There are several types of interesting filters in Photoshop. With the Lens Flare filter, available with many different versions of Photoshop, one can create the appearance of light refracted from a camera lens. The Lens Flare feature allows the artist to choose from four different types of lenses, including a 50- to 300-mm zoom, a 35-mm prime, a 105-mm prime and a movie prime. All of these lens flares are differently coloured and refract light in a different way. However, once the correct lens flare has been chosen, it may be necessary to change the colour of it to fit with the overall design of the final piece. Changing the colour of a lens flare is a very simple process that will only take a few minutes to complete.

  • There are several types of interesting filters in Photoshop.
  • With the Lens Flare filter, available with many different versions of Photoshop, one can create the appearance of light refracted from a camera lens.

Go to "File" > "Open" and choose the drawing or photograph the lens flare will be added to.

Navigate to "Layer" > "New" > "Layer." A New Layer dialogue box will appear. In the "Mode" drop-down box, choose "Screen." Click "OK."

Choose a black colour swatch from the Color Swatch palette on the right side of the screen. Then, choose the Fill tool from the Tools palette on the left side of the screen. Click on the layer with the Fill bucket. Because of the "Screen" mode, no fill will appear. However, this layer needs to be there in order for the lens flare to be visible without affecting the original drawing.

  • Navigate to "Layer" > "New" > "Layer."
  • Choose a black colour swatch from the Color Swatch palette on the right side of the screen.

Go to "Filter" > "Render" > "Lens Flare." The Lens Flare dialogue box will appear.

Choose the desired flare from the list provided. Do this by clicking on the bubble next to the desired lens flare name.

Adjust the brightness of the lens flare. Do this by sliding the tab along the "Brightness" bar. The closer to the left the tab is placed, the dimmer the flare. If the tab is closer to the right, the flare will be brighter.

  • Go to "Filter" > "Render" > "Lens Flare."
  • Do this by sliding the tab along the "Brightness" bar.

Move the lens flare to the appropriate place by click-dragging the cross hairs in the Flare Center preview box. When the lens flare is satisfactory, click "OK."

Make sure the layer with the lens flare is selected, then go to "Image" > "Adjustments" > "Hue/Saturation." This will open the Hue/Saturation dialogue box.

Click the box next to "Preview" in the dialogue box. This will allow the artist to view colour changes on the canvas.

Slide the tab under "Hue" to change the colour of the lens flare. Slide the tab under "Saturation" to increase the strength of the colour. Move the tab under "Lightness" to make the lens flare brighter or dimmer.

  • Move the lens flare to the appropriate place by click-dragging the cross hairs in the Flare Center preview box.
  • Slide the tab under "Hue" to change the colour of the lens flare.