by 
Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Import your product image and the sparkle clips
Put the image you want to make shine on the timeline. A product with a clean background, such as a watch on black, works best. Then import the sparkle overlay clips. In the video these are two clips named sparkle 1 and sparkle 2, and you can download them free as our Star Sparkle Overlay.
Faster with QuickPaste: copy the image and paste it straight into your timeline with one shortcut, without saving and importing a file first. See QuickPaste
Step 2: Drag a sparkle above your image
Drag sparkle 1 onto the track above your image and place it where you want the shine to happen. Because the sparkle clip comes with audio, you may want to delete or mute the audio track if you do not need the sound.
Step 3: Change the Blend Mode to Screen
Select the sparkle clip and open Effect Controls. Under Opacity, set Blend Mode to Screen. Screen makes every black pixel see-through and only keeps the bright light, so the sparkle sits on the picture without its black background.
Step 4: Scale and position the sparkle
Still in Effect Controls, lower Scale (the video uses around 50) and change Position, or drag the sparkle in the Program Monitor, until the glint sits on a bright edge of your product, like the rim or the numbers on a watch. Shine looks most realistic on shiny, metallic parts.
Step 5: Add a second sparkle for more shine
For a richer result, copy the sparkle clip, or use sparkle 2, and place another one on a different part of the image, such as the other side of the watch. Stagger them so they do not flash at exactly the same moment. Two or three small glints look more natural than one big one.
Step 6: Soften the sparkle with Gaussian Blur
If the sparkle looks too sharp or digital next to your photo, add the Gaussian Blur effect to it and raise Blurriness a little. Keep Repeat Edge Pixels on so the edges do not turn dark. A small amount of blur makes the light blend into the picture.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Gaussian Blur and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 7: Zoom in and check the result
Set the Program Monitor zoom higher and play through the section. The sparkle should land on shiny details, and fade away naturally.
Tips
- Match the lighting. Place the sparkle where light would really reflect, such as a rim, an edge or a highlight.
- Keep it short. A glint lasts a fraction of a second. Short and bright looks better than long and slow.
- Add a sound. A tiny chime at the moment of the shine adds a lot of polish.
FAQ
Why does my sparkle have a black box around it?
The blend mode is probably still on Normal. Set Blend Mode to Screen in Effect Controls and the black disappears.
Can I use this effect on video footage?
Yes. Place the sparkle clip above any video and use Screen the same way. If the object moves, keyframe the sparkle's position to follow it.
Where do I get sparkle clips?
The sparkle clips used in the video come from our free Star Sparkle Overlay.
Grab the free Star Sparkle Overlay and add shine to your own footage.
