15 Free Photoshop Light Leak Actions and Overlays

The vintage film overlay look has made its comeback in force with free light leaks! The light leak texture effect was traditionally created by openings (leaks) in film cameras. Light trickling through the body would prematurely expose the film, leading to some brilliant looks in the final photo.

Light leaks commonly show as bands of bright, colorful streaks over the top of your image.

As the film style has made its way into the digital era, so too have simulated light leaks! In this article, I'll show you a combination of free and premium light leak photo overlays in Adobe Photoshop.

Download Light Leak Photoshop Actions and Overlays

If you want to create realistic effects with a light leak photo overlay, check out what Envato Elements has to offer. Envato Elements is an all-you-can-download creative buffet of assets, templates, and graphics for your projects.

Elements' assets are hand-selected and reviewed, so you can spend less time searching for files and more time on the project at hand. This means you'll find some of the best light leak Photoshop actions and overlays available online.

Light Leaks Filter

Light Leak Overlays

Light Leak Texture

Light Leaks Photoshop

Light Overlay Photoshop

Light Leak Texture Photoshop Presets

Elements includes an impressive collection of light leaks for Photoshop. If you purchase a subscription to Elements, you can download and keep Photoshop actions, Lightroom presets, and so much more. Plus, there's no tie-in contract and you can cancel your subscription anytime.

Check out these film light leaks, included with an Elements subscription:

FilterGrade Light Leaks Photoshop Actions S1 (ATN)

If you want a pack of light leaks for Photoshop, we recommend the FilterGrade series. This pack includes 20 film light leaks. There's also a useful help file if you don't know how to install actions. It's hard to match this quality with a free light package for Photoshop.

FilterGrade Light Leaks Photoshop Actions S2 (ATN)

Here's another pack of film light leaks for Photoshop from FilterGrade. It also has 20 Photoshop leaks that work with a single click. On top of the free support and updates, you can also find video tutorials to get you started with your film camera overlay burn effect for Photoshop.

Bokeh & Light Leaks Backgrounds (JPG)

Need a light leak photo overlay? How about 15 of them? This Photoshop leaks pack also includes bokeh effects for eye-catching photo edits. These film light leaks add a retro touch without losing the modern side of your photos. Try them out!

Prism Light Leaks Film Camera Overlay (PSD)

This light leak Photoshop template is a great option to use as a vintage film overlay to edit your photos. It's great to use for dynamic shots like sports and performing arts photography. You can also adjust the colors to create light leak filters for different uses.

Red Light Leak Texture (PSD)

Use this light overlay Photoshop template to add a dramatic effect to your images. It works well with dark and high-contrast images. Make use of the red tones and add a warm, fiery look.

Prestalgia Light Leak Overlays (ATN)

These light leak overlays will bring a vintage film overlay quality to your projects. All the layers have easy-to-edit settings that you can use to tweak the light leak quality. Prestalgia offers a vintage look with a modern approach.

15 Free Light Leak Actions

Looking for light overlays in Photoshop for free? I've created a roundup of free light leak overlays for Photoshop. These links are a mix of actions (one-click styles to add light leaks) and light leak photo overlays, which are images you overlay on top of your own photo. Check the instructions on each page to find out how to use any of the free light packages for Photoshop.

1. Free Light Leaks Photoshop Actions

Looking for a cool light leak overlay for Photoshop? This free light package for Photoshop includes five actions. Add a film burn overlay in Photoshop to your photos.

2. Free Lomo Light Leaks Photoshop

There are 71 Photoshop overlays free to download in this photographer pack.

3. Free Retro Light Leak Overlay FREE

Try out the ten actions in this free light package for Photoshop. With this pack of free overlays for Photoshop, you can also create cool light leak textures.

4. Free Friabrisa Light Leak Filter Actions

Friabrisa is a cool option if you've been hunting for free light leaks online. It also works as a cool film light leak overlay.

5. Free Film Burn: Light Leak Overlay FREE

Looking for a film burn overlay for Photoshop? The pstutorialsws free film burn effect for Photoshop has a very authentic, realistic look.

6. Beautiful Flare and Haze Photoshop Overlays FREE

Here's a pack of beautiful overlays for Photoshop that are free to download and use. This could work as a cool film light leak overlay.

7. Free Light Leaks Photoshop Actions

Looking for a film light leak overlay? Get this set of 46 free Photoshop overlays for photographers.

8. Free Overlays Photoshop: Vintage Light Leak Action

Photography Planet has released this pack of light streak Photoshop actions for free. You'll get a nice light leak texture in your photos.

9. Photoshop Overlays Free: Vintage Light Leak Actions

Try out this light streak Photoshop action for free. An email address is required to download it.

10. Free Photoshop Light Leaks: Film Camera Overlay

Get this light leak overlay for Photoshop if you want a subtle effect. It looks like a cool film burn overlay in Photoshop. This light streak Photoshop action is free from the link above.

11. Free Photoshop Light Leaks Action

If you want Photoshop leaks for free, check out this option from Loaded Landscapes.

12. Coffee Shop Artistic Light Leak

The artistic results of this free Photoshop light streak action make your photos look great.

13. Free 24 Ultra Fade and Photoshop Light Leaks

You can download 12 free Photoshop overlays for photographers from the link above.

14. CoffeeShop Light Leak: Photoshop Overlays FREE

CoffeeShop has another excellent free light leak overlay for Photoshop with this one.

15. Creative Tacos: 4 Free Light Leaks

This pack of free light leaks is from Creative Tacos. The quality is great for free actions.

Make Your Own Film Burn Effect in Photoshop

If DIY is more your speed, then you'll love this film burn effect for Photoshop tutorial. Creating Photoshop light leak textures and effects isn't as hard as you think. Envato Tuts+ can walk you through the steps of creating an awesome light leak effect on your own. You can also find it as a video guide from our YouTube channel.

Recap & Keep Learning

This article helped you find some of the best-looking and easiest-to-use premium and free light leak overlays for Adobe Photoshop.

If you want to try out other creative styles for your images with actions, check out these articles next:

Here's a great 60-second tutorial to get started with Photoshop actions.
Melody Nieves has an amazing tutorial on how to create a sketch-style action in Photoshop.
Check out Indranil Saha's tutorial on How to Create a Wet Glass Action.

Keep learning how to create Photoshop light leaks and other effects, and find plenty of resources for your next creative project here: