By Design Bundles
Photoshop Tutorials4 min
How to Make an Easy Glow Effect in Photoshop
For this tutorial, we are using a Ladybug Photo from the Plus Hub.
In Photoshop, open the image you chose to work with.
Right-click on top of its thumbnail and choose Create Smart Object. This will allow you to apply filters and other modifications non-destructively and preserve the original image making the applied filters Smart Filters.
A small icon should appear on the bottom right portion of the thumbnail indicating that your object is now a Smart Object.
To blur the background of your photo, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
And use a 15 pixel radius.
In the bottom-right side of the thumbnail (smart filters), double-click the small icon to open the Blending Options window and change it to Soft Light.
You can also use other modes like Overlay.
This is how Lighten worked with our image.
And here it is when using Darken.
And finally with Hard Light. Play around with different Blending Modes combinations to achieve various effects.
You can also change the Opacity.
Duplicate your Smart Object (command/control + J).
Use a Blending Mode on the duplicate (we used Hue).
And also apply a Blending Mode to the Smart Object if you want (we used Luminosity).
You can achieve different results by mixing and matching Blending Modes.
If you liked this tutorial make sure to check out our guides on perspective cropping in Photoshop and using the spot healing brush in Photoshop.
Step 1- Open Your Image
In Photoshop, open the image you chose to work with.
Step 2- Make a Smart Object Layer
Right-click on top of its thumbnail and choose Create Smart Object. This will allow you to apply filters and other modifications non-destructively and preserve the original image making the applied filters Smart Filters.
A small icon should appear on the bottom right portion of the thumbnail indicating that your object is now a Smart Object.
Step 3- Blur the Background
To blur the background of your photo, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
And use a 15 pixel radius.
Step 4- Change the Blending Mode
In the bottom-right side of the thumbnail (smart filters), double-click the small icon to open the Blending Options window and change it to Soft Light.
You can also use other modes like Overlay.
This is how Lighten worked with our image.
And here it is when using Darken.
And finally with Hard Light. Play around with different Blending Modes combinations to achieve various effects.
You can also change the Opacity.
Step 5- Add More Layers and Effects
Duplicate your Smart Object (command/control + J).
Use a Blending Mode on the duplicate (we used Hue).
And also apply a Blending Mode to the Smart Object if you want (we used Luminosity).
You can achieve different results by mixing and matching Blending Modes.
If you liked this tutorial make sure to check out our guides on perspective cropping in Photoshop and using the spot healing brush in Photoshop.
Related Tutorials
Photoshop Tutorials
How to Make a Peeling Sticker Effect in Photoshop
Make a peeling sticker effect in Photoshop with this tutorial.
Photoshop Tutorials
How to Make a Graffiti Text Effect in Photoshop
Learn how to create a realistic grafitti text effect in Photoshop.
Photoshop Tutorials
How to Make a Halftone Effect in Photoshop
Learn how to make a halftone effect in Photoshop and how to change the colors of the halftone effect
Photoshop Tutorials
Easy Matte Black Photo Effect in Photoshop
Photoshop Tutorials
How to Make an Easy Duotone in Photoshop
Learn how to create duotones in this Photoshop tutorial to make cool photos you can display anywhere
Photoshop Tutorials
