To test the plugin, I applied it to a standard, overcast landscape photo—a dull forest path with no sun visible.
Result: The flat image now had depth, direction, and a tangible mood. The entire process took roughly three minutes. Importantly, the plugin generated a new layer in Photoshop (keeping the original intact), and the mask was fully editable afterward.
Let’s run a quick workflow. You have a portrait shot on an overcast day—soft, even light, but boring.
Step 1: Duplicate & Convert Right-click your background layer > "Convert to Smart Object." Never run this plugin on a raw pixel layer. AutoFX Mystical Lighting Ambiance 2 0 Photoshop Plugin
Step 2: Apply the Plugin
Go to Filter > AutoFX > Mystical Lighting Ambiance 2.0. The interface opens.
Step 3: Choose a Starting Point Select the preset "Rim Light – Soft Gold." You’ll immediately see a golden halo appearing behind your subject’s hair and shoulders. Don't hit OK yet.
Step 4: Customize the Source Drag the little sun icon in the preview window. Put it in the top right corner. Now slide the "Ray Length" to 50 and "Ray Softness" to 80. You just created god rays coming from off-canvas. To test the plugin, I applied it to
Step 5: Masking (The Secret Sauce) Hit OK. The plugin returns you to Photoshop with a mask attached to the Smart Filter. Grab a soft black brush. Paint over your subject’s face. Voila. The light rays are now behind your subject (in the background), but the glow is still hitting the edges of their hair. This creates unbelievable separation from the background.
It is not for casual Instagram filter users or those who prefer fully procedural, non-destructive adjustment layers (since the plugin outputs a rendered pixel layer).
Light is the language of photography. The AutoFX Mystical Lighting Ambiance 2.0 plugin helps you speak that language fluently. By combining physical accuracy with Photoshop-native flexibility, it remains the industry standard for atmospheric effects. Result: The flat image now had depth, direction,
Whether you are resurrecting a dull landscape or building a fantasy realm, this plugin hands you the keys to the sun. Embrace the glow, master the volume, and watch your images come alive.
Have you used version 2.0? Share your before-and-after results in the comments below.
Let’s walk through a practical use case. Imagine you have a flat, overcast photo of a stone castle on a hill. You want dramatic, golden-hour god rays bursting from behind the turret.