How do I create this lighting overlay in Photoshop?

Question

I've tried experimenting with several Blending modes but keep missing the mark. I'm sure this has a very easy answer but I'm having trouble recreating the effect on my own.

Answer 1

I think I'd use Layer > New adjustment layer > Curves or Layer > New adjustment layer > Levels with a Layer mask.

1. Start with black and white image with the trees or what ever.
   • Black background and white foreground.
2. Select > All
3. Edit > Copy ( the tree layer )
   • You can hide the layer once you've copied it.
4. Layer > New adjustment layer > Levels
5. Layer > Layer mask > Hide all
6. Click the layer mask thumbnail while pressing down alt
7. Paste
8. Click the Levels adjustment layer 'thumbnail' to get out of the mask
   • Alternatively click another layer and select the Levels adjustment layer again.
9. Move the white arrow to the left until it starts to look a lot like your example image and increase the whiteness, if needed, by sliding the grey slider to the left as well.

Answer 2

Ok....but what did you try? what are your starting files?

There are many ways of doing this but since you are eager to use Blending modes, here you go:

1. have a tree or whatever without a background
2. convert the tree to B&W (shift + ctrl + u)
3. invert the tree (ctlr + i)
4. place it over the wood texture and use Color Dodge as a blending mode
5. further play with levels and opacity to achieve the desired effect

or

1. Do steps 1 and 2 from above
2. Do step 4 from above but use Divide instead of Color Dodge

Also, the final result mostly depends on your images