How To Create Color Gel Lighting Effect in Photoshop

In this video tutorial, watch as Redouane Naouri shows you how to create a gel color lighting effect in Photoshop.

In the video, Naouri starts by showing us how you create a bump height map. Personally, I had never used this feature before, so it was interesting to see how it worked. Just in case you have a low-end computer, Naouri gracefully shows us another way to get around the bump height map. From there, it needs to be turned into a pattern, and we are all set to start adding color. Using a blank layer and the soft light blending mode, Naouri paints color on the model and lowers the opacity. To give the color some life, he then goes on to use bevel and emboss.

As the video continues, Naouri shows why he is one of the young and upcoming photo manipulators to watch. Once we go into the bevel and emboss, things become a little more advanced. Once the effect is created, Naouri paints it locally using layer masks and then runs through the process again, changing some of the settings. I would prefer to shoot the image in the studio with gels, but not everyone has access to a studio.

This tutorial is great for anyone who wants a split gel effect but has no way of getting an image lit like that or does not have access to a studio. 

Clinton Lofthouse's picture

Clinton Lofthouse is an Advertising/Entertainment photographer, creative artworker and Photoshop expert from the U.K. Specializing in composite and photomanipulation imagery.
When he is not chained to his desktop PC editing, Clinton likes to put on Synthwave music, wear Aviator sunglasses and pretend to be in an 80s movie.

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