Autofx Mystical Lighting - Ambiance 2 0 Photoshop Plugin
To understand how the plugin operates under the hood, here is a typical workflow for enhancing a moody, outdoor portrait: Step 1: Launch the Plugin
Add floating particles inside the light beam.
Reviewers noted that this was where "the real treasures lie in 2.0". Features like "Black Shade" could instantly add dramatic, jaw-dropping atmosphere, while "Shadow Play" allowed artists to elevate images to "whole new levels" by creating vast moods and dimensionality with careful shadow application. AutoFX Mystical Lighting Ambiance 2 0 Photoshop Plugin
| | AutoFX Mystical Lighting 2.0 | Adobe Photoshop (Modern CC) | Specialized Plugin (e.g., Boris FX Optics) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Lighting | Robust but via the unique "T-Path" system. | Advanced 3D lighting, ray tracing, and global illumination. | Extensive lens flares, lighting gels, and volumetric light effects. | | Atmospherics | Rain, snow, fog, smoke, haze. | Requires more manual blending. | Highly realistic and customizable particles and atmospheric effects. | | Ease of Use | Relatively user-friendly with many presets. | Steep learning curve. | Varies; often preset-focused and intuitive. | | Layering | Supports non-destructive layering within the plugin interface. | Layer-based with Smart Filters for non-destructive effects. | Typically supports non-destructive layering. | | Integration | Tightly integrated as a Photoshop plugin. | Native and fully integrated. | Fully integrated as Photoshop plugins. | | Price | Historically ~$389 (for full suite) but now effectively abandonedware. | $22.99/month (Photography plan). | Varies, typically $100-$300. | | Hardware Utilization | Known to be a memory hog, not optimized for modern hardware. | Highly optimized for multi-core processors and GPU acceleration. | Optimized for modern GPUs and CPUs. |
However, the creative techniques it pioneered are still in high demand. If you are looking to achieve similar effects today, you have a couple of options: To understand how the plugin operates under the
Add realistic, editable precipitation to your scenes.
: Creates light beams, sunbeams, rays, glows, and flares that stream into a scene. Shading & Depth | | AutoFX Mystical Lighting 2
The plugin’s claim to fame is its ability to create "Crepuscular rays"—those stunning beams of sunlight that break through clouds or forest canopies. Version 2.0 allows you to control:
Version 2.0 brings significant performance optimizations over its predecessors. Built to leverage modern multi-core processors and GPU acceleration, the rendering times for complex ray tracing and high-density fog calculations are noticeably faster, handling large-format RAW file conversions smoothly.
AutoFX Mystical Lighting Ambiance 2.0 is available for Windows and macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon via Rosetta). A fully functional 30-day trial is offered on the developer’s website.
