for a particular light create interesting effects. The best teacher now is to explore and create and see how different settings for lights can create different outcomes.

The following are two effects for you to play with.

Two Examples

a. Center Light (5) On
– Color = White
– Intensity = 100
– Direction = n/a
– Horizontal and Vertical = 0
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 50
– Cone Size = 6
– Asymmetry = 1
– Darkness = 50

b. Bottom Center (1) On
– Color = Blue
– Intensity = 20
– Direction = 0
– Horizontal = 0
– Vertical = 120
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 10
– Cone Size = 30
– Asymmetry = 300

c. Left Center (2) On
– Color = Red
– Intensity = 20
– Direction = 90
– Horizontal = (minus) -120
– Vertical = 0
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 10
– Cone Size = 30
– Asymmetry = 300

d. Top Center (3) On
– Color = Yellow
– Intensity = 20
– Direction = 180
– Horizontal = 0
– Vertical = (minus) -120
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 10
– Cone Size = 30
– Asymmetry = 300

e. Right Center (4) On
– Color = Green
– Intensity = 20
– Direction = 270
– Horizontal = 120
– Vertical = 0
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 10
– Cone Size = 30
– Asymmetry = 300

To Save: Click on the SAVE AS button and name it. My-Star

Two Examples

a. Center Light (5) On
– Color = White
– Intensity = 75
– Direction = n/a
– Horizontal and Vertical = 0
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 100
– Cone Size = 1
– Asymmetry = 1
– Darkness = 25

b. Bottom Center (1) On
– Color = White
– Intensity = 50
– Direction = 45
– Horizontal = (minus) -100
– Vertical = 100
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 100
– Cone Size = 2
– Asymmetry = 700

c. Left Center (2) On
– Color = White
– Intensity = 50
– Direction = 135
– Horizontal = (minus) -100
– Vertical = (minus) -100
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 100
– Cone Size = 2
– Asymmetry = 700

d. Top Center (3) On
– Color = White
– Intensity = 50
– Direction = 225
– Horizontal = 100
– Vertical = (minus) -100
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 100
– Cone Size = 2
– Asymmetry = 700

e. Right Center (4) On
– Color = White
– Intensity = 50
– Direction = 315
– Horizontal = 100
– Vertical = 100
– Smoothness = 100
– Scale = 100
– Cone Size = 2
– Asymmetry = 700

To Save: Click on the SAVE AS button and name it. My-Ball

Have Fun! -- Prof --