This tutorial will work with any version of Adobe Flash from CS3 to CS5, and shows you how to create an awesome, creepy lightning flash effect that will briefly and clearly illuminate everything else on your screen - like a shambling zombie!
If you're a fan of "Avatar" - the animated Nickelodeon series, not the M. Night Shayamalan epic fail of the movie - or any sort of supernatural action series, then you've probably witnessed the awesome flash of lightning effect before. Whether emanating from the hands of a sup ...more
Make it look like your camera is shaking and add in a flashing, color-changing light (great for music videos!). You can create this effect (without losing any video quality) using the software program Premiere Pro using this easy technique and by altering some of the color fil ...more
Andrew Cramer shows you how to simulate light in your After Effects scenes. The effect shown is good for any time you have a flash of light shown like lightning or clashing light sabers. Add simulated light to a scene in After Effects. Click through to watch this video on crea ...more
Want to replicate that cool effect when you can watch Christmas lights flash in time to music? It's easy! You'll need a set of speakers, an outlet adapter, excess power cord, a solid state relay and, of course, Christmas lights! Once you've gotten all your project pieces assem ...more
Chad Perkins shows how to use the Bezier pen tool in Photoshop, Flash, and After Effects. Perkins attempts to shed light on how the tool can be used and dispels certain misconceptions about the pen tool. The pen tool allows users to create various types of paths, either open o ...more
In this video tutorial, we learn how to create a music visualization effect with Knoll Light Factor within Adobe After Effects. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yours ...more
In this clip, you'll learn how to create and apply a muzzle flash effect in Sony Vegas Pro for simulated gun fights and shootouts. Whether you're completely new to Sony's popular nonlinear editor (NLE) or are a seasoned digital video professional simply looking to pick up a fe ...more
In this photo editing software tutorial you will learn how to use the tools in Photoshop CS3 to create a realistic gun muzzle flash. You will learn how to use outer glows to create basic muzzle flashes in Photoshop. This tutorial is best viewed at full screen.
Create your own effect of a light box in Adobe Photoshop. This is an exceptionally detailed tutorial which shows you how to start from scratch (not a photograph) and create the light box effect you can use to replicate the look of neon lights.
Light boxing is a pervasive technique in advertising, used to draw attention to the featured product. You can replicate this effect in Adobe Photoshop. Starting from a blank document, this tutorial walks you through the process of creating your own light box effect.
In this video tutorial, learn how to create a really beautiful, eye popping, neon light "magic effect". Brighten up your asthetic presentation with this cool Photoshop trick, originally found on this blog. This tutorial is constructed using Adobe Photoshop CS3, but please note ...more
In this Flash video tutorial you learn how to add a metallic glint effect to text in Flash CS3.
See how to create an iPhone-style slide-to-open effect in Adobe Flash CS4. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular Flash-development platform or a seasoned web developer looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the a ...more
The 3D page flip is one of the coolest and most underutilized effects that you can put on your website using Flash CS4. You may also know it from the iPod interface. This video will teach you how to create the effect yourself with Flash and Actionscript 3, giving your websites ...more
If you find yourself viewing a lot of Flash content, you've probably seen a moving object or cursor that has a ghostly likeness trailing behind it. Have you ever wanted to create that effect yourself? Now you can, quickly and easily. This video will teach you how to create a g ...more
If you'd like to create a cool presentation with Flash, check out this video and the Flash plug-in flipdoo. Flipdoo allows you to build stunning flash flip books for both online and offline use in minutes. You don't need any additional software. Import your PDFs, configure boo ...more
Learn how to use the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom graduated filter tool to create fake light leak. This clip will teach you what you need to know. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint you ...more
First type your word and set the font. Now select the word and break it apart by pressing the ctrl+B twice. Now select the erasing tool and erase the letters in reverse order like when you write that word, you write it in a order but you need to erase it just reversal of it as ...more
Another cool Flash effect is glowing text. In this tutorial, learn how to make your text glow in Flash. This video will take you step by step through this surprisingly easy process. Soon you will be on your way to making your website stand out above the rest with text that is ...more
Ever wanted to create a cool appearing text effect in Adobe Flash? This video tutorial will show you how to use Flash to create a text effect that can be used as a website introduction or in other forms of web media. This step-by-step video will have you creating cool Flash ef ...more
In this video by Task Tutorial we learn how to create a simple text effect in Flash. The first step is to create the text you want to use. Then use CTRL-B to break apart and distribute to layers. Now, convert your letters into movie clips using the menu options. Then add key f ...more
This is a detailed video on creating your own animated pixel transition effect between two images. The example uses both Flash and Illustrator. You'll use masking to create animations. Create an animated pixel transition effect in Flash. Click through to watch this video on vt ...more
Sunbursts are very cool looking, both psychedelic and evocative of the Japanese cultural elements that are so popular in modern America. This video will teach you how to create your own sunburst effect using Flash CS3, which you can then use in your Flash website, game, or mov ...more
Learn how to create an eye-catching light streak effect within this Blender video guide. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular 3D modeling program or a seasoned graphic artist just interested in better acquainting yourself with the application, you're sure to ...more
In this instructional video hosted by Click Here Photography, learn how to photograph moving vehicles, trucks, or cars at night to capture a light beam effect. Equipment, how to set-up, and additional props are gone over. Although this effect takes some time to set-up, it is a ...more
This software tutorial shows you how to get creative with Flash animations. The video is titled rotoscope in Flash but actually is not a rotoscoping technique. Instead, you learn how to convert an animation sequence of images to bitmap images and create a cool artistic effect ...more
The typewriter effect is a popular text effect for games and movies that makes text appear letter-by-letter on the screen as if it is being typed as your watch. It's cumbersome for actual reading, but looks cool and old-school. This video will teach you how to create this effe ...more
Even with so many awesome real life weapons out there that wreak jaw-dropping damage and explosions, boys and men everywhere still grovel at the feet of lightsabers, that mystal (and unfortunately made up) weapon touted by Jedi in the "Star Wars" movies. If you've never outgr ...more
In this clip, you'll learn how to create a glowing beam of light in Adobe Photoshop CS3, CS4 or CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various feat ...more
Here’s a technique for creating smoke in Flash using the lighten blending mode and motion editor. For more Adobe software tutorials from Layers Magazine, search Layers Magazine on WonderHowTo. WonderHowTo indexes all Layers Magazine tutorials for Illustrator, InDesign, Photos ...more
Flash photography isn't just for dark scenes; sometimes you need to battle the sun with 'fill flash.' Watch this photography tutorial video to learn how to use flash in bright light. Once you've mastered the tips on fill flash in this how-to video, you'll take much better pict ...more
Making titles in After Effects is fun, relatively easy, and sure to make your film make a better first impression. This video will show you how to make a cool light ray text swipe effect with particles, like the one in the thumbnail. This isn't too hard as far as our After Eff ...more
In this episode of Digital Photography 1-on-1, host Mark Wallace goes in depth on the subject of light metering and flash balancing. Making use of a Sekonic light meter, Mark shows how to read the light levels in a room, and explains how to interpret those readings in order to ...more
This video instructs the watcher on how to use the flash of a Vivitar to add light to photos taken outside if a little extra light is needed. Turn the camera on AV mode, choose an ISO setting like 100 or 200, then take a reading, either off the sky or an object. Then use the V ...more
Learn how to get the cool glow effect on your sprites for your flash movies.
You need a flash to add light to dark photography settings, but a flash might make your picture look blown out or overexposed. Here are some good tips, like adjusting your aperture or manual ISO to maximize your available light. A tripod will also help you by allowing a longer ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to gel your flash to blend it with ambient light. First, you will need to be indoors with lights on and grab your camera. Make sure you have a separate flash on the camera, then take an amber colored film strip and place it over the flash. Next h ...more
To control more complex or improbable shape changes in Macromedia Flash, you can use shape hints. Shape hints identify points that should correspond in starting and ending shapes. This video tutorial teaches you how to use shape hints to make a cool 3D effect.
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a realistic water rippling effect on a static image using masking in Flash. Video: .
We previously showed you how to make your Android's LED notification light dance to music, but the app itself was limited in customization options, the devices it worked on, and the music apps and services it worked with. Now we'll be showing you a similar app that supports mo ...more
The software released in the 2015 iterations of the Samsung Galaxy line of devices—the S6, S6 Active, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, and Note 5—have some pretty neat camera features that give these devices arguably the best smartphone camera on the market today. Out of the box, Samsung's ...more
The original iPhone SE was, for some, the perfect iPhone. It brought back the popular one-handed form factor of the iPhone 5 but packed in the internals of the then-new iPhone 6S. Now, the second-generation iPhone SE is here for 2020, but can it live up to what made the first- ...more
The default Camera app on your iPhone can take some pretty incredible photos during the day. Newer iPhone models can even make nighttime shots look good. But you can't just point and shoot if you want to capture some pretty spectacular fireworks photos on July 4th, New Year's ...more
This video is about the concept of "foofing" when shooting flash photography. For this, you need a camera with a flash that can be directionally adjusted. The process involves simply pointing the flash at either a wall or the ceiling, to avoid having the light from the flash s ...more
Cases and stickers are always great, but they aren't the only way to customize an iPhone. The software on your device is full of customization options, from a better-looking home screen and cooler lock screen wallpapers to app icon changes and a system-wide dark mode. There's ...more
Using After Effects 3D layers and light sweep effect to create this text that moves in 3D space. For more Adobe software tutorials from Layers Magazine, search Layers Magazine on WonderHowTo. WonderHowTo indexes all Layers Magazine tutorials for Illustrator, InDesign, Photosh ...more
Add energy and excitement to your scene with lightning! During this tutorial you will discover how to quickly model a detailed lightning bolt, make an object disintegrate, create light flashes, add glow and glare effects in the compositor. Whether you're new to the Blender Fou ...more
In this video, we learn how to do night photography with your kids. Glow sticks. flash lights, and ghost images are great for night time! First, put your camera in the manual mode and then learn how to set the shutter once you're in manual mode. Put the pop up flash on your ca ...more
This is an Electronics video tutorial where you will learn how to use the RPT mode on a Nikon SB-800 and SB-900. Repeat mode gives a flashing strobe effect with which you can take multiple shots in one single long exposure. In Nikon SB-800, switch on the flash and select the R ...more
Want to liven up your game of beer pong? You could always add more cups or play with paddles, or you could make your own custom table with 500 LED lights that flash in sync with your favorite tunes like Redditor did. Video: . First come the lights. This one was done by hand, b ...more
With all the controversy around the Pixel 3 XL, the regular-sized Pixel 3 might be the phone of choice for most users. Thanks to the huge boost in screen size, the little brother is now an easier pickup for those who like a bigger screen. And once more, the internals are the s ...more
The "controversial" Pixel. No phone in the history of Google's Pixel lineup deserves this title more than the Pixel 3 XL. For some (including myself), the design is a welcome change that embodies the modern design of 2018 flagship phones. For others, it has an ugly huge displa ...more
Apple's iOS 11 is finally here, and while they showed off several of the new features it brings to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch back at WWDC 2017, they've only just touched the surface of what iOS 11 has to offer. There are a lot of cool new (and sometimes secret) feature ...more
Last week, I showed you a peek at the not-yet-released Galaxy S5 Active, the more rugged version of Samsung's current flagship. The man behind those leaks, TK Tech News, has now brought another goodie from the device, and it's one we can have on the Galaxy Note 3. Dubbed Acti ...more
No matter how good a display is, the idea of perfect color calibration is subjective — some prefer warmer more saturated colors, while others prefer the calmer cooler side of the color spectrum. It is almost impossible to create a single color calibration that everyone can agr ...more
In a bold move, Samsung has decided to forgo the Galaxy S11 moniker and jump straight to the S20. Perhaps it's marketing for the new 20:9 aspect ratio and 120 Hz display, or maybe it's just the fact that it's releasing in 2020. Besides the number, Samsung is borrowing from Ap ...more
Black lights come in all shapes and sizes, and they're useful in a variety of ways. They can help you spot fake currency, urine stains, interesting rocks, and deadly scorpions, and they can even help you view cool fluorescent artwork. Most black lights work using a filter or ...more
Apple introduced Portrait Mode with the iPhone 7 Plus, a feature which utilized the iPhone's dual cameras to create a shallow depth of field around a subject. This effect replicates the look of DSLR cameras, making your photos look more professional. Apple, of course, carries ...more
Difficulty Level: If you have eyes, you can do this. Ambient light is often called available, natural or existing light. Lots of professional photographers have quotes on lights, but this is my favorite: "I only shoot available light. Any damn light that’s available." I wish ...more