Create Stunning Neon Light Effects in Photoshop

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Step 1: Preparing the Photo
   • 2.1 Expanding the Canvas
   • 2.2 Filling in the Empty Space
   • 2.3 Fixing Small Mistakes
3. Step 2: Creating the NEON Shape
   • 3.1 Selecting the Pen Tool
   • 3.2 Drawing a Custom Shape
   • 3.3 Applying the Stroke
4. Step 3: Adding the Neon Glow
   • 4.1 Opening the Layer Style Options
   • 4.2 Adding a Color Overlay
   • 4.3 Adding an Inner Glow
   • 4.4 Adding an Outer Glow
   • 4.5 Using the Drop Shadow Effect
5. Step 4: Enhancing the Neon Effect
   • 5.1 Adding a Larger Glow
   • 5.2 Erasing a Portion for Realism
   • 5.3 Adding Reflection to the Subject
   • 5.4 Adjusting Hue and Saturation
6. Step 5: Finishing Touches
   • 6.1 Adding Subtle Color Spots
   • 6.2 Adding Smoke Effects
   • 6.3 Applying Grain and Particle Effects
7. Conclusion

How to Create a Vibrant Neon Light Effect in Photoshop

Photoshop offers a range of tools and effects that can help You Create stunning visual effects. In this tutorial, we will be focusing on creating a vibrant neon light effect by adding neon lights to a photo. This popular art style incorporates simple shapes or text for the neon lights, which are illuminated in bright colors. We'll Show you how to use Photoshop to draw a custom shape and give it a vibrant glow using layer style options. Additionally, we'll demonstrate a clever technique to Apply a colorful ambience to the original photo as if it's being illuminated by the new light source. To complete the artwork, we'll also add smoke and particle effects, resulting in a neat cyberpunk art piece with a futuristic vaporwave style.

Step 1: Preparing the Photo

Before we can start adding the neon lights, we need to prepare the photo. This involves expanding the canvas and filling in any empty space. To expand the canvas, use the crop tool and hold the alt key to extend the sides and top by an equal amount. Photoshop can automatically fill in the empty space using the content-aware feature. However, it may make some small mistakes, which can be easily fixed using the patch tool.

Step 2: Creating the Neon Shape

Now that the photo is ready, we can move on to creating the neon shape. To do this, we'll be using the pen tool to draw a custom shape such as a triangle. Alternatively, you can experiment with other shapes like circles or even text with a mono-weight font. After drawing the shape, create a new layer and right-click to choose "Stroke Path." This will Outline the path according to the brush settings and size we've already configured.

Step 3: Adding the Neon Glow

To give the neon shape a vibrant glow, we'll be using layer style options. Double click the layer to open the layer style options and add a color overlay, choosing a hue for your neon light. Bright pinks, blues, greens, and yellows all work well for this effect. Next, add an inner glow effect, with a white color and the source set to center. Adjust the size value to generate a bright hot spot in the center of the tube. To create a more abrupt color change, change the contour profile to the half-round setting.

Step 4: Enhancing the Neon Effect

To further enhance the neon effect, we'll be adding an outer glow and a drop shadow. Set the color of the outer glow to a similar hue to your neon light and adjust the size value to add a soft haze to the tube. As we can't layer up multiple outer glow effects, we'll reconfigure the drop shadow to achieve a similar effect. Set the shadow color to your neon color and reduce the distance values to zero. Adjust the size value to create a larger ambient glow.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

To make the neon lights appear more realistic, we'll erase a small portion to make them look like they're surrounding the subject. First, make a selection of the subject and apply a layer mask to the group containing the neon shape. Then, invert the mask and use the brush tool to paint over the area, making sure to work with white and not black. Additionally, we'll add a hue and saturation adjustment layer to add reflection to the subject. By adjusting the hue and saturation, we can create a color cast that matches the neon lights.

Finally, we'll add some finishing touches by dabbing spots of color where the neon appears to go behind the subject. Set the blending mode to linear dodge to create luminous glows. To enhance the overall effect, we'll add smoke brushes and apply a layer mask to erase parts of the smoke to create a subtle misting effect. Additionally, we can mix in other vibrant colors using a large soft brush and blending mode settings. To add a final touch, we can incorporate grain and particle effects to give the artwork a more textured look.

In conclusion, creating a vibrant neon light effect in Photoshop allows you to transform a regular photo into a captivating cyberpunk art piece. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this tutorial, you can experiment with different shapes, colors, and effects to achieve your desired neon light effect. Remember to play around with the settings and have fun exploring the possibilities that Photoshop offers.

Highlights

• Learn how to create a vibrant neon light effect in Photoshop
• Add custom shapes or text illuminated in bright colors
• Use layer style options to give the neon lights a vibrant glow
• Apply a colorful ambience to the photo using a clever technique
• Enhance the artwork with smoke and particle effects for a futuristic vaporwave style

FAQ

Q: Can I use any photo for this tutorial? A: Yes, you can use any photo for this tutorial. However, having a dark scene will help make the neon lights more visible.

Q: Do I need to have advanced Photoshop skills? A: Basic knowledge of Photoshop is recommended, but this tutorial provides step-by-step instructions to help you create the neon light effect.

Q: Can I use different colors for the neon lights? A: Yes, you can experiment with different colors for the neon lights. Bright pinks, blues, greens, and yellows work well for this effect.

Q: Can I apply the neon light effect to other shapes or text? A: Absolutely! This tutorial demonstrates how to create the effect using a custom shape, but you can also apply it to other shapes or even text with a mono-weight font.