In this tutorial, we're going to create some really sharp-looking glow effects using Adobe Photoshop. The end effect is quite stunning and hopefully you'll pick up some tips you didn't know before (free PSD download for this tutorial).



Let's represent a new file (File>New) of 1920x1200 px and 72 dpi. Using the Rectangle Tool (U), we'll create the background of the picture to be.



Select on the layer the next parameters by clicking on it on the layers' panel.

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay.



Gradient's parameters:







Next we'll write several times the word GLOWING, using different types of letters.







The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (this parameter needs to be applied for each word).











The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (the same the previous word has).







The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (the same with the previous example).







The layer's parameters are the same with the previous model:







The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke.







Next we need to merge down in a group all the layers containing the word GLOWING (press CTRL button to mark out the necessary layers and hold on the left mouse's button when taking the marked layers on Create a new group option).

Select for the new group the next demonstrated parameters: Opacity 39%



Next we need to continue writing the word GLOWING, choosing for it different types of letters.



The layers' parameters:
(Opacity 50%), Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke.











The layer's parameters:
(Opacity 49%), Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (the same with the previous word).

The layer's parameters:
(Opacity 54%), Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (mentioned earlier).







The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (used earlier).







The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Stroke (applied earlier).



Next merge down in a group all the layers containing the word GLOWING (press CTRL button, hold on the left mouse's button while moving the marked layers on Create a new group option). Also we need to include in this group the previous one.

Transform the new group into a rasterized layer and press CTRL+E.

Let's apply the next parameters for the rasterized layer:
Blending Options>Outer Glow.







Create a new layer and choose here a standard brush to paint the bottom half of the word GLOWING. The brush has the color #3CFFFF (Opacity 40%).







On the layer containing the brush we'll apply the next parameters:
Blending mode-Soft Light.



Create a new layer and select the same standard brush to use it on the middle part of the word. The color in this case is #F03BA7 (Opacity 30%).



The layer's parameters:
Fill 0%
Blending mode-Hard Mix.



Create a new layer and select again the standard brush to paint the top half of the word. This time we'll select the color #FFFF64 (Opacity 30%).







The layer's parameters:
Blending mode-Saturation.



Merge down in a group all those three layers processed with the brush (press CTRL button while marking the necessary layers and hold on the left mouse's button to move the marked layers on Create a new group option).

Make a copy of the new group (press the left mouse's button and move down the group on Create a new Layer option).

Apply different parameters for the layers containing the brush:

The parameters for the layer of blue color:
Fill 51%
Blending mode-Color.



The parameters for the layer containing the red color:
Fill 0%
Blending mode-Vivid Light.



The parameters for the layer containing the yellow color:
Fill 62%
Blending mode-Multiply.



Finished! View full size: Glowing Text Effects

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