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The Overlay Guide You never Knew You Needed
Tips and tricks to turn simple photos into cinematic stories with overlays
I could probably survive without coffee for a while — well, barely — but I could never do my digital art without my overlays. Want rain or snow effects? No problem, even on the sunniest April day. Adding a touch of spooky smoke? No need to set my kitchen on fire — my overlays have got me covered.
So, what are overlays, exactly? They live up to their name: they’re effect files — images, lights, textures — with transparent backgrounds that lay over your photo or artwork. Pretty cool, right? You can use them in Photoshop, of course, or in any app that supports PNG files with transparent backgrounds. Yes, even on your phone!
But my love story with overlays didn’t start right away — I wasn’t much of a digital-magic–kinda girl back then. Back in 2022, I started my LEGO photography experimenting at first with natural elements. I splashed water, blew dust, and even tried a real Christmas sparkler to create a fire effect!
This more traditional style is where we set up a physical environment for the shot — whether it’s in a sandbox, a real garden, or even in the snow. It’s a bit like the magic of old movies, where every effect was done practically. This approach involved minimal…
