Neon shape and image glow

[bazzah]

Here is an example on how to create a neon shape and colour effect on your image

[attachment=46511:example.gif]

Create an empty white shape for your Neon light using your pen tool. This one has a stroke of 5px.

[attachment=46512:shape.jpg]

Now add a coloured glow using layer styles. Be sure to keep the colour the same for each setting except inner glow. For this one I used the following settings:

[attachment=46515:inner_glow.jpg]
[attachment=46515:inner_glow.jpg]
[attachment=46514:dropshadow.jpg]
[attachment=46513:colour_overlay.jpg]

Now we need more of a glow around the shape. Select your neon shape layer and press CTRL/CMD J to duplicate the layer. Disable the Inner Glow effect. Right click on the layer and select Rasterize Layer Style. Change the layer style to Linear Dodge (Add). Now go to Filter -> Blur _> Gaussian Blur. Adjust the slider until you have a nice glow. I used 15 pixels. Rename the layer to Glow. Press CTRL/CMD J to duplicate your glow layer, so we have an even stronger glow.

Now to put her inside the Neon shape. Group your neon effect layers (your shape, and glow layers) and name it something like Neon. Select the background image and then in your properties window click 'Select Subject'. The background image must not be a smart object. If it is, duplicate the layer and then rasterise it. (If Select Subject does not work with your image, then you can manually mask the group.)

[attachment=46517:select_subject.jpg]

Press CTRL/CMD I to invert your selection. Select your Neon group and add a mask.

Now press B to select your brush tool, select white as your colour and draw in part of the neon shape to put part of the shape back in front of the woman.

[attachment=46518:mask.jpg]

Now let's add some coloured light to the image. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (CTRL/CMD U) above (not inside) your Neon group. Select Colorize, change the saturation to 100 and adjust the Hue to match your neon colour. Reduce the layer's opacity until you get a nice coloured glow.

[attachment=46519:hue.jpg]

Now let's finish things off with some smoke. Add a new layer above your image (outside of your Neon group) and brush in some smoke. I have included some cloud brushes below. Lower your brushes opacity to about 15% and use a white brush. Now build up a smokey scene

Cloud Brushes

And that is it. A neon scene.

[attachment=46521:final.jpg]

[sauron]

Cool tutorial Baz!

[abendhei]

[bazzah]

You're welcome

[VincentLupo]

Nice tutorial Baz!

[ripley]

Very interresting. Thanx Baz' , as always...

[Speedz0r]

I struggle with this sometimes, so thanks for this brilliant guide Baz

[bazzah]

You're welcome guys