1) Enlarge the photograph
to 200% so the eyes fill the screen.
2) Click the Eyedropper
tool.
Open the Color Swatches
palette if it's in the palette bin.
If it's not there, open it by going to Window > Color Swatches.
Click a
shade of gray.
30% gray was used here.
The foreground color will change from black to the chosen color.
3) Select the Brush
tool.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Brushes - Basics.
A Hard Round 7 px brush was used, and set the opacity to 100%.
Brush Tool Options Bar
4) Because catch lights are not in the same position in both eyes,
create a layer for each eye.
Click the Create
a new layer icon in the Layers palette or Ctrl + j.
Double click the
layer, and change it's name to Left eye.
Create a second
new layer, and label it, Right eye.
5) Select the left-eye
layer.
Position the cursor
where you want a catch light, and then click.
Then select the
right-eye layer, position the cursor, and click.
If the light in the scene is coming from the left . . .
The catch lights should be positioned on the left side of the eyes.
The right-eye catch light should be slightly further to the left.
If the light in the scene is coming from the right . . .
The catch lights should be positioned on the right side of the eyes.
The left-eye catch light should be slightly further to the right.
8) You can fine
tune the position of the catch lights by clicking the Move tool.
Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the catch light.
Compare the portrait without and with catch lights.
Without Catch Lights
With Catch Lights
Other Catch Light Sources
Experiment with other brushes to make more uneven catch lights.
You can also select catch lights from other photographs.
Create a catch light brush library.
Saving the Photograph
If you haven't already done so, go to
Saving Files.
