Task 2 How to Build a Glow Effect with Stroke Path

You can add an effect around a featured object that looks like a glowing halo that softly fades into the background. In addition to having aesthetic appeal, the effect described in this task works well when you're silhouetting an object against a white or dark background. It also works to separate the object from its background.

1. Open the File and Draw a Path

Select File, Open and select the file you want to modify. Select the Pen tool from the toolbox and select the Paths option in the Options bar. Use the techniques described in Part 9, "Using Paths," to draw a path around the desired object.

2. Select the Glow Color

Double-click the Foreground color swatch in the toolbox; after the Color Picker opens, select a color for the glow. Click OK to close the Color Picker.

3. Configure Settings

Select the Brush tool from the toolbox. On the Options bar, click the Brush Preset icon and set the Master Diameter and Hardness sliders for the brush. You'll want a large, very soft brush. Select the Airbrush icon in the Options bar and set the Flow to about 8% or 10%.

4. Stroke the Path

With the new path selected in the Paths palette, select Stroke Path from the palette menu. In the Stroke Path dialog box that appears, click OK to apply the stroke using the brush settings specified in step 3.

5. Modify Brush Settings

Restroke the path several times by repeating steps 3 and 4. Each time you reapply the stroke, select a smaller brush size. This intensifies the stroke as it gets closer to the object, simulating the glow effect. Deselect the path in the Paths palette by clicking anywhere below the path title to view the effect without the path in the way.

How-To Hints

Hiding the Path

Evaluating the effect of the stroke while the path is selected can be hard because the outline of the path obscures the image edge. After you apply each stroke, you might want to deselect the path in the Paths palette. After evaluating the stroke results, reselect the path (by clicking the Path title in the Paths palette) and continue building the effect.

Other Path-Creation Methods

You can also use any other method described in this book to create a selection. For example, you can use Quick Mask to paint a selection or use the Magnetic Lasso tool. After you create the selection, you can easily transform it into a path by clicking the Make Work Path icon at the bottom of the Paths palette. You can then edit the path using any of the Pen tools from the toolbox.