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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Duplicate your clip
Put your clip on the timeline. Then hold Alt (Option on Mac) while dragging the clip upward to make a copy on the track above. You will end up with the original on V1 and a copy on V2. The bottom clip stays untouched so you can always see the normal picture.
Step 2: Apply Directional Blur
Select the top clip, open the Effects panel and search for Directional Blur. You will find it under Video Effects > Blur & Sharpen. Drag it onto the top clip.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Directional Blur and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 3: Set the direction and blur length
In Effect Controls, set Direction to 45° and raise Blur Length to 100. The picture now smears along a diagonal. On its own it looks like a messy motion blur, but the next steps turn it into light streaks.
Step 4: Change the Blend Mode to Screen
Still in Effect Controls, open Blend Mode under Opacity and choose Screen. Screen only adds light on top of the layer below, so the blur turns into streaks that come out of the bright areas of your video.
Step 5: Add a second layer at the opposite angle
Hold Alt (Option on Mac) and drag the blurred clip up again to duplicate it onto V3. On this new layer change Direction to -45°. Now you have streaks going both ways, which crosses into the star shape. Keep Blend Mode on Screen and the Blur Length the same.
Step 6: Finish with a glow
For an extra bloom around the lights, search for Glow in the Effects panel. The video uses VR Glow, found under Video Effects > Immersive Video. Apply it to the top clip and adjust Luma Threshold, Glow Radius and Glow Brightness until the highlights glow the way you like. Raise Luma Threshold if too much of the picture glows.
Tips
- Use footage with bright highlights. Neon lights, lamps and reflections make the best stars.
- Lower the opacity if it is too strong. Reduce Opacity on the top layers for a subtler star filter.
- Try other angles. Use 0° and 90° for a plus-shaped star, or four layers for an eight-point star.
FAQ
Why do I use the Screen blend mode?
Screen only brightens. It keeps the light streaks and hides the dark smear, so the effect looks like light instead of blur.
Can I do this without the VR Glow effect?
Yes. The glow is optional. You can use any glow effect you have, or try our free glow presets.
Does it work on any video?
It works on most footage but is strongest on dark scenes with bright lights. Pair it with a flash transition for extra impact.
Apply effects like this in a few keystrokes with BetterFX.
