Add Fireworks to a Photograph using Photoshop

We will open a random photo taken at day light and add exploding fireworks to it. We will also we will modify the whole picture to make it as realistic as possible, enjoy!

Open a random photo where we will add a fireworks.

I have opened a photograph from a beautiful city of Maribor, located in Slovenia. 

Click here to download a photo of a fireworks.

Click above on File and choose Place...

In a new window select the downloaded photograph and choose Place.

Now place and transform a photo of fireworks on document and confirm changes by pressing Enter.

Set blending mode of a layer with placed fireworks to Lighten (see my pic).

Select the Background layer (see my pic).

Now we will darken the daylight photo. If your photo is already taken in night, skip to step 8.

Click above on Layer, New Adjustment Layer and select Curves...

When a dialogue windows appears, click OK.

Set the same setting in Curves window like I did.

The photograph has been darkened.

Select the fireworks layer (see my pic).

Click Add layer mask.

Select Brush Tool (B).

Right click on document and select the same values like I did.

Press D key to set black color.

Now brush on areas where you would like to remove the fireworks.

Black key removes the brushed area, white color (press X key) appear it again. That is the beauty of mask.

Select the adjustment Curves layer.

Brush Tool must remain selected (B).

Set Opacity to 15% (see my pic) of brush tool.

Right click on document and select the same values like I did.

Using the mask tool again, brush on areas, where you want to lighten them as a effect of fireworks explosion lightning.

We are finished.

Also recommended:

  Create Christmas Trees and Snowflakes in Photoshop