Watch our one-minute video overview of this technique and see the steps below.

Photography

Use Adobe Photoshop to create a neon effect.

Follow graphic artist Erica Larson as she demonstrates how to easily light up an image by adding a neon effect in Adobe Photoshop.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Connect the dots and design your glow

Step 1: Draw a shape

Step 2: create the glow, step 3: convert and mask, step 4: hide and reveal.

Shine bright

How to give images that neon vibe.

Work along side graphic artist Erica Larson as she guides you through the four easy steps using Photoshop tools to add a cool neon effect. Experiment with neon’s unique colors with Inner glow, Outer glow, and Blend Mode tools, plus learn how to draw shapes on images, add masks, hide orreveal areas to highlight favorite details, and more.

Connect the dots and design your glow.

Headshot of Erica Larson – Adobe associate creative art director, designer, and artist

Erica Larson  dreams up inspired designs every day as an Associate Creative Director on the Adobe Studio team. She makes stuff that makes others want to make stuff.

Before you begin.

Use these  or practice with your own.

Using the Pen tool , Larson clicked three points to draw a triangle around the hand. You can draw any shape on your image and, with the new Shape layer selected, click on the Add Layer Style icon from the Layers panel and choose Outer Glow.

Use the Pen tool in Photoshop to add a vector shape, then add an outer glow layer style in Adobe Photoshop

Experiment with different colors and settings for the Outer Glow. Larson settled on a vivid magenta. Then she set an Inner Glow, changed the Blend Mode to Multiply, and applied the same magenta color.

Set an inner glow on the shape layer, set blending mode to multiple

Larson right-clicked on the Shape layer and chose Convert To Smart Object . Then she added a mask to the Shape layer.

Convert shape layer to Smart Object and add Photoshop mask

Larson wanted to hide the triangle just behind the wrist. To hide parts of your neon shape, set the Brush tool to black, select the mask (the white icon on the layer), and brush to remove those sections. To reverse the effect, simply change the brush color to white and paint on the mask to reveal detail again.

Brush with black to create photoshop mask to hide parts of the shape in front of the wrist and thumb

Shine bright.

From computer screens to movie marquees, neon design is everywhere—now it’s time for you to design your own and shine bright..

Composite image with neon triangle around hand is on the screen of a mobile phone placeholder image

Note: Project files included with this tutorial are for practice purposes only.

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How to create a neon glow in Photoshop, layer style and font included.

Colin smith, how to make a neon glow in photoshop tutorial.

I’m going to show you how to create neon text in Photoshop using Layer Styles. There are a couple of cool Layer styles tips you will pick up in this tutorial.

Download assets

  • You can get the font here   (I offer no support for the font, I’m not affilated with the creator in any way).
  • Download the photo here
  • Extra bonus, here is the layer style ready for use.

Here we have a nice brick wall to put it against.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Let’s add some type, with the type tool.

Type in PSCafe. or whatever you want to say. Use the options bar at the top to change the type size.

I found a free font called Neon Tubes 2 (link at top)

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Zoom into 100% by double click the magnifying glass. Hold the space bar and drag to position your window.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

2. Creating the Neon Effect in Photoshop (Layer Styles)

With our type layer selected, go down to the layer styles where it says fx. Click and choose color overlay.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

The Layer Effects dialog box will open.

Set color overlay to white by clicking the color swatch.  I probably could have just created white text in the first place, but it doesn’t matter.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Let’s give this a neon color. Choose the inner glow and click on it to bring up its options.

Choose a color with the color picker, grab a nice neon blue, or choose whatever color you want. It could be yellows, pinks, whatever you want.

Change blend mode from screen to normal.

Adjust the size and turn the opacity all the way up. Now you have two options, center or edge, we’re going to use edge.

We’re starting to get a little neon color around the edges of our type. That’s great.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Go down to our outer Glow and give it a bluish color

Choose normal blend mode, and let’s increase our size.

Set opacity to 86

We have  a nice haze.  We need  another glow on the inside, which is going to give off a brighter color.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Now, notice that there’s only one outer glow option. What do we do?

We can cheat, we can use the drop shadow as an outer glow. In fact, it works very similar if we set the distance to zero.

Choose a color. Give it some blue, but not too much.

Turn our capacity up and  increase the size. Change to normal blend mode and see how it starts to glow.

Bring the size down just a little bit and increase our spread. As we increase the spread it makes it thicker and soften it with the size and notice a little bit goes a long, long way with that.

Finally adjust the opacity.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

We’ve got our neon tubes going, let’s give this a little bit of a glow around the background area.

Grab our rectangular Marquee tool and make a rectangular selection around the area of the neon.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Select>modify>Feather and make it really big. I used 177, it’s going to create a big soft edge.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Click to add an Adjustment layer. Choose curves.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Push the curves up in the midtone area.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

And if you wanted to do a little bit of the color, chooose the Blue channel (Click RGB and change to Blue) and boost it.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Grab the Red channel and reduce it a little.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

One of the neat things about this effect is that we can change it at any time, just grab our type to select our type and type in whatever you like.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

If you want to finish this effect, you could create some wires behind the type, and even paint a little blue onto some of the facing surfaces for a little bit of reflection. But I want to kee this tutorial simple and to the point.

Thanks for checking out this tutorial! New Photoshop tuts added each week.

Browse our hundreds of other free tutorials here , or search for what you are looking for in the search at the top of the page.

You can also browse by topics in the free tutorials menu. 

If you are ready to get serious about Photoshop, see our full length courses here

PS Don’t forget to join our mailing list and follow me on Social Media>

(Ive been posting some fun Instagram and Facebook Stories lately)

Great to see you here at the CAFE,

5 responses to “How to create a neon glow in Photoshop, layer style and font included.”

A pretty cool technique; love it. And thanks for always sharing your know-how with us. I think your explorations are incredibly useful and the rim lighting was actually quite alluring. Thanks again.

sure did learn a lot from this tut. tks.

Thanks Colin – yes certainly learned something new. Always learn something new (or new technique) from your videos.

Thanks again. More learning by solving a problem I had.

Great tut….easy to follow steps and great results as usual; and for that I thank you. You are “Awesome”!!!!

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Photoshop Bootcamp - Learn Photoshop

How To Make A Neon Effect In Photoshop

Jennifer Farley

  • May 28, 2017
  • Photoshop Effects

Last Updated on October 27, 2022

*Update October 2022: I first wrote this Photoshop tutorial for my students, waaaaaaay back in 2008. There have, of course, been many updates to Photoshop since then, but this method of creating a neon effect still works perfectly well, if you want to try it out.

You’ll notice that the Photoshop interface looks a bit old in the screengrabs, as does the actor who plays Superman 🙂

If you’re a beginner getting started with Photoshop, you’ll learn how to use layer effects to create an eye-catching neon effect.

1. In Photoshop, open the image you want to apply the effects to. I’m using this picture of Superman which can be downloaded from movieweb.com.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 01

2. The first thing to do is separate Superman from his background. On this particular background, it’s easy to select Superman using the magic wand and then do a little bit of tidying up using the quick mask.

Once you’ve made your selection, hit Ctrl + J (Windows) or Cmd + J (Mac) to add your selection to a new layer. Name this new layer “cutout”.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 02

3. To make the light effects stand out a bit more, add a black background underneath the cutout layer, by creating a new Layer in the Layers panel and filling it with black paint using the Paint Bucket tool. Using the Move tool, move Superman in the “Cutout” layer down to the bottom left of the image.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 03

4. Now to add some text. The colour is white and the font used here is called MA Sexy and it has a nice loopy handwriting feel about it. You can get it free from  dafont.com

Photoshop - Neon Effect 04

5. With the new Super text layer selected in the Layers panel, click on the “add a layer style” button on the layers panel and choose Outer Glow from the drop-down menu.

Set the Blend Mode to Screen , Opacity to 100% and choose whatever colour you would like your light effect to be. I chose a bright red.

Set the Spread to 0% but give a fairly large size – this is something you can play around with to get the effect you like. I set mine to 185px.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 05 - add layer effect glow

6. Click OK. So now we have a bit of a glow coming from the word Super.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 06 - outer glow

7. To make it look like the individual letters have a light effect applied to them we need to add a little more glow.

Create a new layer and name it “Extra Glow”. Drag that layer underneath the Super text layer.

Apply a layer style again – choose Outer Glow – leave all the settings the same as before EXCEPT the Size. This needs to be smaller – in my case I set it to 51px. Then click OK. You won’t see any change yet because there is nothing on that layer yet – that’s our next step.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 07

9. The next light effect I wanted to add was a bright orange glow around Superman. Create a new layer and name it “Spiral Glow”.

Use the Pen tool to draw a spiral shape across superman’s body. When you’re happy with the spiral, set your paintbrush to a hard, round, size 9 brush. Then on the Paths panel, click on the Stroke path with Brush. Click here to read a tutorial on how to use the Pen Tool In Photoshop.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 10 - add a path

10. This produces a nice clean spiral in front of Superman. However, we want to give the impression that the line is wrapping around Superman rather than just appearing in front of him.

Select the eraser tool and erase alternate sections of the line so that the line appears to go behind Superman as well as in front.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 11

11. Now add a glow to the Spiral layer in the same way you did in step in Step 5. Instead of adding a red glow, I’ve added a yellow glow but all of the other settings for the outer glow layer style are the same.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 12

12. Create another layer called Extra Spiral glow and use the same settings as in Step 7. Now once again with a very soft, round brush set to about 20% opacity – draw on the spiral. This will give the glow some extra oomph.

Photoshop - Neon Effect 13 -

If you don’t have a copy already, you can  download a free Photoshop trial here .

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Jennifer Farley

Jennifer Farley

My name is Jennifer Farley. I'm an illustrator, designer, author and design teacher based in Ireland. I've been teaching and working in the design field for over 15 years and I help people learn Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator and Graphic Design.

Photoshop Bootcamp is a growing collection of my Photoshop tutorials and lessons I've written for my students.

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  • June 6, 2020

Photoshop Training Channel

Realistic Neon Light Effect In Photoshop (Everything Explained!)

Subscribe on YouTube:

Easy-to-follow tutorial to create a beautiful Neon Light Effect in Photoshop !

In this tutorial, you will learn about the new Materials in Photoshop 2023 and Layer Styles to create this amazing and realistic effect. From background creation and neon text to atmosphere effects. Everything explained.

Step 01 – Create the Brick Background 

Go to Window and choose Materials .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

From the Material Properties panel, adjust the resolution to Ultra for the highest resolution available. Click check on the Repeat Uniformly box .

Adjust the size of the bricks by typing in a number (e.g. 0.75) and hitting Enter.

You can adjust the brick color or select a preset from the dropdown.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Collapse the Background copy layer and delete the Background layer.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Create a Clipping Mask by pressing Ctrl Alt G (Windows) or Command Option G (macOS) to control the background.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Put all these layers in a group by selecting them all and pressing Ctrl G (Windows) or Command G (macOS) and labeling it Background.

Realistic Neon Light Effect Tutorial Background Complete

Your background is now complete!

We’ll create the neon sign next.

Step 02 – Create the Neon Sign with the Rectangle Tool

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Select the Move Tool from the toolbar or press V . Click on the ellipsis icon to ensure that Align To is set to Canvas. 

Then, click the Alignment settings indicated in the image below.

Realistic Neon Light Effect Tutorial Alignment

Your rectangle should now be perfectly centered on the canvas.

From the Properties panel , click on the Fill swatch and remove the fill.

Next, add a white stroke to the rectangle by making the stroke about 8 pixels.

Drag on the icons to round the corners of the rectangle to about 66 pixels.

Step 03 – Apply Layer Styles to Create the Neon Glow

Double-click on the side of the Rectangle layer to bring up the Layer Style window.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

We will first add an Outer Glow, making it seem like the layer is glowing.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

To intensify the glow effect, we’ll use a Drop Shadow instead of adding another glow. Change the Blending Mode from Multiply to Linear Dodge Add, creating a glow instead of a shadow.

Use the same color as before, with the Saturation set to 100, the brightness set to 100, and the hue set to 200. 

Ensure the angle is set to 90, and uncheck the “Use Global Light” box.

Increase the opacity to 100% and notice the glowing effect.

Next, we will increase the Size for an Atmospheric Light Effect.

Increase the size of the glow to 250, change the distance to zero, and the Spread to 15%.

This will create the illusion of having more atmospheric light, which will enhance the overall effect. You should get this result from the adjustments that we’ve made.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Click the (+) icon to duplicate the Drop Shadow effect and adjust the settings. Opacity down to 50 px and Size to 90 px. 

Realistic Neon Light Effect Tutorial Layer Styles

You can stack Layer Styles to create better effects, and it helps create a more realistic glow.

To create the illusion of space between the neon light and the brick wall, we will add shadows to the effect.

Duplicate the Drop Shadow and change the color to black.

Change the Blending Mode to Multiply, and set the Opacity to 75%.

Adjust the Distance to 35 px and Spread it to about 21 px. 

You can play around with these values to create the desired shadow effect.

Realistic Neon Light Effect Tutorial Drop Shadow

Next, we’ll duplicate the Drop Shadow again to make the effect more realistic. Adjust the Angle to -90 px and the Opacity to 60%. Press OK. 

Realistic Neon Light Effect Tutorial Drop Shadow 2

Collapse the Rectangle layer for more room to work with for our next steps.

Collapse the Rectangle Layer

Step 04 – Type The Neon Text

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Make sure that you create your text layer outside of the text box.

If you click on the text box, you can see how the icon changes. We don’t want to create a text box or type along a path.

Type the word “Neon” away from the rectangle.

With the Neon text selected, from the Properties panel under Character, change the font weight to 346 and Bold to Thin to get a thinner text.

Properties panel under Character

Next, press V on the keyboard to enable the Move tool.

Place the Neon text in position or use the same trick as before by clicking the ellipsis icon. Make sure you align to Canvas and click on the center buttons to center the image in place.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 05 – Mask Rectangle

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 06 – Copy Layer Styles & Edit Layer Styles

Then, copy the Layer Styles from the rectangle onto the word “Neon” by holding Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and click-and-drag the FX icon over onto the text layer.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Put these two layers into a group by pressing Ctrl G (Windows) or Command G (macOS) and calling it “Neon Sign” to keep everything organized.

Layers Panel showing the background and Neon Sign groups

Step 07 – Create Smoke/Atmosphere Layer

Finally, add more atmosphere to the image to make it look more realistic.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

We want more contrast with the clouds. We can use a Curves Adjustment Layer or something similar.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Change the Blending Mode to Linear Dodge (Add) .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

This atmospheric effect helps sell the illusion of light emitting from the neon sign through the smoke outside the bar or maybe a foggy night, making it look more realistic.

Hold Shift and click on the top and bottom layers and right-click and select Convert to Smart Object to contain everything as a Smart Object.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 08 – Apply Camera Raw Adjustments

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Lastly, we’ll add Neon Sign Brackets for our last step. Double-click on the Smart Object thumbnail, and it will open a new document tab.

You can make adjustments to the design, and it will update on the Smart Object.

Step 09 – Create the Neon Sign Brackets

Adding metal brackets to a neon sign can be a great way to add realism and depth to your design. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Make a circle that is slightly larger than the neon sign.

Double-click on the side of the layer and add a Bevel and Emboss effect.

Make sure to uncheck Global Light and adjust the contour to your liking.

Add Contour and adjust the Depth and Size.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Place the bracket in the desired location and duplicate it by holding Alt and dragging down or to right.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Continue duplicating and placing the brackets as desired.

To finish, press Ctrl + S to save and return to your working document.

The Camera Raw Filter adjustments will be applied to the final image.

And that’s it! You have successfully learned how to create a Realistic Neon Text Effect in Photoshop. Experiment with layer styles, colors, and settings to create unique and visually stunning designs. Remember, the key to creating great designs is to have fun and be creative! If you create something using this tutorial, you can share your results on Instagram by tagging @photoshoptrainingchannel and using the hashtag #ptcvids for a chance to be featured!

If you want to learn about creating a Neon Portrait Color Effect, then check out this Neon Portrait Color Effect In Photoshop! [CYBERPUNK Color Grade] tutorial!

Final Image

Drag The Slider To See Before & After

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Jesús Ramirez is a digital graphics expert, speaker, and educator specializing in Adobe Photoshop. Jesús is best known as the founder of the Photoshop Training Channel, one of the most popular Photoshop YouTube channels in the world. More.

Follow: Instagram / YouTube / Twitter

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Create a Neon Glow Effect in Photoshop

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Description.

Follow along and learn how to create a cool neon graphic effect in Photoshop! Perfect for creating stylized portraits or profile photos for your website or social media accounts.

Artist Credit

Image sourced from Pexels .

neon glow effect in photoshop

EYE-CATCHING NEON GLOW

Create Stylized Portraits

Neon portrait effects in photoshop.

Whether you want a fun creative project, or you’re looking for new ways to display portraits on your website and social media accounts, there are plenty of reasons to try adding graphic, glowing effects to your work.

neon glow effect in photoshop

We’re going to take this already dramatic portrait and give it even more style. First, we’re going to create a frame around the portrait using simple Shape Tools. Then, we’ll take that frame and make it glow with bright, neon colors. And lastly, we’ll utilize the original lighting in the photo to integrate the colors from the new glowing elements.

Ready? Let’s get into it!

Create a Frame

To start off, we’re going to create a shape around our subject that will act as a frame.

neon glow effect in photoshop

You can choose any shape you want. In our case, we decided to create a triangle.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Set the Fill to none and set the Stroke to any color you want. You can change the Stroke color at any time, and we’ll be making further color adjustments later on, so don’t worry too much about getting the color exactly right at this point.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Since our shape is spilling over the edges of the original photo, let’s use the Crop Tool to extend the boundaries of the canvas. Then, to fill the new, empty space, add a black Solid Color Fill Layer at the bottom of the Layer Stack.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Now let’s hide everything in the original photograph that doesn’t appear within the shape we created.

neon glow effect in photoshop

To do this, hold CTRL or CMD and click on the Shape Layer. This will create a selection of the shape.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Then, with that selection still active, add a Layer Mask to the background photograph.

Extend the Subject Outside the Frame

Even though we’re creating a frame, we decided to have the subject’s hair extend beyond the edges of the frame. This will add a little bit more interest and dimension to the effect.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Use the Brush Tool to paint white on the Layer Mask of the background image over any areas you want to extend outside of the frame. The subject’s hair works perfectly for this particular example.

neon glow effect in photoshop

If you want to make sure you capture as much detail as possible, you can use a selection tool to try and capture the detail in the subject’s hair.

Disable the Layer Mask on the background image, then open the Select Menu, and choose the Subject option.

Then, with that new Selection active, enable the Layer Mask we already created and then paint with white along the subject’s hair. The new selection will help to bring back the details we want.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Lastly, we just need to remove the parts of the shape that are appearing over top of the subject.

Use the Lasso Tool to make a rough selection around the edge of the shape you want to remove, select the Layer Mask of the shape, and then fill it with black.

neon glow effect in photoshop

This will hide the edge of the shape where it would normally appear on top of the subject.

neon glow effect in photoshop

You can always use the Brush Tool to go back in and refine the edges where we want it to look the the shape is disappearing behind the subject.

Create a Glow Effect

Now that our frame is ready, let’s light it up! There are a number of ways you can create glow effects in Photoshop, and we cover a lot of them. One of the most common is to stack several Layer Effects . While that can still produce a stunning result, we generally prefer a slightly more manual process.

First, duplicate the shape layer.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Then, create a new, blank layer above the duplicate. Select both, and hit CTRL or CMD + E to merge them together. This will turn the frame from a shape layer into a normal layer.

neon glow effect in photoshop

If you move the new layer around, notice that it still looks exactly like the original shape layer underneath. Return it to its original position.

neon glow effect in photoshop

We’re going to be adding a Gaussian Blur to a bunch of these new layers. In order to work in a way where we can go back and adjust the levels of each Gaussian Blur, let’s convert the regular layer into a Smart Object.

Now any Filters applied will automatically be created as Smart Filters. Smart Filters can be adjusted, hidden, or removed without damaging the original Smart Object.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Open the Filter Menu, hover over the Blur option, and select Gaussian Blur.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Set the Gaussian Blur to a relatively high setting. We’ll be be creating several versions of this effect at varying levels.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Duplicate that Smart Object several times. Add a Gaussian Blur to each new Smart Object, reducing the effect as you make your way up the Layer Stack.

You should end up with a convincing glow effect that creates a even gradient that reduces in intensity the further out from the shape it goes.

neon glow effect in photoshop

We can also give our frame a glowing inner core. Duplicate the original shape layer again and set the Blending Mode of the duplicate to Color Dodge.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Then, set the stroke of that shape layer to be slightly thinner than the original behind it.

neon glow effect in photoshop

The glow effect is nearly complete! Our frame looks great. Now it’s time to dial in the colors we want, and integrate the lighting from the glow into the lighting around the subject.

Integrate Glow into the Scene

We chose an image that already had backlighting that framed the subject. We can take those existing highlights and use a variety of tools to push the colors to more closely match the colors in our glowing frame.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Start by creating a Solid Color Fill Layer just above the background image.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Right-click on the Solid Color Fill Layer and Create a Clipping Mask so that it only appears where the background image of the subject is visible.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Set the Blending Mode of the Fill Layer to Color Dodge. Notice that the highlights of the image have changed color to match the Fill Layer.

Again, don’t worry too much about the exact colors just yet. We’ll adjust those shortly!

neon glow effect in photoshop

To make sure that the coloring effect only effects the highlights we want, we can use a powerful tool called Blend If.

Select the Solid Color Fill Layer and open up the Blending Options Menu. Locate the Blend If section, specifically the slider labelled Underlying Layer.

Hold ALR or OPTN and drag half of the shadow slider to the right. This will hide the Layer from the shadows and make sure that it only appears where we want it to in the highlights.

neon glow effect in photoshop

You can also change the Blending Modes at any time. We decided that Color Dodge was a bit to harsh, and instead switched the Fill Layer to the Overlay Blending Mode.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Now that the Fill Layer is ready, double-click on it and choose a color that matches the glow of the frame.

Invert the Layer Mask of the Fill Layer, and then use the Brush Tool, with a soft, round brush, to paint white over the highlights in the portrait.

You can do this for the entire background image to finish the effect. But if you want to take it a step further, try adding a second color!

Adding More Colors

We can take the existing elements and add a secondary color to affect half of the background image.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Create a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer on top of the Layer Stack and adjust the sliders until you get a secondary color you like.

But notice that it’s changing the hue of everything in the project.

neon glow effect in photoshop

To fix this, simply Invert the Layer Mask of the new Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer, and paint with white on the Layer Mask only where you want those colors to appear.

We split the image in half; one half with the new color, and the other with our original color choice.

neon glow effect in photoshop

You can repeat the steps in the last section to enhance the color in the highlights in the subject.

neon glow effect in photoshop

And you can continue to add new Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layers to dial in the exact look you want. Remember to always use Layer Masks, Adjustment Layers, and New Layers to work non-destructively. You should be able to go back into any element, at any time, to make changes.

neon glow effect in photoshop

Have fun and experiment with different shapes, colors, and images! This effect can help any image pop, especially if you’re looking for new ways to integrate images and portraits into you website or social media profiles.

How to Create a Glow Effect

How to Create a Glow Effect in Photoshop

photoshop tutorials neon glow

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photoshop tutorials neon glow

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10 Photoshop Tutorials to Create Neon Light Effect in Photoshop

You might have seen illuminated words or shapes in vibrant color and glow that stands out from the background to create art or amazing themes. This colorful light is neon light that creates a beautiful surrounding. The simplest of the effects look striking, and neon is one such effect. Any kind of background you choose turns out to be beautiful with the neon effect. One of the design elements that is trending now is the neon light effect.

By giving the images neon light effect, you can enhance the elements in the image or of the website. Designers experiment a lot using the trend of neon light effect and give a creative vibe to their images or website. The background and the website get a different look with the neon light effect, and it creates a fantastic effect. There are a lot of different forms that designers use in neon light effect. It is one of the simple ways to attract viewers as the neon light effect stands out from every other design element. There are different ways of creating this effect. We have listed a few tutorials that would help you to create a neon light effect in Photoshop.

For designers, it is essential to learn whatever is trending in the industry. The neon light effect is one of the trending design elements every designer tends to use it in their design. Every designer creates a unique way to give this effect and achieve a distinctive result. We have selected tutorials which differ from each other in terms of technique, quality and time.

Designers have a way to learn the effect by investing a certain amount of time. So, we present tutorials that consume less time for designers who do not want to invest much time as well as lengthy tutorials for those designers who want to give time for their learning process.

Here are 10 tutorials on how to create a neon light effect in Photoshop:

1. Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Glowing, Multi-colored NEON Sign

The tutorial is by Blue lighting TV Photoshop. The video tutorial shows how to create beautiful and alluring multicolored neon sign. This video is for fairly advanced designers. The best part of the video tutorial is that the link of the background used in designing is given in the caption. The tutorial makes it easy to download specific link for the background and font, which helps to follow the instructions in the tutorial.

It is sixteen minutes long, which makes it easier for the designers not to spend too much time on a tutorial to learn how to create a neon sign. The tutorial zooms into the functions to create the neon signs that help the designer to follow the visual instructions in a much better way. The voice and quality of the video are incredible.

2.  Neon Light Effect – Colorful Glow Lines Photoshop Tutorial

The video tutorial is by Photoshop Tutorials by Layer Life. The tutorial shows how to create neon light effects on a photo in Photoshop. In this tutorial, there is no voiceover but subtitles for instructions. The visual quality of the video is also excellent, that makes it easier to follow the commands.

It shows from the basic on how to darken the image like it is night and add colorful neon lines to it. There is a piece of light music that keeps you away from distraction. The footer states every instruction that simultaneously runs with the visual. The tutorial is approximately 13 minutes long, which makes it appropriate for a designer not to spend much time and learn to create a neon light effect.

3. Photoshop tutorials-Neon Light Text Effect[Photoshop tutorials]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy8_Hqw2c0Y

The tutorial is by Free FX Class. This tutorial helps you to create the neon light text effect. The tutorial shows how to create a Photoshop document, to set up the background, to create text for effect, create the effect, copy the text to the effect, make some adjustments and to create the glow effect.

The ten-minute tutorial helps you to create neon light text which can make your image stand out. The tutorial has no voice-over or subtitles to guide you through. The video guides you thoroughly, which step to follow step by step. The tutorial is an easy way to learn to create a neon light text effect. The video is worth recommending as it has more than half a million views and 40,000 subscribers.

4. How to Create Neon Glow Effect Lights & Objects | Adobe Photoshop

If you are looking for a quick way to learn how to create a neon light effect, this tutorial is perfect for you. Designers struggle a lot for learning new things daily. If you are yet to learn to create neon light effects in Photoshop, then watch this tutorial and get a grip on it. This tutorial shows you a quick way to create neon effects to objects in the image.

The tutorial has more than one lac viewers and more than 34,000 subscribers. Tone Fuentes Anaya presents this tutorial. The video has a voiceover that directs you and guides you through the video. The subtitles are also there for viewers who may find it difficult to follow the voice over.

5. Realistic Neon Light Effect in Photoshop

Sekulic presents this tutorial. The tutorial is a more than 20-minute video that helps you to create a realistic neon light effect in Photoshop. The tutorial has a clear voiceover and subtitles for those who find it difficult to follow the voiceover. With more than 4.5 lakh views for the tutorial, it is the best among all other tutorials. The tutorials have got some best reviews for the quality of the work that it imparts for the designers.

The voiceover makes you feel that he is communicating to you individually. Nemanja has also given the links for downloading the neon fonts. The tutorial explains everything steps by step. From placing the right type of font in the background and adding color to it and later giving the neon effects, seems made easy by this tutorial.

6. Neon Text Effect

The tutorial presents this tutorial to create a neon text effect in the images. If you wish to learn how to create a neon text effect using two kinds of fonts, this is the right tutorial for you. This tutorial ensures you to learn giving neon text effect to the image in a professional way. The twelve-minute tutorial is all about using various functions to achieve the neon text effect. The voiceover for the tutorial is clear.

The tutorial also gives you a specific suggestion if you want to try with any options that would help you achieve a distinct result. The video describes the effect of the functions used on the image, which helps you to understand the use of every procedure. The video has been viewed more than 3 million, and by it, you can have a surety that you have reached the right tutorial.

7. Photoshop tutorial: Easiest Way To Create Neon Light Text Effect in Photoshop

If you are searching for a most straightforward way to create neon light text effect, then you have come across the perfect tutorial. Photoshop tutorial presents this video. By this quick tutorial, you can learn to create neon light text effect quickly. The tutorial would be preferred by many designers who want to learn the neon effect in less time. Without wasting much time, the tutorial only focuses on creating the neon effect. The video has no voice over or any subtitles.

The video is enough for you to follow the steps that would help you to create the desired result. The tutorial has a song in the background. It has more than sixty-five thousand views. The tutorial is also suitable for professional designers who just need to refresh the steps for creating a neon effect.

8. Photoshop Tutorial: Neon Effect + Text

Jehoshebaism Arts presents the tutorial. This tutorial shows how to give neon light effect to an object as well as to text. This 14-minute video would help you to get a grip on creating the neon effect. Mostly all tutorials would help you to create a neon effect to the text, but this tutorial shows how to create a neon effect on other objects in the image and text.

The tutorial has no voiceover to guide through the tutorial but subtitles. The subtitles show the actions to be followed along with shortcut keys that would help you in the future to create the same in less time. A piece of energetic music plays throughout the tutorial. Once you go through the tutorial, you would know the best way and most relaxed way to create a neon effect in your image. What kind of background to use, which shade in the image, would be suitable for the neon effect to look good and more is shown in the tutorial.

9. Neon Glow Lines Effect around Person

The tutorial is about creating neon effects but in a different way. It shows how to create neon glow lines effect around a person. Additionally, the tutorial teaches you something unique from the other tutorial. Moreover, there is no voice-over or music is there in this tutorial. It is a caption guiding you through the video.

The subtitles are clear and leave no option for the viewer to get confused. Every necessary step you need is in the tutorial, which helps even the beginner to understand. The subtitles are crisp and convey to the point making it less ambiguous. The tutorial is 8 minutes but still covers the necessary details to create the neon effect.

10. How to Add a Neon Light Effect to Your Photos in Photoshop

Graphics presents this tutorial on how to add a neon light effect to your photos. The tutorial seems to contradict the usual images or way to create neon light effect and shares a different style. By creating a neon light effect on the photos, the tutorials impart the designers to create contemporary art pieces. The tutorial starts with an introduction and what kind of neon effects are used by various designers.

Designers try to create art pieces by using two different themes and add illuminated words, shapes with a vibrant glow. The tutorial shows how a standard image can be enhanced using a neon effect and illuminate the whole surrounding. The tutorial is 8-minute-long, and at one stretch, a designer can learn the technique of adding a neon light effect to the photo.

If you search for neon on the internet, you could know that it is a huge trend. This neon light effect creates a catchy eye effect which is hard to replace and is popular among the designers to create attractive designs. Neon signs are prevalent in advertising and decorations.

The neon effect used to transform the background and space gives a fantastic look. Initially, the neon signs were associated with bars and motels. This neon effect was widespread to represent the expression uniquely. Be it design or website, and neon light effect works perfectly. Designers search for a unique way to represent the design, and with the neon light effect, they give out a personal touch.

Not only the neon light effects create an eye-catchy effect on the design, but it brings out the retro look back. The designers want something in their design that makes their work stand out from others and also gives them a sense of satisfaction.

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Photoshop » Effects » How To Create The Glow Effect In Photoshop (Step By Step)

How to create the glow effect in photoshop (step by step).

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Whether you want to add a pop of color to your photo or create a surreal image, using the glow effect in Photoshop is a great way to add creativity to your project. This effect creates the impression that an object in your photo is lit with a neon light.

The glow effect will work on most images, even if it is well-lit. While adding a glow works better on darker images to pronounce the impact, I have an extra step that darkens lighter images to make the glow more prominent and to complete the overall effect.

Table of Contents

How To Make The Glow Effect In Photoshop

Follow these steps to create the glow effect in Photoshop. I initially learned this technique from Spoon Graphics’ video but have added my own color and lighting adjustments and custom brush to elevate the effect.

Follow these steps to create the overall effect, and then use the steps in the next section to take the process further and create your own custom brush to add to the glow effect. 

You can add the glow to any object in your image and choose any color to make the glow. In this example, I will use this image of an elk and add the glow effect to the antlers.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 1: Select And Duplicate The Object You Want To Add The Glow To

The first step is to isolate the object to which you want to add the glow. This can be swords, sticks, the moon, or in this case, antlers. Once you have selected the object, you must place it on a separate layer so that every effect you add only adjusts the object.

For the most accurate and clean selection, especially on complex shapes and objects, you should use the Pen Tool (P) . Select the tool from the Toolbar.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, set the mode to Path in the Options bar .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Zoom into the object you are selecting in your image by pressing Control + + (Win) or Command + + (Mac) to control the selection better. Then click once to add the starting point at the base of the object.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then click on the next spot to add a new point. If you need to curve the path you are creating with the pen, hold the mouse in after adding the new point and move it around to curve the path. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Two control points appear, which you can use to adjust the path as needed. Use the full Pen Tool tutorial to use the tool to its full potential and create a smooth path around the object. Click on the starting anchor point to close the path.

Note: If your object isn’t fully connected, close the path and create a second path. Select both paths before making the selection.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Once the path is closed and complete, it will turn blue. This means you can create the selection now.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

To create the selection, click the Selection button next to Make in the Options bar .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

In the make Selection window, set the Feather Radius to 0 pixels , check the Anti-aliased option, and select New Selection . Click OK to create the selection.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You will now see the marching ants over the blue path you created.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Copy the antlers or your object onto a new layer by pressing Control + J (Win) or Command + J (Mac), and only the antlers will appear on a new layer in the Layers panel . Rename this layer to keep the panel organized, as you will be adding more layers as you go.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Delete the path from the image since you don’t need it anymore by right-clicking inside the path and clicking on Delete Path .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 2: Add A Color Lookup Adjustment Layer

The Color Lookup adjustment layer darkens the image and makes the glow pop out more on the page.

The Color Lookup adjustment layer adds a type of filter over the image to create specific moods. When creating the glow effect, the Moonlight.3DL is a great option to darken the image and add a blue tint.

Add the adjustment layer by selecting your background or image layer, then click on the Color Lookup icon in the Adjustments panel .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

When the adjustment layer is added, you will see various options in the Properties panel . Click on the 3DLUT File option and select the drop-down menu.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

From the various options, select Moonlight.3DL near the bottom. This file is available in the Photoshop program by default, so you don’t need to download or source the option.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You will notice that the entire image has darkened and has a blue tint to it. However, the duplicated antler or object layer will remain in full color since it should be at the top of the Layers panel.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 3: Duplicate The Object Layer And Change To Linear Dodge (Add) Blend Mode

Now, you can continue adding the glow to your object while seeing how it works on the darker image. You will need to add a few layers to create the glow effect on the object itself. The first is to add a duplicate layer and change the blend mode .

Duplicate the base antlers (or your object) layer by selecting it and pressing Control + J (Win) or Command + J (Mac) . Rename the new layer in the Layers panel .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Ensure the new layer is selected and use the Blend Mode drop-down menu (which is set to Normal by default) and choose Linear Dodge (Add) from the options.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You will notice that your object now has a subtle glow, which begins the glow effect.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 4: Duplicate The Blended Object Layer And Add A Color Overlay

You now want the object to have a glow that sits around it as if the light is coming off your object and illuminating the space around it. To add the extra glow, you must duplicate the object layer again. You can use the layer you changed the blend mode on.

Select the layer and press  Control + J (Win) or Command + J (Mac) to duplicate it. Rename the layer in the Layers panel .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Now, you can add a color overlay to the duplicated layer , which will start adding a color of your choice to the glow. To add the overlay, double-click on the layer you just created, which I have named Blur Glow, to open the Layer Styles window .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Click on the Color Overlay option in the lefthand panel to add a color overlay to the image.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

There aren’t many options to adjust here, but the two important ones are the blend mode and color. Select Overlay from the Blend Mode options , then click on the color block to select the color you want for your glow. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Once you have selected the color from the Color Picker (I chose cyan), leave the Opacity at 100% and click OK to add the color overlay.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

The color won’t look right on the image at this stage, but two more adjustments will blend the overlay nicely.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Change the layer Blend Mode to Screen and then lower the Opacity, using the slider next to the Blend Mode drop-down, to around 40%–60% .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

The glow effect should be more prominent now, with the glow blurred around the object, extending slightly away from it.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 5: Paint A Blue Glow Around The Object Using The Brush Tool

To bulk up the glow effect and add a bolder glow around the object, you need to use a stronger effect, such as painting the color on using the Brush Tool (B).

Select the Brush Tool from the Toolbar or press B to activate it.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Open the Brush Preset Picker panel, select the Soft Round brush, and adjust the size, so the brush is slightly larger than the parts of your object.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, select a color for the highlight, which should be a variation of the color you used to create the Color Overlay. To choose a color, click on the foreground swatch in the Toolbar, then select a color from the Color Picker .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Once you’ve selected the color, add a new layer for the brush strokes by clicking on the Create a New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel . Rename the layer to keep your panel organized.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, click and drag on the canvas to create brush strokes over the object. The strokes can be rough but should cover the main parts of the object well. Then lower the Brush Opacity to around 30% in the Options bar .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Continue adding brush strokes around the edges of the object until you have roughly covered your object.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

To lighten the brush strokes, change the layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay and drop the Fill (located underneath the Opacity slider) to between 40% and 60% .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

The bold glow is now blended into the image and creates the glow effect you are looking for.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 6: Group The Object Glow Layers

To keep your workspace organized and avoid getting confused with all the layers, you can quickly group the layers you’ve added to create the glow effect on the object. To group the layers, select the top glow layer, hold in Shift , and click on the bottom glow layer.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, group the layers by pressing Control + G (Win) or Command + G (Mac) . You can close the group, as you won’t be working on those layers anymore unless you need to go back and adjust the edits at any stage.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 7: Add A Hue/Saturation Layer

You can now customize the color and intensity of the glow around the object using a Hue/Saturation layer. This layer gives you control over the glow effect’s lightness, saturation, and hue (color).

Ensure you have selected the object group to add the adjustment layer above it. Then select the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the Adjustments panel .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, to add the adjustments to the glowing object without affecting the rest of the image, click on the clipping mask icon at the bottom of the Properties panel .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Now, you can adjust the sliders to customize the effect. Move the Hue slider to change the glow color, shift the Saturation slider to increase or decrease the color’s intensity, and adjust the Lightness slider to make the glow lighter or darker. This is how I changed the sliders for my image.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 8: Add A New Layer For The Base Highlight Color Around The Object

To complete the glow effect further, you need to add highlights on the subject around the glowing object. If a neon light glowed from the object, it would bounce off things close to it. You can easily replicate this effect similarly to creating light in a photo .

First, you must select the subject to which you want to add the highlights. In my case, I need to choose the elk without the antlers. You can make your selection using any selection tools. 

I will select the background layer, then use the Object Selection Tool (W) from the Toolbar and click on the subject to select it.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Next, add a new layer above the Color Lookup layer by clicking on the Create a New layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel . Then click on the Layer Mask icon to add the selection to a layer mask.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

If you selected a bit of the glowing object (antlers in my case), you can select the Brush Tool (B) , set the color to black, and brush over the unintentionally selected areas to hide them using the layer mask.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Once the subject is masked correctly, select the blank layer thumbnail again, and keeping the Brush Tool active, select the same color you used when painting the blue glow around the object. You are repeating that process to add the lighting glow to the subject.

Brush over the subject where you want the lighting effect added. Adjust the brush opacity in the Options bar as you paint to create lighter and darker areas. You should also adjust the brush size using [ to decrease and ] to increase the size. 

This allows you to add bolder spots of color where the light is more potent. Your brush strokes should come out something like this, depending on your object and how the light would be on the subject.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Tone down the lighting and blend it into the image by changing the Blend Mode to Overlay .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 9: Duplicate The Layer For The Main Highlight Color

To deepen the highlight effect and make the lighting more realistic, you should add another highlight layer with more brush strokes and varying degrees of opacity and size. To do this, add a new layer above the first highlight layer.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, hold in Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) , click on the layer mask for the first highlight layer, drag it, and let it go on top of the new layer. This step copies the layer mask to the new layer.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Now, grab the Brush Tool (B) and paint more strokes over the subject in the areas you want to add light to. Depending on your subject, it should look something like this.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Change the layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay to blend the highlights into the photo. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

If the colors are still a bit too bold and you want to blend them in further, you can do this using advanced blending. To do this, double-click on the layer in the Layers panel to open the Layer style window .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You will automatically be in the Blending Options panel , so move down to the bottom, where you can see a Blend If option and the Underlying Layer .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You must drag the shadow handle to the right to blend the colors.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, to blend the colors even more, split the handle and drag half of it further right. To split the handle, hold in Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) , click, and drag the right side of the handle to the right.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Click OK to accept the changes, and you will have finished the glow effect, complete with realistic lighting on the rest of the subject.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Creating A Custom Glow Particle Brush In Photoshop

Once you have added the glow effect to an image, you can further the effect and add more flair to the project. You can add to this effect by creating a glow brush and bright neon flecks around the glowing object. 

This process is easy and only takes a few steps, but it will add a lot to your final image.

Step 1: Create A New Document At 500 x 500 Pixels And 300PPI

To create the glow brush, you need to create a new document by going to File > New or pressing Control + N (Win) or Command + N (Mac) .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

In the New Document window, type 500 pixels in the Width and Height blocks. Set the Resolution to 300 Pixels/Inch , and ensure the background color is white . Click Create to make the document.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 2: Create Ovals Around The Page Using The Ellipse Shape Tool (U)

You can now create small oval shapes that will become flecks around the glowing object. Select the Ellipse Tool (U) from the Toolbar to do this.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, set the foreground color to black. When creating a brush preset, the shapes or elements you want to add to the brush must be black.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You can now add the ovals to the document by clicking and dragging on the canvas to create various-sized and shaped ovals. Create each oval on a separate layer. You only need a handful of ovals for the brush. I made five ovals.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 3: Reduce The Layer Opacity On Some Ovals

Reduce the layer opacity of a few ovals to create a varied effect. You can leave some at 100%, reduce one to 57%, and move one down to 23% Opacity. These amounts don’t have to be specific.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

You just want to create a canvas of specks with varying degrees of opacity. So your document should look something like the example I made.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 4: Create A New Brush Preset

You can now create the brush preset by clicking Edit > Define Brush Preset .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

A dialog box appears where you can add a name to the new brush you are creating. Click OK to create the brush.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 5: Adjust The Brush Settings 

Re-open your glow image and create a new layer at the top of the layer stack. You will be adding the brush specks to this layer.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Select the Brush Tool (B) and find your new brush preset in the Brush Preset Picker at the bottom of the list.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then, you need to adjust a few settings before you use the brush on the image. To access the brush settings, open the panel by going to Window > Brush Settings .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

There are a few settings to adjust here, so navigate through the tabs on the left and change the settings as follows.

Brush Tip Shape Tab

Increase the Spacing to somewhere between 60% and 80% .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Shape Dynamics Tab

Increase the Size Jitter and the Roundness Jitter to over 50% each.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Scattering Tab

Increase Scatter to around 220% and the Count Jitter to about 50% .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Transfer Tab

Increase the Opacity Jitter to 100% and the Flow Jitter to around 50% .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Lastly, check the box next to Smoothing, and your brush is ready.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 6: Choose The Color And Adjust The Brush Opacity

Next, you can set the color for the specks, which should be similar to the color of the glow you added. Use the foreground swatch and Color Picker to set the color.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Then adjust the Brush Opacity in the Options bar as you’d like. I set mine to 50% .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Step 7: Paint The Glow Brush Over The Glowing Object

Now, you can adjust the brush size as you go and paint over your glowing object to add the dust specks. Change the brush size as you paint to create a dynamic effect.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Painting with a large brush size in some areas and a very small brush size in others creates a realistic and varied effect. You have now successfully added the glow effect to your image with glowing specks around it.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Remember, you can adjust a few settings and colors to create your own effects on your images to make them unique. You can also add the glow effect to any objects and shapes in an image. Another cool trick is to create neon text to add to your project if you want.

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How to Make a Neon Sign in Photoshop

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Light it up! If you really want to catch people’s attention, why not add a neon sign to your design? Though it seems like it would be a complex edit, creating neon type is super simple!

Hi, I’m Cara! As a photographer and designer, I use Photoshop regularly. Though I like working with the program, I also love edits that are fast but look really cool. Making a neon sign in Photoshop is one of those edits. Let me show you how easy it is!

Note: the screenshots below are taken from the Windows version of Photoshop. Mac and other versions can look different.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Create Some Text

Step 2: add an inner glow, step 3: add an outer glow, step 4: duplicate the outer glow.

For this demonstration, I am going to use this brick background image. Now open the text tool by pressing T on the keyboard or selecting the Horizontal Type tool from the toolbar on the left. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Click somewhere in the image and type your text. Make sure you’re working with a rather thick font so the effect can show up well. You can change fonts up in the Options bar.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Also in the Options bar, double-click on the color swatch to choose a font color. Let’s go with bright pink. Click the checkmark close to the color swatch or hit Enter or Return on the keyboard to accept the changes.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Now let’s dress it up. With the text layer highlighted, hit Ctrl + J or Command + J on the keyboard to copy the layer . 

Double-click on the copied layer to open the Layer Styles panel. Alternatively, you can click the fx button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

In the Layer Style panel, click Inner Glow and you’ll see the settings appear in the middle of the box. Make sure the checkbox is marked to apply the effect. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Adjust the settings to your liking. I’m going to stick with a Normal blend mode, then bring the opacity up so I can see the effect. Choose a color by double-clicking on the color swatch. White or a lighter version of the color you chose for your text is great for this.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Adjust the size and Choke of the effect until you like how it looks for your text. You can try my settings but yours may be different depending on the size of your text. 

Now we want to add an outer glow to the original text layer. The inner glow has to go on top so we could see it and the outer glow will go on the text layer underneath, but we will still see it around the edges of the text.

Click on the original text layer to highlight it and open the Layer Style panel once again.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

This time, we’ll select the Outer Glow . Again, make sure the box next to the style name is checked to apply the effect.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

To blend the glow into the background and make a realistic glow effect, change the blend mode to Vivid Light . Double-click on the color swatch to pick the color you want. I’m going with a darker shade of a similar color. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Here’s what we’ve got so far.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

It’s looking pretty good, but let’s tune it up a touch more.

Depending on your settings, this step may be optional. I think I could clean up the look a touch more for this example. 

Select the text layer with the outer glow in the Layers panel.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Hit Ctrl + J or Command + J to copy the layer. Double-click on the newly copied layer to open the Layer Style panel once more. Choose Outer Glow and change the blend mode to Linear Light . The rest of the settings can stay the same. 

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Here’s the result! Pretty nifty, isn’t it?

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Interested to learn more fun things you can do in Photoshop? Check out our tutorial on how to make circular text here !

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Deep Shah 

  • Nov 23, 2021

Neon Glow Text Effect | Photoshop Effect | Photoshop Tutorial

Updated: Nov 4, 2022

In this tutorial , you will learn a simple method on how to create this awesome Neon Glowing Text Effect in Photoshop. Creating this neon glowing text effect in Photoshop might seem a bit difficult but it is not so just follow the steps mentioned in the video and learn how to do it for yourself.

glowing neon text effect in photoshop

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neon glowing text effect in photoshop

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3D Neon Glow Text Effect :- https://www.photoshop-tutorial.com/post/3d-neon-glow-text-effect

3D Colorful Glowing Text Effect :- https://www.photoshop-tutorial.com/post/3d-colorful-glowing-text-effect

Neon Glowing Logo Design in Photoshop :- https://www.photoshop-tutorial.com/post/neon-glowing-logo-design-in-photoshop

3D Text Effect :- https://www.photoshop-tutorial.com/post/3d-text-effect

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Neon Light Effect :- https://www.photoshop-tutorial.com/post/neon-light-effect

Holographic Text Effect :- https://www.photoshop-tutorial.com/post/holographic-text-effect

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Neon Text in Photoshop

Vivi Designing

  • December 4, 2022

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Table of Contents

  • 0.0.0.1.1 Step 1
  • 0.0.0.1.2 Step 2
  • 0.0.0.1.3 Step 3
  • 0.0.0.1.4 Step 4
  • 0.0.0.1.5 Step 5
  • 0.0.0.1.6 Step 6
  • 0.0.0.1.7 Step 7

Neon Glow Text Effect in Photoshop

Neon Text in Photoshop is easy to create and also looks realistic. It is the most striking text effect in Photoshop . This tutorial will first modify a brick wall image to create a background for the Neon Glow Text . Secondly, we will create a Glowing Neon Text in Photoshop .

You can also learn to create Neon Light Effect in Photoshop .

We will use different Layer styles to create the Neon Text in Photoshop . Now for this tutorial, first select a brick wall texture image and open it in Photoshop.

Further, follow the below-mentioned step-by-step process to learn to create the Neon Text Effect in Photoshop .

Open a brick texture image as a new document in Photoshop. We will modify this image to create a background for our Neon Text Effect .

Open image to create background

Click on Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer and select Levels from the options list. Click on Clip Adjustment to Layer icon in the Properties panel and set the Shadow , Medium, and Output Levels .

Create new fill or adjustment layer icon

Again click on Create new layer or adjustment layer and select Hue/Saturation . Set the Hue , Saturation , and Lightness of the image. Also, click on Clip Adjustment To Layer .

Select Hue/Saturation

Now select the Horizontal Type Tool and type the text. I have used the font Freestyle Script , and the color is #eb106d . Using the Move Tool , you can increase the size of the text and place it anywhere on the background image.

Type the text

Press Ctrl + J to duplicate the text layer. Right-click on the copied layer and select Convert to Smart Object .

Select Convert to Smart Object

Let the copied text layer (Topmost layer) be selected, and click on the fx icon in the Layers Panel . Then select Bevel Emboss from the list. In the Bevel & Emboss Layer Style dialogue box, under Structure , set Style to Pillow Emboss and Technique to Smooth . Also, set the Depth, Size, and Soften.

Under Shading , set the Angle, Altitude, and Gloss Contour . Then set the Highlight Mode to Overlay with white color and Shadow Mode to Overlay with black color. Also, reduce the opacity of the Shadow Mode.

Select Bevel Emboss

Now we will apply Stroke Layer Style to our Neon text . In the Layer Style dialogue box, select Stroke . Under Fill Type , select Gradient and create a gradient color similar to the neon text color in the Gradient Editor . Also, set the Style as Shape Burst .

Under Structure , set the Size and Position of the Stroke. Then set the Blending Mode to Screen and put a check-mark on Overprint .

Gradient Editor

Now select Inner Shadow in the Layer Style dialogue box. Under Structure , set the Blending Mode to Screen and select the Shadow color similar to the neon text color but a lighter shade. Also, set the Angle and Size of the Inner Shadow .

photoshop tutorials neon glow

Next, we will apply Outer Glow to our Neon Text. Set the Blending Mode to Soft Light under Structure . Also, set the Elements and Quality of the Outer Glow effect. The color of the Outer Glow will be a similar shade of the neon text color.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

After applying Outer Glow , we will apply Drop Shadow effect to complete our Neon Text Effect . Under Structure , select the color for shadow and then set the Blending Mode to Screen . Also, set the Spread, Size and Angle of the shadow.

photoshop tutorials neon glow

After applying all the Layer Style effects, your Glowing Neon Text in Photoshop looks like this-

Neon Text Effect

Select the Ellipse Tool and draw an ellipse around the text. Turn off the Fill Color and select the Stroke color . Also, increase the Stroke size . Then apply all the Layer Styles to the shape which were applied to the text.

Neon Text in Photoshop

So, this is how you can create Neon Text in Photoshop . Practice this Photoshop tutorial and share your views in the comment section. Also, share this tutorial with others.

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IMAGES

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    How to create a glowing neon effect in Photoshop. Colin Smith shows you a really quick way to create reusable neon glow text in Photoshop. THE FREE FONT HERE:...

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    2. Creating the Neon Effect in Photoshop (Layer Styles) With our type layer selected, go down to the layer styles where it says fx. Click and choose color overlay. The Layer Effects dialog box will open. Set color overlay to white by clicking the color swatch. I probably could have just created white text in the first place, but it doesn't matter.

  7. How to Add a Glow Effect in Photoshop

    1. How to Create a Nighttime Color Grade Step 1 Today, we will learn how to add a glow effect to the stripes of this tiger, but in order to make the neon glow really pop, I want to turn this image from day to night. This step is completely optional and will ultimately change from image to image.

  8. How To Make A Neon Effect In Photoshop

    1. In Photoshop, open the image you want to apply the effects to. I'm using this picture of Superman which can be downloaded from movieweb.com. 2. The first thing to do is separate Superman from his background.

  9. Realistic Neon Light Effect In Photoshop (Everything Explained!)

    Easy-to-follow tutorial to create a beautiful Neon Light Effect in Photoshop! In this tutorial, you will learn about the new Materials in Photoshop 2023 and Layer Styles to create this amazing and realistic effect. From background creation and neon text to atmosphere effects. Everything explained. Step 01 - Create the Brick Background

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    Create a Neon Glow Effect in Photoshop by Aaron Nace May 25, 2021 Add to favorites Download the PSD Download the PSD (135 MB). Download Sample Images Download description Follow along and learn how to create a cool neon graphic effect in Photoshop! Perfect for creating stylized portraits or profile photos for your website or social media accounts.

  11. 10 Photoshop Tutorials to Create Neon Light Effect in Photoshop

    1. Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Glowing, Multi-colored NEON Sign Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Glowing, Multi-colored NEON Sign! Watch on The tutorial is by Blue lighting TV Photoshop. The video tutorial shows how to create beautiful and alluring multicolored neon sign. This video is for fairly advanced designers.

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    Step 1. Hang in there—the neon font Photoshop design is coming along nicely! Copy and paste the second copy Horizontal layer's layer style to the second copy Vertical layer, and then double-click the Vertical copy 2 layer to change the Bevel and Emboss effect's Angle to 139 and its Altitude to 12. Change Size to 6.

  13. How To Create A Neon Glow Effect

    CHALLENGE: Light it up! Use layer styles and blending modes to add a neon glow to the elements of your design.Get your starter files here: https://adobe.ly/3...

  14. How To Create The Glow Effect In Photoshop (Step By Step)

    How To Create The Glow Effect In Photoshop (Step By Step) by Brendan Williams Last Updated: October 13, 2023 Whether you want to add a pop of color to your photo or create a surreal image, using the glow effect in Photoshop is a great way to add creativity to your project.

  15. How to Create a Neon Rainbow Photoshop Portrait Effect

    Step 2. Create and clip a New Layer to the subject. Set the new layer to Soft Light. Using the same large white brush as before, paint white around the subject's arms and body. Using a smaller brush, paint white highlights on the subject's jawline and ears, leading onto their face.

  16. How to Make a Neon Sign in Photoshop (4-Step Tutorial)

    Step 2: Add an Inner Glow. Now let's dress it up. With the text layer highlighted, hit Ctrl + J or Command + J on the keyboard to copy the layer . Double-click on the copied layer to open the Layer Styles panel. Alternatively, you can click the fx button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

  17. Neon Glow Text Effect

    In this tutorial , you will learn a simple method on how to create this awesome Neon Glowing Text Effect in Photoshop. Creating this neon glowing text effect in Photoshop might seem a bit difficult but it is not so just follow the steps mentioned in the video and learn how to do it for yourself. Download Photoshop :- https://prf.hn/l/OVRDLJm Equipment I use :- Primary Laptop :- https://amzn.to ...

  18. Neon Text in Photoshop

    Neon Glow Text Effect in Photoshop. Neon Text in Photoshop is easy to create and also looks realistic. It is the most striking text effect in Photoshop.This tutorial will first modify a brick wall image to create a background for the Neon Glow Text.Secondly, we will create a Glowing Neon Text in Photoshop.. You can also learn to create Neon Light Effect in Photoshop.

  19. Neon Glow Lines

    This is a fast Photoshop tutorial where I will show you how to create neon glow lines. This is a simple glowing effect which can be used on any type of line ...

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