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Spotlights with Layers

Here's the spotlight effect done with layers. As usual, layers give greater control and flexibility (though at the cost of memory, speed and file size).

• Load your image and open the Channels window, then Layers....
• In the Layers window, click on New layer (the blank sheet of paper).
• Fill the new layer with black, using the Paintpot and the Magic wand.
• Now draw a white ellipse, rotating it as described above.
• Open the Special effects window, and apply a largeish Quick blur (16 pixels or so), repeating if necessary to fade the edges of the white ellipse.
• In the Layers window, set the Mode to Multiply.
• Now drag the Opacity slider leftwards. About 50% is OK in this case.
• And here's the result:

  

  Spotlight with layers

Notes

• This is much more flexible than using masks, as it's very easy to adjust the level of 'illumination' with the Opacity slider at any time.
• Remember you can move the 'spotlight' layer around with the Move tool.