Making a Brush from an Overlay

[Tmason]

Hey all you talented folks, I'm trying to see if there is a way to make a Photoshop Brush from an Overlay. Here is what I have going.... I bought a Christmas Tree Bokeh light overlay. To use it, you have to place it over your photo, resize & put the mode to screen. Easy enough but I need to do it about a million times and I'm wondering if it's possible to turn those lights into a brush. I've managed to make the brush from the overlay but the black background still shows. So I'm either missing a step or it's not even possible with screen mode. Anyone know the answer to my dilema? TIA

[Damien Symonds]

Can you show me what the overlay looks like?  A link to where you bought it from would be best.

[Tmason]

The link doesn't show the overlay at all... http://kerimeyersphotography.bigcartel.com/product/new-kmp-light-me-up-overlays

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, in that case, make a new file with a completely black background, and put the overlay on it, and show me that.

[Tmason]

I've managed to create the brush but the black still shows.

[Damien Symonds]

Great.  So now, with that file, add a Hue/Saturation layer and move the Saturation slider all the way to the left.

Then add a Levels layer and move the white slider to about 170.

Then add an "Invert" adjustment layer.

Then flatten the layers.

Then you'll be able to create the brush.

[Tmason]

OMG, ok I got everything right but my dots are black. So at what point did I do something wrong? lol

 

[Damien Symonds]

No, that's correct.

Now, when you're ready to paint it on, choose your orange colour in the toolbar first, then voila!

[Tmason]

Wow!!!! It worked! I cannot thank you enough and never ever would I have figured it out on my own! Many, many thanks! You are the man!