YOU’LL NEED THIS

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CC 2018 ONWARD

To view compatibility visit: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/systemrequirements.html.

WINDOWS 10

64-bit, version 1809 or later.

LOOKING TO ADD A LITTLE WOW factor to your images or create abstract cover art for a project? Adding a glow effect is a great way to achieve an eye-catching look. It can transform standardlooking imagery into unique art that can serve many purposes. We’re focusing on using the selection tools once again and refining edges to get a perfect perimeter. Refining an edge is a great way to select exactly what you want; sometimes AI can’t quite hack it.

Other areas we’re focusing on are blur and hue/saturation effects, and adding them together to create a nice even glow and an aesthetically pleasing end product. These effects enable you to create depth in an image, putting more emphasis on the area you want to glow. The part of the image you choose to glow is important—it needs to be at the top of the hierarchy, because it’s what people will look at first. Hopefully, by adding these tutorials to your artistic arsenal and putting your imagination to the test, you can create something visually grabbing.

–SAM LEWIS

1 PREPARE YOUR IMAGE

Like every tutorial so far, you need an image; try to find one with a subject in the foreground. We’re using a nature shot to showcase how to add a little sparkle to an image. Begin the same way as before: Load your image into Photoshop and make an original copy (Ctrl-J) to duplicate a layer. Rename the bottom layer “original [insert name],” then lock it, and hide it away. We’ve chosen a very interesting-looking frog for this example, and the end goal is to make its eyes glow.