In this tutorial we’re going to take a daytime photograph and turn it into a rainy night scene.
We’ll start out by adding a blur filter to create the illusion of motion. Then we’ll start adding various adjustment layers to make it seem as if this photograph was taken at night.
I’ll also show you how to add very accurate lens flares using the Precise Flare Center which helps you position lens flares exactly in the place you want.
We’ll finish off this effect by creating realistic looking rain using patterns and layer styles in multiple layers, which is a more advance way to create rain (or snow) than the typical noise and motion blur effect that you’ve probably seen before.
This is a very versatile technique that could be used on other images, by simply tweaking the adjustment layers, and lens flares.
If you want to follow along with this tutorial, feel free to download the tutorial files. Look for them down below.
If you’re using your own image, keep in mind that your settings may be different than mine, but that’s ok. All you need to do is make the appropriate adjustments so everything looks with on your composition.
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Final Image
Drag The Slider To See Before & After
borz says
August 18, 2015 at 6:01 ami cant download tutorial files
Photoshop Training Channel says
August 24, 2015 at 5:15 pmWhat’s the problem? What do you see (or don’t see)?
Josh D. says
April 6, 2016 at 10:04 amHello! Awesome tutorials on this site, I’ve been following along with a few of them so far and on this one I’m stuck. 17 minutes into the video you make a new layer, go into channels and Ctrl+Click the red channel. You fill the ‘rain texture’ layer with white, then disable Layer 1 and voila, rain is added into your composition. I follow those steps exactly, but when I disable my Layer 1, the main composition is shown but without any of the rain effects. Any idea what I’m doing wrong? Thanks! This site has been a huge help in my learning.
Photoshop Training Channel says
April 20, 2016 at 11:02 pmJosh, from what you describe I can’t figure it out. Maybe if you provide some screenshots I can help.
Lenny Courtway says
May 26, 2017 at 3:43 amYou’re so interesting! I don’t suppose I’ve read through something like that before. So wonderful to discover somebody with genuine thoughts on this issue. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is something that is required on the internet, someone with a little originality!