Add Cinematic Magic to Your Photos With Sci-Fi & Fantasy Lens Flares

Few effects evoke instant drama quite like a lens flare. Whether it’s the blinding glow from a starship’s engine, the light cast from a sorcerer’s wand, or the shimmer of a fairy’s wings, lens flares have become a visual hallmark in science fiction and fantasy storytelling. You’ve seen them in blockbuster movie posters, graphic novels, fantasy book covers, and video games – and now, with BeFunky’s Lens Flare tool, you can bring that same cinematic energy to your own photos, no advanced editing software required.

In this article, we’ll show you how to use BeFunky’s Lens Flare effects to quickly add a sci-fi or fantasy flair to your images right from your browser (or even your phone). We’ll also show you how to combine Lens Flare effects with other tools in the Photo Editor to make your photos even more fantastical. In just a few clicks, you’ll be able to create the cinematic photo edits of your dreams, from moody intergalactic scenes to enchanted forest moments. Let’s get started!

How to Turn Any Photo Into A Sci-Fi or Fantasy Scene With Lens Flares

Whether you’re designing sleek sci-fi portraits or dreamy fantasy landscapes, lens flares help anchor your scene in a compelling visual world. Here are two short tutorials on using BeFunky’s Lens Flare effects to create cinematic movie magic. Whichever scenes you’re interested in creating, you can start editing your photos directly in the Lens Flare effects category of the Photo Editor. 

Add an Enchanted Glow to Fantasy Photos

First, choose a photo that already feels a little bit magical – forest backdrops, golden hour portraits, or cosplay shots are perfect. Even a simple image with good lighting and a whimsical outfit can become something extraordinary with the right lens flare.

Pick a Lens Flare effect that’s concentrated in a particular spot such as Warm Sun. Consider changing the color to something like gold, rose, or soft violet, which add a natural sense of enchantment. Consider placing the flare at the tip of a wand, centered on a hand or object, or gently peeking through tree branches. You can adjust the intensity using the slider to create a bright radiance without overpowering your subject. 

Enhance the magic of your photo using the Glow tool. You can customize the settings to make the fantasy feel even dreamier.

Our original image was already on-brand with a fantastical setting and costume design, but a lens flare paired with BeFunky's other Photo Editing tools elevated the aesthetic even further.

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Add Futuristic Flares to Sci-Fi Stills

Choose an image that already suggests a story. Think neon lighting, otherworldly backdrops, or someone wearing a futuristic pair of sunglasses or a helmet. Here we’re choosing a space-themed photoshoot that looks like it takes place on another planet. 

Then, select a cool-toned flare like Strobe, or an anamorphic flare like Iris or Elysium. You can also combine multiple lens flares for even greater depth. Click and drag to place your flare near a light source, horizon, or reflective surface, and adjust the intensity to your liking using the adjustment slider. 

Finish by adjusting the photo's overall tone with Photo Editor tools like the Color Mixer and Vignette to make your final image look like a cinematic still. 

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5 More Magical & Futuristic Ways to Use Lens Flares

Want to push your photos even further into the realms of sci-fi or fantasy? These five ideas will help set the scene and expand your visual storytelling with creative light play:

Futuristic Portraits

Add a sharp, blue-toned flare near a subject’s eye, helmet, or visor to mimic cybernetic enhancements or holographic interfaces. You can also place an anamorphic flare like Performance along neon signs and city lights to add a cyberpunk feel. Colored flares placed off canvas can suggest lighting from a spacecraft or virtual interface. Pair flares with a metallic texture to complete the futuristic look.

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Wands and Spells

Position the lens flare at the tip of a wand or staff, or shining from the depths of a book or hand, to simulate a spellcaster’s glow. An intense golden or violet flare works great for higher energy scenes like battles and summonings. Here we’ve used Glint at the tip of the wand and added a fantastical background with the Portrait Relight effect Moonlit Campfire – complete with new dramatic lighting. 

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Neon Cityscapes

Turn any regular nighttime street shot into a full-blown cyberpunk still. Use bright flares in electric pinks, purples, or teals and position them around windows, street lamps, and distant buildings to bring your futuristic metropolis to life. Combine these with BeFunky’s Vibrance and Glow tools to enhance the drama.

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Enchanted Forests

Use delicate, diffused flares filtering through trees to add ethereal light to woodland scenes. Subtle flares in peach, gold, or light pink mimic fairy lights or magical sunbeams breaking through branches. This example combines Warm Sun and Sunny Day with the Blur Edges tool to make the final result more romantic.

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Portals and Rifts

Combine lens flares with circular overlays or gradient masks to simulate dimensional tears or magical portals. Position your flare at the center or edge of the portal to give it an active, glowing center. This example uses Elysium.

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Let the Light In With Lens Flare Effects

Lens flares aren’t just a stylistic choice – they’re an effective storytelling device and an efficient shortcut to more cinematic photos. Whether you’re creating a space opera, a futuristic dystopia, a wizarding world or an ancient enchanted forest, the right flare can transform your photo into a full visual narrative. It’s never been easier to get that big-screen look right from your browser. Add your own magic today with BeFunky’s Lens Flare effects!

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