In this quick-and-easy tutorial, Howard Pinsky teaches you how to create the ring light effect in your subject's eyes using Adobe Photoshop. Applying a custom shape, layer styles and blending tweaks, Pinsky demonstrates an effective way to produce this reflection without using a physical ring light. Some experimentation with blending, size and effects will help you to create a realistic reflection that adds that extra point of interest to your photograph.
Though it doesn't mimic the effect of the light (which is arguably one of the more important aspects of the right light aside from the catchlights), it is an interesting technique you might find useful.
I've seen this done on photos that obviously weren't taken with a ring light, and it looks pretty funny in those shots (especially when one side of the face is in shadow and the person doing the retouching had to guess where the eye in shadow is to put the faux ring light).
Why oh why...
I guess I understand the "wanting that special look" but it won't be coherent with the actual lighting/shadow of the picture....
This is comical at best. You want a ringlight effect for how it lights your subject and, alternately, how it creates a background shadow. Frankly, the ringlight in the eyes is quite a distraction from your photographic composition. You may want to retouch it OUT in a shot that is actually shot with a ringlight.
I am sorry but i really think this is sort of content which really must not be shared in such a respectable blog as fstoppers :(
I have never liked catchlights from ring lights. That being said, This video managed to make a bad thing even worse. The number one rule for me in adding catchlights in a photo is that they must reflect the lighting on the subject. In this example the author didn't even come close. I am not normally one to tell FS what they should publish but in this case a little intelligence in selecting what you present to your public would go a long way.