How to make a glow in photoshop. Bright glow in Photoshop. Create a glowing edge effect from scratch with Photoshop

You will need

To add a glow effect in Photoshop, first of all, it is necessary that the object, the contours of which will glow, be on a separate layer. How to separate the object from the background has been written many times in other articles, we will not dwell on this now in our instructions.

Instructions

So, we have a separate layer with an object. To make it easier to adjust the glow parameters, it is advisable to put under another layer of a dark color, against which all the nuances will be.

Select the object layer. Go to Layer\u003e Layer Style\u003e Outer Glow (Glow outside), or click on the "fx effect" in the layers panel.

We see in front of a fairly extensive field for settings:

- glow color; it can be solid or change its color, depending on the distance to the object.

- the width of the halo and the intensity of the glow

- you can also vary the glow blending algorithm - the Lighten and Screen modes are all suitable
Thus, we adjust the glow of the object's outline to the outside. After that, go to the next tab Inner Glow (Glow inward). The settings are similar here.
To look natural, you need to remember that even if, according to the logic of things, the object glows only outward, then any optical system, including the human eye, due to the non-absolute transparency of the cornea and lens, slightly blurs bright highlights, they look beyond the boundaries of the source, therefore with an intense glow outside the Outer Glow contour, inside it all you need to play along with a light Inner Glow glow.

In our composition, there can be any number of layers with objects, each of which can be customized with individual parameters - the color of the glow and its character.
In addition, if we want to depict a separate point light source, we can use the Lens Flare filter (in the menu Filer\u003e Render\u003e Lens Flare), which simulates the reaction of various photographic lenses when a bright light source appears in the frame. This way we can add any number of luminaries, lamps and spotlights to the composition.

By varying and combining glow effects, applying them to different layers, we can achieve very vivid and memorable - fantastic and realistic results.

Blend Modes

Blending Modes let you set the blending mode of the Outer Glow with the layer. If you are creating a glow effect, then Linear Dodge or Screen are good, if you want to create an effect like an outer shadow, it is better to use Linear Burn or Multiply "(Multiply), if you are creating a stroke, the mode" Normal "will do.

Opacity

This parameter adjusts the transparency of the Outer Glow. A value of 0% makes it completely transparent. those. invisible, 100% is completely opaque.
The parameter is fully consistent with that in "Shadows" and other layer styles.

Noise

This parameter is also similar to those in Shadows and others. Increasing the Noise value gives a grainier glow, and can be used to create effects like "glowing dust".

The example shows the left text with a noise value of 0%, the right one - 62%

Color and Gradient

"Color" allows you to change the color of the glow.
If the "Gradient" radio button is turned on, then your possibilities are not limited to just one color, with the help of several gradient colors and transitions you can create very complex and abstract glowing effects:

The example shows an orange color and a rainbow gradient:

Method (Technique)

The "Method" drop-down list gives us two different options for rendering (rendering) the glow, soft and precise (Softer and Precise). The "Soft" method gives us a more organic and natural glow with smooth transitions, blurring and rounded corners, while the "Precise" method makes the glow more closely match the shape of the object from which it comes.

In the following example, you can see the difference between soft organic and precise methods:

Spread

The Swipe option changes the decrease in the intensity of the glow linearly, or in other words, changes how it fades out as you approach the edge.

Usually this parameter is left at 0%, but if you need sharp edges of the light, you need to increase its value. A value of 100% gives a sharp edge.

The figure shows Span values \u200b\u200bof 0 and 60%

Size (Size)

The option name speaks for itself. This adjustment lets you resize the glow in one pixel increments.

Contour

Contour shapes allow you to change the fade out to the edges in a non-linear fashion. By choosing different curve profiles, you can get different light attenuation. Using "Outline" can be useful when you are trying to achieve a special type of glow or any kind of abstract effects.
Additionally, the Smoothing checkbox will improve the quality of the radiance with very little performance degradation, so I recommend that you always check it.

The figure shows the effect a sinusoidal circuit can have:

Range

The Range option is similar to the Swipe option. It allows you to control the falloff of the glow towards the edge in much the same way.
A lower value gives us a harder glow, while a higher value gives us a softer one.

The following example shows how the Range value affects the softness of the light:

Jitter

While Range is similar to Swing, Wobble is similar to Noise. The difference is that Noise creates transparency for adjacent pixels using the Normal blending mode, while Wobble does the same in a blending mode similar to Overlay.

done in the same way as a layer style

How to add a colorful glow in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create an interesting glow and add mood to an image. For this we will use blending modes (blending options), selection tools and a bit of your imagination.

Before processing.

After.

Let's start. Open the image to which you want to apply the effect. The author chose this.

Step 1.You need to separate the girl from the background. Do it with
using the method that works best for you. Author
used the tool Pen
(Pen Tool), drawing a path around the girl's figure, you need to close the contour,
form a selection. Set the feather to 1 px.

Step 2.Copy the selection (Ctrl + C) and insert (Ctrl + V) it to a new layer, name the layer "Girl».

Step 3.Duplicate the layer "Girl". Apply an adjustment to a copy of this layer. Brightness / Contrast on the menu Image - Correction(Image\u003e Adjustments\u003e Brightness and Contrast).

Step 4.Select the layer "Girl". Go to the menu Filter - Blur - Motion Blur(Filter\u003e Blur\u003e Motion Blur). We set these settings Angle (Angle) - 40 degrees, Bias (Distance) - 120. Merge layers "Girl" and a copy of it.

Step 5. with a girl and call him "Smoke". Using the tool Lasso (Lasso Tool) Draw the area around the girl. Blend 150 px.

Step 6.Make sure your foreground color is white and background color - the black. Now go to the menu Filter - Rendering - Clouds (Filter\u003e Render\u003e Clouds). After that set the blending mode for this layer. Overlapping (Overlay).

Step 7.Create a new layer below the layer "Smoke" and call it "Gradient". Select Tool Gradient (Gradient Tool) and click to bring up the Gradient Editor. Set the foreground color # c6229e and the background color # 1dbdda... In the instrument settings, set Linear... Draw a gradient from the top left corner to the bottom right corner and set the opacity of this layer to 60%.

Step 8.Put on a layer "Gradient"blend mode Overlapping (Overlay) then merge layers " Smoke" and "Gradient".
You should look like the screenshot below. Can
experiment with different gradient color combinations and others
blend modes for the "Gradient" layer.

Step 9.Create a new layer below the layer "Gradient" and call it "Glow". Using white soft Brush (Brush), paint over the edges of the girl. This will create the effect of heat behind the girl.

Step 10.Make the tool active Brush(Brush
tool), go to the brush settings palette (F5) and enter the following
settings as shown in the screenshots below. Save this brush,
pressing Save new brush (Create New Brush)and name it "Splash".
Then you can select it again in the brushes palette and use it later.
Draw the adjusted brush over the image as in the picture below.
Achieve the desired effect.

Step 11.Create a new layer, name it "Stripes". The name speaks for itself. We're going to make glowing stripes. To make them, select the tool Polygonal lasso
(Polygonal Lasso Tool) and create a triangle. Then using white
With a soft brush, paint on the opposite side of the base of the triangle. You
you can also experiment with different shapes and sizes to
create the effects you want.

Step 12.Now let's make lighting on the girl herself. To do this, create a new layer above the layer "Girl" and set its blending mode to Lightening the base
(Color Dodge). Load the outline of the girl you made earlier in
contours palette or use the key combination Ctrl + click on
thumbnail layer with a girl. The selection will load. Using the tool Psucker(Eyedropper
Tool), choose the color of the glow around the girl we made
earlier and in the same color, with a soft brush, we draw along the inner
the outline of the selected area.

Step 13.Now we will create the light lines. Create a new layer called "Lines" above the girl layer. Supply color foreground (foreground color) white, select tool Brush (Brush Tool) and open the brush settings window. Choose a soft brush, about 9 px. In the tab Form dynamics (Shape Dynamics) set Size fluctuation (size jitter control) on pen pressure (Pen Pressure). This will give the brush strokes an interesting effect.

Step 14.Using the tool Pen (Pen tool), create some lines (see screenshot). After that press RMB and select the option - Stroke the path (Stroke Path). The settings window will open. You need to put in it Brush (Brush) and check the box Simulate pressure(Simulate Pressure). Click OK. After that, your pen lines will be outlined with a brush.

Step 15.Now double click on the lines layer to bring up Layer styles (Blending Options). Applicable External glow (Outer Glow). Use the settings as in the screenshot below.

Step 16.With a layer mask, if desired, you can
remove some parts of the lines that fall on the girl. And
can add more elements to the image to force it
look even more unique.

Here is the final image.

While studying this lesson, I made this picture.

In this article, we will tell you how to use Photoshop create a full glowing wallpaper.
We will use own brushes, multiple blending modes, lighting and blur modes.
This article was written using free sources and you can easily reproduce the whole process following from point to point. In order to facilitate the general task, we have attached the PSD source at the very bottom of the article, which can be easily used for reference.

Here is a preview of the finished image ...

→ Stage 1
Create a document in Photoshop in rGB mode with an extension of 1400x900 pixels. Paint the background with black. Create a new word, rename it "BG" or something like that, and paint over it with radial gradation (# 55015F - # 000000). Drag from the center to any border of the document as shown in the image below.

→ Stage 2
Select the "GB" layer, then go to Filter\u003e Distort\u003e Twirl with a set value of 250. Click OK and see what happens.

→ Stage 3
Now insert your image. I took advantage of the bouncing roller. Since I am very creative, I named this layer "roller guy".

→ Stage 4
Now define the shape of the character. Open the Channels menu, hide everything except the blue channel, then select white background magic wand. Click on the RGB layer that is in the Channels palette, then switch back to the layer overview. Increase your feather a few pixels and delete it.

→ Stage 7
Merge the copied layer with a new clean layer. Then go to Layer\u003e Layer Mask, Reveal all, and using a soft black brush paint over the face, arms and pants of the character on the layer mask. You should end up with something similar to the bottom of this image.

→ Stage 8
Connect the original layer with the character and its copy, rename the resulting layer with any name. (If you put these layers into folders, then copy and join the folder). Then use the Dodge and Burn tools on some areas of the resulting layer.

→ Stage 9
Duplicate the resulting layer, and convert the copy to a Smart Object. Next select this smart object and go to Filter\u003e Blur\u003e Radial Blur, set the modes to "Zoom" and best quality, apply this filter three times in a row (for easier repetition, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F). Finally, change the blending mode of the copy of the character layer to Linear Dodge.

→ Stage 10
Duplicate the character layer again, convert it to Smart Object and apply a radial blur filter, but this time move the center of the blur a little to the left. Apply this filter several times, then position the second copy of the character layer above all other layers and change its blending mode to Linear Dodge.

→ Stage 11
Now download this set of brushes: (Downloads: 59)... Add one single shape to a new layer, name it something like Brush1. Use this color # E700FF.

→ Stage 12
Add a gradient cover to the Brush1 layer using the colors shown below. Then position this layer above the "BG" layer. Finally, add an Outer Glow filter.

→ Stage 13
Now add new source light over the character, use the brush shown below and color # E700FF. Also add an outer glow and change the blending mode of the layer to "Screen".

→ Stage 14
Add two more glowing brushes repeating the effect of the previous layer.

→ Stage 15
Select the layer with the character and both copies, place them in a folder and give it an appropriate name, mix the folder (merge), duplicate the layer and place it behind the original. Select the copy of the layer and go to Edit\u003e Free transform... Next, reduce and twist the character a little. You can do this as much as you see fit.

→ Stage 16
Now hide all the layers with the character, show the smallest one and apply a layer mask, fill it with a radial gradient from black to white. Then repeat this with each individual copy of the character.

→ Stage 17
Now we will add we will add a diffused light complex in order to add brightness to the image. Change the blending mode ( Blending Mode) of each layer with the character for dissolve (Dissolve). Then lower the transparency of the copies to 75%, 70%, 65% and 60% in that order. Now merge all the copies into one layer, rename it as a copy of the main layer and place the copy above the original in the layers panel.

→ Step 18
Next, apply a layer mask on the copy of the layer with the character Layer mask\u003e Reveal all, after that, using a soft black brush, paint the layer mask so as to hide some areas of the diffused glow.

→ Step 19
Hide the scattered layer for a while. Now quickly adjust the "Hue / Saturation" settings of the background layer Brush1 to improve the lighting. Also add white light behind the character using one of these brushes: (Downloads: 147).

→ Stage 20
To complete the ambient light effect, render a copy of the character layer again, add an outer glow effect (using the parameters given below). Next apply Filter\u003e Blur\u003e Gausian Blur with Radius set to 7.2, then click OK.

Final result

That's all! An easy and fast way to create a conceptual glowing wallpaper!

Download PSD source:

Attention! You do not have permission to view hidden text.

We would be very pleased if you, having studied this article, published your own work in the comments to this article. 03/01/15 3.5K

I looked at some of last works Michael Reichmann. And I was amazed by one of the photographs from the exhibition in Seville. Michael added a diffuse glow to the group of women and it really made a very special impression.

This gave the photo a dreamy expression, as if the image was actually created from light. Michael took a great image and refined it:

Wigs - Seville, Spain. April 2004

Typically, slow shutter speeds were used to create the glow for photographs with film. Likewise, infrared photographs produce this eerie glow. With Photoshop, we can add a diffuse glow very quickly and easily.

Adding a diffuse glow

Adding a diffused glow in Photoshop is achieved through a combination of blur techniques, layer blend modes, and blend modes. Instead of blurring all the images, we add a glow to the object in the desired range of tones. We can add saturation and sharpness to the tones, thus without sacrificing image detail:

Figure 2. Macro view of Rudbeckia flower, Maclay Garden, Tallahassee, Florida

This photo of a flower is a great example of diffuse blur. The softened petals add interesting touches to the image, but it is important to preserve the fine details of the flower's “eye”.

Adding a diffused glow begins by duplicating the layer. Then merge layers Alt-Ctrl-Shift-N-E on PC ( Option-Command-Shift-N-E on Mac). This will merge all visible layers into one layer without anti-aliasing.

(If you don't have enough memory or prefer to work with fewer layers, then you can smooth the image. All you need to do in this case is to create a copy of the background layer using Ctrl-J):

Figure 3. Creating a diffuse glow begins by adding a merged layer to add a blur filter effect. Then the merged layer is duplicated

We need to soften the top layer. Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur perfect for this. It is used to smoothly blur small details in an image.

Adjust the radius using the blur options. For the diffuse glow, we need to set it high enough to soften the image, but not enough to blur all the details in the image. I chose 25 pixels for this image:

Figure 4. Gaussian blur with a radius of 25 pixels significantly increases the softness of image details

When you apply " Gaussian blur”, The details are scattered. This creates a glowing halo. When the layer " Gaussian Blur " mixed with the main layer, the details soften, as a result of which the glow becomes more pronounced.

The next step is creative choice. You must select a blending mode for the layer “ Gaussian blur»:

"Darken" or "Multiply" will darken the details of the image and soften and add a glow to it. Ideal for soft, expressive eyeshadow;
Lighten or Highlight, on the other hand, will lighten the image. Ideal for adding highlights or accentuated glow;
Soft Light and Overlay add contrast and saturation. These are my favorite blend modes for landscapes and still lifes;
I decided that for the flower image in Figure 2 I needed to add contrast and saturation, so I applied the blending mode "Overlay":

Figure 5. Layers palette after applying "Gaussian Blur\u003e" (25 pixels) and setting the blending mode to Overlay

The blending mode of the layer "Overlay" made the petals of the flower more expressive. They became almost oily in appearance, both in color and texture. Opacity 100% is too much. So I reduced it to 80%:

Figure 6. The petals have taken on a creamy, soft shade. Unfortunately, the shadows of the details are gone too

If all we wanted to do was soften the image, we could basically stop there. The secret to adding a diffuse glow is also to limit the halo in some tonal areas. Black and white image a child, for example, might become more interesting if the "high tones" glow were applied only to selected areas, perhaps at a brightness of one quarter tone.

I liked the look of the petals in Figure 6. At the same time, the sharpness in the middle of the flower was noticeably reduced. I went to great lengths to capture as many of these details as possible. I used a Canon 180mm “L” Macro lens with a fast shutter speed (2 sec at f / 18) to get the details with sufficient sharpness.

Some may prefer to leave the "eye" blurred. I wanted to sharpen the details of the original image. My solution was to adjust the blending option "Blend If:" for the layer " Gaussian blur».

Use the Blend If: option to reduce the glow

There are four sliders in the Layer Style dialog box that are given very little attention in most Photoshop books. These are the Blend If: setting options. Some books don't mention them at all.

To access them, you need to open the Layer Style dialog box. You can do this in one of three ways:

Double-clicking the layer thumbnail. ( For an adjustment layer, double click on the layer to the right of the layer name);
By going to Layer - Layer Style - Blending Options through the main menu;
By going to Add Layer Style - Blend Options via the layers palette menu:

Figure 7. Sliders "Blend if:"

The Blend If: options let you specify which pixels of the active layer and the main visible layers appear in the final image. You can also specify a range of partially overlapping pixels to smooth out the transitions between blended and unblended areas of the image.

You can use black and white Blend If: values \u200b\u200bto specify the range of pixels on the active layer that will blend with the visible layers below. When you move the white slider towards the center, the pixel values \u200b\u200bof the active layer to the right of it remain intact. They are ignored.

If you move the black slider towards the center, the pixel values \u200b\u200bof the active layer to the left of the slider are ignored. This allows you to limit the influence of the active layer on shadows, midtones ( by moving both sliders towards the center) or backlight.

If you Alt-click on the slider, it will be split in two. With the split halves, you can define the partial ranges of the overlaid pixels.

To explain how the Blend If sliders work, I created a bar chart. After that, I duplicated it and rotated it 180 degrees, adding this copy to the image as a new layer:

Figure 8. Black and white diagram to test how the "Blend If:" sliders work

Figure 9. Complete set of test settings for comparison different settings "Apply if:"

With the default Blend If: settings, each pixel in the active layer is blended with pixels from the visible layers below it.

The name of the scale "Bottom Layer" is not entirely correct. Its black and white sliders define the pixel range of all the main visible layers that will blend with the active layer. Its action is not limited to just the layer immediately below the active layer.

Now, one important thing to know about the Bottom Layer scale! As you move the black slider towards the center, pixel values \u200b\u200bto the left of it are excluded from blending. One might assume that this means that they are ignored and the pixels of the active layer are used to display the image. But in fact the opposite is happening!

Instead of being excluded, pixels with these values \u200b\u200b"punch" onto the active layer and replace its pixels. So be careful with adjusting the Bottom Layer sliders.

Let's take a look at some examples. We'll start by looking at black and white diagrams, where the top diagram represents the active layer and the bottom diagram represents the visible image layers below it:

Figures 10a - 10b. The black and white chart on top represents the active layer. The black and white chart below it represents the visible underlying layers

If you drag the black "This Layer" slider towards the center, from 0 to 50, pixels of the active layer darker than 50 will be ignored. These are the pixels on the right side of the top black and white chart.

Since these black pixels are not blended and ignored, it means that white pixels from the underlying image on the right side of Figure 11 will appear. White pixels will replace dark ones. As a result, the black and white diagram will contain white pixels at both ends:

Figure 11. When the black slider "This layer" is set to 50, the shadows of the active layer are ignored and we get white pixels at both ends

This is another point that needs clarification. When you drag the slider and exclude pixels from blending or set them to overlap the active layer, those pixels can be completely different from the active layer. Therefore, as you can see from the above example, highlights will not necessarily be replaced by highlights or shadows with shadows.

If instead you set the black slider slider "This Layer" to 0 and drag the black slider slider " Underlying level"By 50, then the shadows of the underlying layers will" break through "to the active layer and replace the pixels of the active layer. We will get dark pixels at both ends, as in Figure 12:

Figure 12. The black slider of the "Underlying Layer" slider is set to 50, which allows the shadows of the underlying layers to "break through" to the active layer

With various combinations of Blend If: sliders and ALT-clicking them, you can apply diffuse glow with surgical precision and blend the effects very smoothly.

Back to the flower

I wanted to remove the diffuse glow from the dark areas where the image would lose important details. Quick setup black slider slider "This layer" parameter "Blend if:" returned the depth of the dark areas.

When you adjust the Blend If: sliders, you can see the result interactively. You can see the changes in the image after each of your actions. I zoomed in to 100% and monitored the details of the flower's “eye” as I made changes using the black This Layer slider in the Blend If: option.

I found that by setting it to 55, I recovered enough dark tone information from the underlying visible layers to add more detail to the image without making the "eyes" too flashy as in Figure 2:

Figure 13. Settings of the "Blend If:" parameter, which restore the dark details of the flower's "eye"

Figure 14. Balanced adjustment through the black slider of the slider "This layer" of the blending option "Blend If:" allows you to restore some of the dark details that might be lost when blurring the petals

Conclusion

A combination of blur, modes, and blending techniques can be used to add a diffused glow to an image. This technique can be used in wedding photos to add a romantic touch to images of a bride in a white wedding dress.

Portrait photographers can use it to soften the facial features of a subject and add sparkle to a glow or luscious, flowing shadows. Landscape photographers can use this techniqueto increase the contrast and soften tones:

Figure 15. Sunrise at St Marx, St Marx, Florida. 10px Gaussian Blur

Blending Mode - Soft Light, Opacity - 80%. The black slider on the This Layer slider for Blend If: is set to 10.

To apply this technique, we first use " Gaussian blur". The challenge is to add saturation by creating a glowing halo while retaining important details.

The next steps are to select the appropriate blend mode and then adjust the Blend If: option to preserve important details. Various effects can be achieved using the blend modes and the Blend If: setting.

This publication is a translation of the article "Giving Your Photos A Glow", prepared by the friendly project team

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