How to Create a Light Leak in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to create a light leak in Affinity Photo. A light leak is created when the seal from a film camera’s lens isn’t properly closed. Because of this, the roll of film gets exposed to light. Also, this would occur if there was a gap between the lens and the camera body. Usually, the light leaks would form a red or yellow color on the image. In photography, light leaks were considered an error. However, light leaks are sometimes created on purpose (either with a camera or with digital photography software). They add a creative, retro touch to pictures.

Before you start, go to the following links to download the images used in this tutorial.

• Woman
• B & W Photo

Step 1

First, go to File > Open and select the picture of the woman.

Step 2

In the Layers Panel, click the Add Pixel Layer icon to add a new layer. Set the Blend Mode of this layer to Screen.

Step 3

Grab the Gradient Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the tool and drag it from left to right on the picture. In the Context Toolbar, make sure the Context is Fill and the Type is Linear.

Step 4

Click the white point. Then, go to the Swatches Panel and select black to change the color from white to black.

Step 5

Now, click on the gradient line and add a point near the point on the right.

Step 6

Next, add a point on the gradient line next to the point on the left. In the Swatches Panel, set the Opacity of this point to 0 percent.

Step 7

After that, add a point to the left of the black point we added on the right.

Step 8

Select the slider that’s between the transparent point and the second black point and slide it to the right towards the black point.

Step 9

Now, select the first black point we added. Then, go to the Swatches Panel. Double click on the fill color to bring up the Color Chooser.

Step 10

In the Context Toolbar, you can change the Type to Conical for the direction of the light leak.

Step 11

To change the color of the light leak, go to the Adjustments Panel and click the HSL adjustment. Drag the adjustment inside of the light leak layer. Then, slide the Hue Shift slider to your desired color. And increase or decrease the Saturation Shift to your desired look.

We’ll now create a light leak on a black and white photo.

Step 1

Go to File > Open and select the black and white photo you downloaded.

Step 2

Click the Add Pixel Layer icon in the Layers Panel to add a new layer.

Step 3

In the Layers Panel, set the Blend Mode of the new layer to Screen.

Step 4

Now, grab the Gradient Tool in the Tools Panel, and drag it across the picture from left to right.

Step 5

Next, click the white point. Go to the Swatches Panel and click on the black color to change he point to black.

Step 6

After that, click on the gradient line and add a point on the right.

Step 7

Add another point on the gradient line, this time on the left side. Go to the Swatches Panel and set the Opacity of the point to 0 percent.

Step 8

Then, add a point in front of the first point we added.

Step 9

Select the slider between the transparent point and the pint we just added. Take the slider and slide it to the right towards the third point we added.

Step 10

Now, select the first point we added. Next, go to the Swatches Panel. Click the white color to change the point’s color to white.

Step 11

Go to the Context Toolbar and change the Type to Conical. Then, adjust the point to fit your desired look.

Congratulations, you’ve completed this tutorial! You now know how to create a light leak in Affinity Photo. For more Affinity Photo tutorials, check out this article on how to create a dual lighting effect.