i know this is either mentioned, or discussed EVERY time someone enters photoshop.. and i do have to admit that i did the same exact thing when i first started...
first off... lens flare is.... it's like... ok well, don't use it. i know i'm sounding like i'm being mean here, but if it makes you feel any better - it's technically ok to use, but make sure that it's masked or incorporated into the image for a residual effect or the like. as odd as this sounds, don't use lens flare for what it's made for
for and example.. i still use lens flare off and on, but it's never for use on something that's actually going to have a shine or "flare" on it, and i always blend it into the piece so that there's little method for someone to beable to take a glance at my piece and automatically know(or know at all) that lens flare was ever used. some of the ways that you can do things like this may include blurring(being gaussian or motion blurring) and perhaps setting that individual layer to overlay or lighten(or whatever floats your boat).
here's one that i used lens flare for, and i'm sure that if i didn't point it out, you'd have no idea, if any at all that i used lens flare for it.
the pink/red sunburst in the top center started out as a lens flare, and i used my custom brushed to make the particles and what not that you see floating around it, and then i also used a color layer and a few other effects to make it look better in the long run.
once again, another one that used lens flare with outside brushing and other effects
the sun was lens flare, with the lens flare layer toned down, and a brushing and color added to it.
while i'm still blabbing on, i might as well mention that i know that i seem to always post my own work when i'm helping people out - i'm not bragging.. i'm just showing you images that are easily accessible
if you're interested.. i have a reflections tutorial that i made awhile back
http://i26.photobuck...Reflections.jpgyou may also enjoy this tutorial, it helps out with alot of basics that you should know about within photoshop
http://i26.photobuck...ials/basics.jpgand if you like orbs, or want to fool around with orb-like things, try this one out for size(a bit more advanced.. but it should teach you about a few more "hidden" things within photoshop"
http://i26.photobuck...extured_orb.jpgnext off.. i seriously wouldn't recommend using layer styles.. once again i'm at partial fault for saying this, as i used them for the longest time. using layer styles, at least for me, gives me the feeling of presets, and to me it really isn't art and it's more of just fooling around with things until you enjoy it.
sorry if i'm making people mad saying this, but layer styles is like a coloring book - you can choose your crayons, you can choose where you want to color everything, but in the end all you did was make a few small changes. a true artist starts with a blank canvas, uses his tools next to him and paints a painting from scratch, he doesn't have all those "conveniant" little lines to decide which colors he wants, and where. that's just my two cents...
hopefully people actually read these, and people don't brush them off becuase they're almost always long when these tips are coming from me. but you can't teach someone in a few words now can you?
