Keetee

Another lesson in lighting effects! This time, I will demonstrate how to create glowing orbs through both a video and text instructions. So far in this series, I’ve showed you smooth streaks and burst streaks.

Final Image Preview

Tutorial Video

This video demonstrates a quick way to do this if you have a pressure-sensitive tablet.

The Process

Open your starter image. This is mine:

Select the Brush Tool and set the foreground color to White.

If you have a drawing tablet:

This is the method I use in the video.

1. Set the brush size to 65px at 0% hardness. Turn on Size Jitter.
2. Create a new layer above your original image.
3. Use the pressure-sensitivity of your tablet to dot orbs of various sizes in your desired area. Do this until you achieve a pattern with which you’re happy.

If you do NOT have a drawing tablet:

1. Set the brush size to 3px at 0% hardness.
2. Create a new layer above your original image.
3. Click in several spots to dot small orbs around your desired area.
4. Increase your brush size to 10px. Dot three or four of these size orbs in the area.
5. Increase your brush size to 20px. Dot one or two of these size orbs in the area.
6. Continue to adjust your brush size and add more orbs until you achieve a pattern with which you’re happy. My result:
   

More Glow

1. Duplicate the layer with your orbs. Go to Filter » Blur » Gaussian Blur. Set the radius to 5px.
2. Duplicate your original orbs layer again. Go to Filter » Blur » Gaussian Blur. Set the radius to 15px.

Final Image