GLOW EFFECT | PHOTOSHOP

In this project you will learn to unlock the GLOW EFFECT in Adobe Photoshop.

This lesson will utilize several new tools and techniques to create a GLOW EFFECT.
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• The WORKSPACE
• Using TOOLS - particularly the SELECTION TOOLS including SELECT and MASK...
• Using LAYER MASKS
• FILTERS including BLUR/GAUSSIAN BLUR
• Using ADJUSTMENT LAYERS
• and SAVING your files

Create a GLOW EFFECT on an object in a photograph

• ZOOM in and work very closely (if I am grading this zoomed in, you need to work zoomed in).  
• Make precise selections and use SELECT and MASK to refine and feather your selections.

Adding Creative touches

• Use your LAYER MASK skill and understanding of ADJUSTMENT LAYERS to add personal creative touches to your GLOW EFFECT

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REQUIREMENTS

• Significant enough alterations are made to create a very different image than original.
• GLOW EFFECT looks like it belongs in the image (clean edges and transitions).
• IMAGE must be successfully retouched to remove blemishes before adding your GLOW EFFECT.

EXAMPLE

You can use this video from YouTube or follow the basic steps below to create your GLOW

BASIC STEP TO CREATE A GLOW IN AN IMAGE

​​​​1. HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGE 

USE a high resolution image for the assignment
and bring your downloaded image directly in PHOTOSHOP to begin - I like when you use your own photographs for this assignment (take a picture and email it to your school account to download)

Drag & Drop your chosen portrait directly into Adobe PHOTOSHOP

Use the CROP TOOL

• Choose W x H x Resolution 
• Use 8.5 in x 11 in & 300 ppi​

Choose W x H x Resolution and make sure you are using inches by typing "in" also make sure that "Delete Cropped Pixels" is checked

2. COPY YOUR BACKGROUND LAYER

Next, you want to copy your BACKGROUND LAYER - there are many ways to COPY a layer - here are two different ways:

Drag you layer to the ADD NEW LAYER button on the bottom of your LAYERS PANEL

OR you can use the LAYERS PANEL OPTIONS button and choose DUPLICATE LAYER

3. Use LAYER MASKS to remove and isolate content in your image

And REFINE YOUR SELECTION using SELECT and MASK

4. APPLY your LAYER MASK TO FINISH CUTTING OUT THE BACKGROUND

Make sure to rename your layers to stay organized

COLOR CORRECT YOUR IMAGE (AUTO)

You should always make sure your image has correct and pleasing color and contrast so In this step. try some basic color correction commands to improve your RETOUCH image and it's TONE, CONTRAST, & COLOR

IMAGE > AUTO TONE
IMAGE > AUTO CONTRAST
IMAGE > AUTO COLOR​

If your image looks worse after auto adjustment just
EDIT > UNDO

If the AUTO CORRECT functions do not improve image quality your may not need to make any corrections or you then may try some manual color corrections using commands like:

IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS >
LEVELS, CURVES, EXPOSURE, VIBRANCE, HUE/SATURATION, COLOR BALANCE, ETC.

SPOT HEALING BRUSH

• Choose the SPOT HEALING BRUSH to remove flaws and blemishes​​
• Use the ZOOM TOOL to see small details and zoom out to get the whole picture.
• The HAND TOOL allows you to move your zoomed image around the WORKSPACE

OTHER HEALING TOOLS

Try some of the other healing tools to improve your image quality

• HEALING BRUSH The Healing Brush works similarly to the Clone Tool. You need to select the target area
  from which you want to sample (Alt+Click like with Clone Tool). Next, brush over the
  area that needs repairing and check the results to see if it worked properly.​
• PATCH TOOL (fixing large areas)
• When using the PATCH TOOL you will make SELECTIONS and move to a new area - to remove your selection you can go to

           SELECT > DESELECT or (CTRL-D)

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5. COPY LAYERS | RENAME LAYERS | BLUR

These are the steps that show how to keep your layers organize by naming them as well as how to copy layers and BLUR them to create the GLOW EFFECT!

Copy layers and isolate objects so that you can adjust them individually. 

Change the layer blend mode to SCREEN in the layers pallet

The figure was isolated here so that there could be individualize color and darkness adjustments - you can see an EXPOSURE adjustment layer used to darken the background

LAYER ADJUSTMENTS | Create the GLOW!

Use LAYER ADJUSTMENTS and refine LAYER BLENDING/OPACITY to achieve more dynamic results.

Here I grouped all the teddy bear layers by holding CTRL and selecting each layer I wanted to group and then click the GROUP BUTTON at the bottom of the Layers Panel

Use FILTER > BLUR > GAUSSIAN BLUR to create the GLOW EFFECT

• One teddy bear layer was a 7 radius blur
• The second teddy bear layer was a 150 radius blur

Experiment with ADJUSTMENT LAYERS or IMAGE ADJUSTMENTS to fine tune the desired colors...

Use CLIPPING MASKS to control what layers are affected by your ADJUSTMENT LAYER - Right click on a layer and choose CLIPPING MASK so that an adjustment layer only affects the layer directly below your adjustment layer

DODGE & BURN TOOLS

Lighten or darken parts of your image to create more dramatic effects

Use the DODGE TOOL to lighten areas of your image
Use the BURN TOOL to darken areas of your image

• Set the RANGE to Shadows - Midtones - or Highlights
• Set EXPOSURE to control how quickly the tool works

SAVE yOUR FILE AS A jpeg

TO SAVE AS A .PSD (Photoshop Document)
In the MENU commands -

• Choose FILE
• then SAVE AS... (FILE > SAVE AS...)
• Choose ON YOUR COMPUTER
• then NAME your file properly GLOW_lastname
• then choose "Save as type" .PSD​

TO SAVE AS A .JPEG (Image File)
In the MENU commands -

• Choose FILE​
• Now choose "Save a Copy"
• Choose ON YOUR COMPUTER​​
• then NAME your file properly GLOW_lastname
• then choose "Save as type" .JPEG (*JPG;*JPEG;*JPE)
• CLICK SAVE
• JPEG OPTIONS window choose 8 HIGH with the slider or 12 MAXIMUM if you want a higher quality file

BE SURE TO CHECK THE FOLLOWING WHEN YOU ARE DONE...

Make sure to name your file:   GLOW_yourlastname

Make sure to SAVE your file as a JPEG

Make sure to SUBMIT both your .PSD file and your .JPEG file in SCHOOLOGY for assessment!
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Before you turn in your file check the RUBRIC in Schoology to see what will be assessed!