Photoshop CC2018 Render Lighting Filter Setup

Photoshop CC2018 Render Lighting Filter Setup

The Render Lighting Filter capabilities were first brought to my attention by Vincent Versace.  Ten years ago at a workshop, he demonstrated the prowess of this obscure Photoshop filter to enhance image lighting. He also went into detail about using this filter in his book and teaching CDs. However, at the time the Adobe PS Render lighting filter UI was only 500px square and very difficult to use and navigate, so I did not include it in my workflow.

Chapter 1;Step 7 Using Render > Lighting Effects

With the newer Photoshop CCxxxx releases, the UI and workflow issues have been significantly improved.  Towards the end of 2017, I dedicated a stopping point to use Render lighting in my images. Until recently I have been getting on well with the plugin ideosynchcaries.  Yet, for the last two months, I thought my difficulties with the filter UI were due to another Adobe bug or the new file sizes with the D850.

I was working on an image recently and desired to use Render Lighting.  Try as I might I could not get the filter to work.  As I started down the rat hole of self-troubleshooting, I finally decided to Google search for a solution.  Low and behold, my smart guide setting (step  02) had been disabled. Wow! Such a simple fix. Then I discovered how to fix another issue (step 04) preset default.

So I put together this simple 5 step setting sheet to reference when you use this obscure but fascinating filter to light your images. Before beginning, save your working image, duplicate, and flatten. Start your work on the new flattened image.

1. Convert images to 8 bit : Image/Mode/enable 8bit
2. Check Smart Guide: View/Show/enable Smart Guides
3. Open Render Lighting: Filter/render/enable Lighting Effect
4. Reset Lighting Effects: Presets/enable defaults
5. Make Adjustments as required with the Properties Panel

At this point save and export out of the Filter to your Photoshop Layers panel.  Then give this file a unique name and save. I’ll move this image to my working original, then reset the layer back to 16-bit mode.

Additional Information: Photoshop Workflow Tips on Video