Glow Effect in Photoshop

10. Oct, 2010 15 Comments

“Glow effect in Photoshop” is not only a stunning tutorial rather gives you some tips and tricks about Photoshop.

This creative tutorial explores the layer style, pen tool and some filters. It is really a nice one because it not much difficult even produces very advanced effect. So get set go…

Step 1:

I have started with new file named it DesigningMall, width 500 pixels, height 400 pixels, RGB Color Mode and resolution 72.

Apply radial gradient having foreground color #922F00 (maroon type color) and Background color pure black #000000.

Step 2:

Now we have to create glowing intensity in the center, so Duplicate the current layer and set its blending mode to “Color Dodge”. Following screenshot gives you the exact idea how it should look like.

dm 2 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 3:

Now we have to create a cloudy effect. Create a new layer. Press D to make foreground and background colors default. Go to Filter > Render > Clouds. This will give you a random cloud pattern as shown below. Set blending mode to overlay and transparency to 30%.

dm 3 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 4:

Apply chrome effect, through Filter > sketch > chrome, by using default setting 4 and 7 for detail and smoothness respectively.

dm 4 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 5:

We will now create some curves. (Be sure the “Paths” option on the property bar, at the top is selected). Create a new layer and select Pen Tool. We have to create S – shape by three points. Simply click and drag the mouse to give this point a curvy effect, release the mouse and click again a little bit lower left side and again drag. Similarly release the mouse and make a third point on a suitable place.

dm 6 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 6:

Select Paintbrush Tool and choose a very thin, hard brush to avoid the blurry effects, I have used 3 px brush diameter

dm 7 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 7:

Select Pen Tool again, and Right Click on the created curve. In the popup menu select “stroke path” option. Select “brush” and don’t forget to choose “simulate pressure”. (Some time by default “pencil” option is here by default. You have to change it)

Right Click again and Delete Path

dm 8 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 8:

Now we will add some Glow to this curve by following three steps in Layer Style as shown below with specific the settings. (I will call it “Glow Style”)

First of all Drop shadow

dm 10 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Then Outer Glow

dm 11 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Finally Color Over lay (in case different color selected before)

dm 12 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Now your “Glow Style” is ready

dm 13 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Note: You can copy this “Glow Style” layer style and apply on different layers, which you will create soon. No need to create again and again

Step 9:

Repeat the curvy steps to create more curves and give an overall better effect.

You can choose thicker brush strokes to give thicker glow. And just copy/paste the layer style from the previous layer. See the screenshot to get better idea.

dm 14 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 10:

Add some text like I have added Designing Mall and my Name Moosa, and Some random big and small brush strokes.

Give them same layer style (Glow Style). Then you overall image will be like this.

dm 15 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Step 11:

Up to step no 10, the whole effect looks nice. But we can make it more attractive.

So create a new layer, and using a radial gradient, draw a blue to white gradient as shown.
dm 16 Glow Effect in Photoshop

Then set that layer to a blending mode to Color and change the opacity to 50%.

dm main Glow Effect in Photoshop

You can choose different colors for this step to get your desire mixing color effect. Any way our final image is ready. So have a nice Photoshop time.