Adding light trails to cars?

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mikeygrover

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mikey
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Hi everyone.

Is it possible to add light trails to a photo with cars in it AFTER the photo has been taken, maybe with an editor or something? I've done a Google search but can only find info on how to actually shoot photos with the effect or how to add them using Adobe After Effects. Is there a free downloadable or web-based editor that can do this?

Really looking forward to replies as it's been something i've been trying to do for a while.

Thanks in advance,
Mikey.
 
Sorry if this is a silly question, but why do you want to add them afterwards? The shot would look a lot better if you got the effect 'in camera'. Its not a difficult thing to do...

Apologies if im missing something.
 
You could certainly paint in red and white trails with a soft brush in photoshop. You'd probably want to do it in a layer then mess around with blending modes and opacity.

Might look okay. Unlikely to fool anyone who knows what they're talking about though.
 
Hi Nick.
I had the photo, and decided to do some fiddling around with it when I got home (it's by no means good, i'm very new to this) and though light trails would look good coming off the back of the cars (as well as trying to lighten the cars to make them stand out a bit more). So it wasn't really something I was thinking about when I took the photo. Any tips on the light trails, or any other part of the photo would definitely be appreciated (i'll try to attach it to this post). :-)

Ghoti, I haven't got Photoshop, hence why I asked if this was possible on any free software. As I mentioned above, i'm very new to this.View attachment 13101 :-)
 
Not sure EXACTLY how you would do it, but I suppose the easiest way would be to take a separate shot of some actual lighttrails and blend the two images together in software. If you are looking for free software, I suppose GIMP would be good for the layers aspect of this particular edit.
 
Yes, GIMP would be good. Or you could download Photoshop CC for a free month's trial with full functionality.

Much better to do this kind of thing in camera though.
 
Yes, i've heard GIMP is one of the best free types of editing software. I've downloaded it and will have a play around with it to get familiarised then spend the evening watching tutorials. Thanks for your help.
 
Yes Ghoti, it's a shame I didn't have the forethought at the time as there's plenty of info and advice on getting the lighttrail effect when actually taking the photo to be found on Google, just not much about how to add it afterwards...
I'll have a look at Photoshop CC as well as GIMP then. Thanks for your advice.
 
Hi Matthew. Is that because of the software i'd use (GIMP or Photoshop CC), or because it's just not possible?
Thanks.
 
mikeygrover said:
Hi Matthew. Is that because of the software i'd use (GIMP or Photoshop CC), or because it's just not possible?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Just because its going to be hard, both of those software packages should be able to manage it however even with real light trails to sample from its not going to be easy to merge them in an not having it looking faked, far better to go back an shoot it for real if possible
 
Ahem....

Google "Rear Curtain, slow sync flash"


Is that what you are after?
 
It would be great if I could go back and do it again, but I can't for now. I'll have a go with GIMP and Photoshop CC and see how it goes. It's not for anything important and would be a good reason to learn how to use those pieces of software. Thanks Matthew.
 
Yes, Pookeyhead, that's the kind of think i'm looking for. Is that the correct term for it then? Any tips on how I could add this to the shot?
 
A bit like these (image taken from Google Images). Not sure i'm allowed to borrow an image from there for illustrative purposes (Mods, apologies and please remove if i'm not...)View attachment 13108
 
mikeygrover said:
Yes, Pookeyhead, that's the kind of think i'm looking for. Is that the correct term for it then? Any tips on how I could add this to the shot?
Click to expand...

It's not something that you can add in PP, it a way of using your cameras flash, and unless David has a specific idea hear I'm not really seeing that I would be a lot of use...in less its the idea of shooting the trails and then freezing the cars with the flash?
 
mikeygrover said:
A bit like these (image taken from Google Images). Not sure i'm allowed to borrow an image from there for illustrative purposes (Mods, apologies and please remove if i'm not...)View attachment 13108
Click to expand...

Right I'm seeing what you mean, and flash rear sync would be good there to freeze the car, however it is going to present certain issues such as reflective surfaces e.g. Number plate, not to mention neurotic motorists that will think your a speed trap :LOL: and yes I've had them

All your really need is for the vehicle to be stationary for long enough to pick it up, traffic light would be a good place to practice, start the exposure as its pulling up, end just before it pulls off and you'll be sorted

A couple of examples of what it sounds like your after

Not a solid vehicle as if was only stationary for rounghly half the exposure, but that's what I was aiming for


295/366 (660) by mwhcvt, on Flickr

Again ghosted however more a happy accident as the police pulled up mid exposure to see what I was up to :LOL: if I had left the shutter open the police car would have been much more solid...though of course because of the lights that wouldn't really have been an option


87/365 by mwhcvt, on Flickr

I think both kind of illustrate what you were after...
 
MWHCVT said:
It's not something that you can add in PP, it a way of using your cameras flash, and unless David has a specific idea hear I'm not really seeing that I would be a lot of use...in less its the idea of shooting the trails and then freezing the cars with the flash?
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was suggesting yeah. Shoot in low light with a long speed to get the trails, and then the flash fires just before the second curtain ends the exposure, so the cars appear at the end of the trails. Normal first curtain flash would make the cars appear to be travelling backwards.

The downside is it's a flashlit shot.. which may, or may not be appropriate. There's also a limit to how much of an area you could cover with flash. The only other way is to have the vehicle's stop partway through a long exposure as your images show. Bit hit and miss unless there's a convenient place for vehicles to stop. Coudl get away with it on junctions, lights.. bus stops etc I suppose though.
 
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I've never seen anyone use flash to shoot light trails on cars, but there ya go. Long exposure, tripod, remote shutter release or use the timer - adding trails in later just seems lazy, go shoot again ;)
 
I'm doing some light trails at the moment that look quite effective. I'm using Inkscape. Another free program. But unlike Gimp it is for vector drawings. But the technique is simple.
0) Paste your picture into Inkscape
1) Draw a single line, and adjust the shape to be the path of the car. So it might have kinks or a curved shape. A vector program makes it easy to tune the shape until you are happy.
2) Set the colour and thickness to suit headlamp or tail lamp.
3) Make an identical copy of the curve, and make it transparent and thicker. Place it alongside the first. Simulating the trail of the reflector.
4) Make another copy and add a lot of "blur" to add glow. Add any more as required.
5) Place a highly transparent blurred one on the road surface to simulate illumination of the road.
6) Group all these curves together. Then copy the group and position it for the second lamp. Both trails are usually identical.
7) As an enhancement, use a shape instead of a single line and change the width as is passes you, simulating light trails that change their shape. Reflection trails off shiny parts of the car can bee added too.
Skill with tweaking curves is useful. But choosing the right brightness, thickness, blur and transparency is quite easy.
Yes there are some who will insist you should never retouch any picture. But others enjoy it. So why not? I'm having a lot of fun.

Here's a quickie I did just to illustrate this post. For the trail I drew 1 curve, and copy/pasted the rest.
View attachment 13164
 
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You could also try motion blur filter, applied to a selected area around the vehicle.
 
4wd said:
You could also try motion blur filter, applied to a selected area around the vehicle.
Click to expand...

:agree:
Yes, motion blur on a copy layer above the original, mask out the unwanted areas, and then distort the trails a little with transform and or liquefy.

I too think that in camera is the best way (See pookeyheads post), but that horse has bolted.

Mikey, post the image, someone on here is sure to have a go. :);).

Rhodese.
 
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I don't think light trails would look right in that pic as the detail in the sky makes it clear that it wasnt a long exposure , plus there is too much ambient light forlight tails to have been practical

It would be easy enough to cut some light trails from another pic drop them in and blend it, but its going to look really false
 
Cagey75 said:
I've never seen anyone use flash to shoot light trails on cars, but there ya go. Long exposure, tripod, remote shutter release or use the timer - adding trails in later just seems lazy, go shoot again ;)
Click to expand...

I wish I could go and shoot it agian, Keith. But unfortunately won't be able to for a while :(
 
ianp5a said:
I'm doing some light trails at the moment that look quite effective. I'm using Inkscape. Another free program. But unlike Gimp it is for vector drawings. But the technique is simple.
0) Paste your picture into Inkscape
1) Draw a single line, and adjust the shape to be the path of the car. So it might have kinks or a curved shape. A vector program makes it easy to tune the shape until you are happy.
2) Set the colour and thickness to suit headlamp or tail lamp.
3) Make an identical copy of the curve, and make it transparent and thicker. Place it alongside the first. Simulating the trail of the reflector.
4) Make another copy and add a lot of "blur" to add glow. Add any more as required.
5) Place a highly transparent blurred one on the road surface to simulate illumination of the road.
6) Group all these curves together. Then copy the group and position it for the second lamp. Both trails are usually identical.
7) As an enhancement, use a shape instead of a single line and change the width as is passes you, simulating light trails that change their shape. Reflection trails off shiny parts of the car can bee added too.
Skill with tweaking curves is useful. But choosing the right brightness, thickness, blur and transparency is quite easy.
Yes there are some who will insist you should never retouch any picture. But others enjoy it. So why not? I'm having a lot of fun.

Here's a quickie I did just to illustrate this post. For the trail I drew 1 curve, and copy/pasted the rest.
View attachment 13164
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, ianp5a, i'll have a play around with Inkscape too then. :-)
 
Rhodese said:
:agree:
Yes, motion blur on a copy layer above the original, mask out the unwanted areas, and then distort the trails a little with transform and or liquefy.

I too think that in camera is the best way (See pookeyheads post), but that horse has bolted.

Mikey, post the image, someone on here is sure to have a go. :);).

Rhodese.
Click to expand...

I've posted the image above Rhodese, but here it is again. :-)View attachment 13199
 
MWHCVT said:
Right I'm seeing what you mean, and flash rear sync would be good there to freeze the car, however it is going to present certain issues such as reflective surfaces e.g. Number plate, not to mention neurotic motorists that will think your a speed trap :LOL: and yes I've had them

All your really need is for the vehicle to be stationary for long enough to pick it up, traffic light would be a good place to practice, start the exposure as its pulling up, end just before it pulls off and you'll be sorted

A couple of examples of what it sounds like your after

Not a solid vehicle as if was only stationary for rounghly half the exposure, but that's what I was aiming for


295/366 (660) by mwhcvt, on Flickr

Again ghosted however more a happy accident as the police pulled up mid exposure to see what I was up to :LOL: if I had left the shutter open the police car would have been much more solid...though of course because of the lights that wouldn't really have been an option


87/365 by mwhcvt, on Flickr

I think both kind of illustrate what you were after...
Click to expand...


Some good advice there, Matthew. Thanks! I'll come back to it if/when I get the chance to shoot it again. Like your shots by the way, especially the first one. :-)
 
Thank you all for your advice on this topic :-) Some really good info and if I get the chance to take the photo again i'll definitely come back to this thread! I've posted the pic a couple of times if anyone, like Rhodese said, wants to have a go at it ('Slanted' pic of Brighton Pavilion).

Thanks everone. :-)
 
I’m sorry Mikey but I didn’t realize that that was the image we were talking about. :).

Mikey in my opinion the image is of no worth for your aspirations, it’s all about the sky, the cars are virtually out of the picture and as such lend nothing to it.

May I suggest you take onboard the “in camera” options offered and you get out in the streets tonight and start shooting.

If you don’t have a tripod or monopod then hold the camera against a wall, a lamppost or even put it on the pavement angled up with something, and use the self timer.

Alas, although I think the image you offered is a non starter, I have attempted an offering. :);).

5185-1402041632-ab38faa0380e53750331f9a58a637dc3.jpg


Rhodese.
 
Rhodese said:
I’m sorry Mikey but I didn’t realize that that was the image we were talking about. :).

Mikey in my opinion the image is of no worth for your aspirations, it’s all about the sky, the cars are virtually out of the picture and as such lend nothing to it.

May I suggest you take onboard the “in camera” options offered and you get out in the streets tonight and start shooting.

If you don’t have a tripod or monopod then hold the camera against a wall, a lamppost or even put it on the pavement angled up with something, and use the self timer.

Alas, although I think the image you offered is a non starter, I have attempted an offering. :);).

5185-1402041632-ab38faa0380e53750331f9a58a637dc3.jpg


Rhodese.
Click to expand...

Hi Rhodese.

Yes, I had thought that the main focus of anyone looking at the image would be the sky, i've just got a bit of a thing about light trails coming from cars. And in this instance, thought they might contrast nicely with the orange of the sky (i'm VERY new to photography so could be completely wrong :D)
Saying that, I really like what you've done with it! I especially like how you've lightened the Pavilion, and the picture in general, thank you! :ty:
Would you mind if I, erm, 'borrowed' it? It's not for promotional use or anything like that (I was going to use it for a personal Facebook/Twitter header), and if you've got a blog/website or something i'd love to give props to you if anyone asks.

And yes, next time i'm in Brighton and have the chance to shoot it again i'll definitely come back to this thread, it's offered some great advice.

Thanks again Rhodese, this has really made my day! :ty: :clap: :)
 
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