27 Photoshop Tutorials for Lighting and Abstract Effects

Photoshop provides designers with all kinds of possibilities when it comes to creating interesting lighting effects. With a solid understanding of Photoshop and some creativity, you can create stunning effects for your design, images, and photo manipulations.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Photoshop experts who are willing to write detailed tutorials to show off the potential. Here is a look at some of the best tutorials for using various lighting and abstract effects. Follow a few of these tutorials to learn different techniques, and then put your creativity to work and find some ways to use lighting effects on your own.

How to Create a Superhero in Photoshop

With the help of this tutorial, you can learn how to create an awesome superhero design that makes excellent use of color and light effects. Of course, you’ll be able to use these techniques in your own designs to create impressive results.

Ambient Light and Beams

Create realistic light beams coming through the windows.

Add Light Streaks to a Photo with Photoshop

Light streaks can be added by using the brush tool and they can be customized using layer styles. Decorate photos easily once you’ve learned this technique.

Add a Sparkle Trail to a Photo

This is a fun effect that works great with the right types of photos, like the one used in the tutorial.

Master Stylish Light Effects

This tutorial from Fabio Sasso shows how to create a beautiful effect with color and light that can be used with your own photos.

Space Lighting Effects in 10 Steps

This tutorial walks through the process of creating a wallpaper or background with a space-inspired look. You’ll create an effect that uses shapes, color, and light to create something memorable.

Make a Retro Space Typography Poster

Learn how to design a retro-style post that features strong typography, along with beautiful light effects.

Classic Light Effect

This awesome lightbulb-inspired effect has an amazing realistic look.

How to Create a Colorful Retro Poster in Easy Steps

Colors and light effects are used creatively together in this tutorial, which shows how to create an awesome poster design.

Create an Abstract Golden Circle with Smoke Brushset in Photoshop

This abstract effect is something that could be used in other types of designs as well.

Create a Glowing 3D Text Effect

Add some intrigue to a basic 3D text effect by adding some compelling light effects.

Sparkling Hot Girl in Photoshop

Learn how to use light effects to complement and enhance photos.

Really Cool Eclipse Effect in Photoshop

With the help of this tutorial, you’ll learn to make an eclipse effect that could be useful for other different types of designs and photo manipulations.

Colorful Light Effect in Photoshop

The end result of this tutorial is a simple design that showcases light and color on a dark background.

Beautiful Lady with Flowing Light Effects

Create an artistic photo manipulation by following along with this video tutorial.

Create Smoke

The smoke effect created here makes use of lighting effects to enhance the look.

Show Me the Light

Add special effects to a photo or use these techniques in a more involved photo manipulation.

Magical Floating Rock Effect

Lighting effects are not the central focus of this design or tutorial, but the lighting effects certainly are critical to the end result. You can use these techniques many different ways in your own work.

Easy Star Light in Photoshop

Create a background or wallpaper with a star shape along with brilliant colors and beautiful light effects.

How to Make an Epic Portal Scene

This photo manipulation technique creates a brilliant glow.

How to Make a Soundwave in Photoshop

Use color and light to create an awesome soundwave effect that looks great on the black background.

Create Light Leaks and Lomo Effects

This photo editing tutorial shows a fun way to use light leak effects to enhance a photo. This approach can be used with a wide variety of photos, so it’s well worth adding to your repertoire.

Create a Fire Particle Effect in Photoshop

Starting from scratch, you can create fiery particles that become the center point of your design, or use the technique in your own photo manipulations of designs for various purposes.

Super Slick Dusky Lighting Effects

Enhance a sunset photo with fun lighting effects.

Extinction Text Effect

This colorful 3D text effect involves lighting effects to create an impressive end result.

The Making of “Constant Slip”

Add color and light effects to give photos a nice touch.

Colorful Portrait Effects in Photoshop

This fun photo edit makes use of lighting effects, as well as color.