Project five: Adobe CC - Add starbursts to shots

Jon Adams shows how to use this issue's brush kit to pep up low-light shots, or create your own starbursts

- Jon Adams

The Mission – Use our free starburst pack to add your own flare to imagery

Time – 30 minutes

Skill level – Beginner

Kit needed – Photoshop CC

Whether you use them on a candle flame, a setting sun or a street lamp, starburst effects are a great way to add atmosphere to any shot that has light sources in the frame. They occur naturally under the right conditions when you use a medium to narrow aperture, but when the effect is stored as a brush, you can use them to enhance images quickly.

This issue, we have a kit with 16 effects, and they’re simple to install and use. First, copy the Starburst Effects .abr file to your computer. To get them into Photoshop, open the Brushes panel (Window> Brushes) and click on the flyout (the four-line icon in the top-right). Select Import Brushes, then navigate to where you put the file. Once you’ve found them, double-click the .abr file, and the brushes will appear at the bottom of the list in the Brushes panel.

YOUR FREE STARBURST PACK

Your starburst pack in the download will work with Photoshop CC, or any other software that supports .abr brush files. There are 16 effects, and you can change their size and colour, just like any other brush.

1. Create a new file