How to Add Starburst in Lightroom in 9 Simple Steps

By Tata Rossi 20 days ago, Lightroom Tips

Photographers like adding a starburst effect also known as sun flare to their images in order to achieve that catchy look without much effort. Even if you are a beginner user, you can achieve the desired result by taking advantage of the features available in Adobe Lightroom. Following the steps described below, you can quickly embellish your images with stunning effects.

STEP 1. Import Your Photo into Lightroom

how to add starburst in lightroom

Open the photo that you want to modify. Choose the image and click on Import button.

STEP 2. Choose Radial Filter

how to add starburst in adobe lightroom

Go to the Develop tab and select Radial Filter.

STEP 3. Work with Radial Filter

starburst in adobe lightroom tutorial

Place the circle in the needed area (where you want to add starburst) and drag the Feather slider to 100.

If you lack time to perform such manipulations yourself, delegate the task to experts from FixThePhoto. They will study your ideas in detail and do all possible to bring them to life. The cost for such services is reasonable. Besides, professional retouchers can fix sharpness and contrast defects, adjust shadows, tones, WB, and other settings.

STEP 4. Choose the Needed Settings to Add Starburst

creating starburst in adobe lightroom tutorial

Take your time to adjust settings when you add starburst in Lightroom. Of course, you can use the settings from the screenshot, but you’d better alter them based on your particular photo.

STEP 5. Correct Colors

creating starburst in adobe lightroom guide

Remove the Radial Filter selection and start correcting colors.

STEP 6. Evaluate the Result

create starburst in lightroom step by step

Compare the edited photo with the original one.

STEP 7. Save a Preset

create starburst in adobe lightroom step by step

Go to the Presets tab on the left side of the interface, click on the + and choose “Create Preset”.

Pro Tip: If you do everything correctly, you’ll see your new presets under the User Presets tab.

STEP 8. Work with the Preset Creation Tab

save preset in adobe lightroom

You will see a new window – click Check None there.

Pro Tip: All your presets are stored in a special Presets folder. You can use them in Lightroom, share them with fellow colleagues, or organize them in a separate collection.

STEP 9. Add Radial Filters Setting to This Preset

add radial filters in adobe lightroom

Then check the Radial Filter box and click Create.

You will get such a result after adding a lens flare effect to your image. This effect is best suited for portrait photography and landscape photography.

Bonus Tools

adobe lightroom bonus tools

To make the process of adding starburst in Adobe Lightroom quicker, download and use these tools. Some presets complement photos with saturated and lush colors, while others add peachy tones to the skin. Moreover, you can find filters that imbue shots with appealing natural light. The collection of presets is rather large, but you can further subdivide it into smaller packages for faster navigation.

FAQ

  • • Why does lens flare appear during a photo session?

Lens flare is a common phenomenon you face while taking images in bright light. However, this effect may differ depending on the position of a light source. When it is too intense, e.g., the sun, rays reach the front of the lens and cause a lens flare.

  • • How can I create a starburst using a camera?

To capture this magnificent effect, you need to keep the aperture smaller. A range from f/11 to f/2 is an ideal option. When light goes through this tiny opening, there appears slight diffraction. In other words, the light bends. Such starburst originates from the source of light.

  • • What is a standard format for presets?

Typically, they are available in .xmp or lrtemplate formats.

  • • How can I remove LR presets?

If you have imported too many presets, you can easily delete needless files. Right-click on the filter > there will appear a drop-down window – choose “Delete” there. Press Ctrl + Z to cancel the action.

  • • How to fix lighting issues in Lightroom?

There is a special Light panel with 6 sliders, which you can use to manually adjust brightness. Besides, there is the Auto button for automatic adjustments. These sliders control various tonal ranges but work identically. If you drag the slider to the left, the light will be reduced and the other way round.

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