Apply Light Streaks to images and videos online
Stretch highlights into painterly light trails. Light Streaks combines feedback trails, directional blur, and color grading for a long-exposure-inspired look built from your existing image or video.
Before
After
Ideas for using the effect
Night city artwork
Use streetlights, signs, and bright windows to create streaks against a dark scene.
Music release visuals
Turn bright portrait details into flowing trails for cover art and short loops.
Abstract photographic studies
Explore how different directions turn the same image into horizontal or diagonal marks.
Performance footage
Let stage lights and reflective details carry movement through a treated clip.
Made with this effect
More inspiration on Instagram @effect_app
Use Light Streaks in Photoshop, Figma or on your desktop
One account, the same effect everywhere.
In Photoshop
Apply it to a layer in Photoshop 2022 and later, on macOS or Windows. The plugin renders on your own GPU and hands the result back as pixels on a new layer.
get the Photoshop plugin →In Figma
Run it on images and frames without leaving the canvas. The Figma plugin is this same editor, pointed at whatever you have selected.
get the Figma plugin →On desktop
Install the macOS or Windows app when you want a window of its own, with your account and your presets already there.
download the desktop app →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply Light Streaks online?
Open the Light Streaks preset, add your image or video, and adjust the loaded effect layers to suit your source. Preview the result before exporting.
How does the preset create the trails?
Curves separates highlights from shadows, Motion Trails accumulates and shifts bright regions, and two Motion Blur layers soften the result. Further Curves and Color Grading balance the tones.
Where can I see the complete layer breakdown?
The original Making the Light Streaks preset article shows the contrast setup, trail controls, two blur layers, and final color adjustments with examples.
How do I keep trails away from the darker subject?
Raise the Motion Trails threshold and adjust its knee to refine which brightness levels contribute. Lower trail intensity or reduce blur opacity if the accumulated light covers important detail.
Does it work from a still image?
Yes. Motion Trails shifts and accumulates the selected highlights during playback. Let the effect develop before judging it, then change trail direction, dimming, and intensity to suit the composition.