It’s fun to add a Lens flare effect to a backlit image. However, Photoshop does not allow you to add the effect to a blank layer, meaning you cannot work with it non-destructively.

This secret that PHLEARN shares in this 6 mins video tutorial puts the lens flare on its own layer so that you can have full flexibility to edit it non-destructively. Have fun with warming or cooling the sun flare color, transforming the flare angle and masking out part of flare to hide unwanted parts.

Software:   Photoshop

Skill level:  Basic understanding of Photoshop layer / blending mode & masking

Watch the video here

The work image

The Lens Flare applied on another layer – the secret unlocked!

Summarized for the busy person

1.  Apply the Lens flare image to the image, then Ctrl + Z to Undo.
2.  Create a new layer & fill it (Shift + Del)…