How to Render a Magic Glowing Cloth Using Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop has many elements and functions that enable the user to create special effects by combining and manipulating digital images. In this tutorial, the object is to render the effect of a magical cloth that glows in the dark. The subject is an illustration for a fantasy novel. A child has just discovered the magical properties of the cloth for the first time. We will achieve the effect by first combining sections of two photos on separate layers. Then, adjusting settings and applying a filter, we can make an ordinary cloth appear to glow.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Digital Camera or Digital Images from another source
• Computer with Graphics capabilities

1. 
    
   Image with Red Light Filter

   Start by taking a photo using a digital camera of a subject with a dim colored light shining upward from below in the location where the glowing cloth will be placed. Enlarge the accompanying image for an example of placement of the model and the lighting effects. Select a color of light that is similar to the cloth's color. In the example, the photo was taken in a dark room with the colored light as the only source of illumination. Coach the model to adopt an expression of wonderment.

2. 
    
   Selecting Cloth Image

   Take a second photo in normal indoor lighting conditions, with the model holding a colored cloth. Pose the model in as close to the original photo as possible, with the exception of the cloth being held up as if the person is examining it. The image of the cloth will be extracted from this second photo.

3. Open both digital photos in Photoshop. Use the magic wand tool to select the image of the cloth from the second photo. Set the tolerance at about 15 percent. Press and hold the shift button as you select different areas of color in the cloth. When the entire image of the cloth is selected, copy the selection and paste it into the first photo, which has the model posed in it. Stay on the layer with the pasted image for the next step.

4. 
    
   Adjusting Brightness & Contrast

   Select "Image" from the menu bar at top, then "Adjust," then "Brightness and Contrast." Use the sliders on the brightness and contrast settings to add intensity to the color of the cloth. Experiment by moving the settings to the right by small amounts until you achieve the glowing effect that looks best compared to the lighting on the image of the model in the background.

5. 
    
   Add Gaussian Blur

   Select "Filter" from the menu bar at top, then "Blur," then "Gaussian Blur." Adjust the slider by moving it to the right by small amounts until you achieve a very slight blur that will give the appearance of a faint glow emanating from the surface of the cloth. Make sure that the small box at the bottom marked "Preview" is checked. This will allow you to see the changes to the layer as you make adjustments.

6. 
    
   The Finished Work

   Finish your work by adjusting the background brightness settings. For the background in the example image, the "Hue" and "Lightness" settings were adjusted to give the model a more pinkish glow, as if lit by the pink light of the cloth. (Select: "Image" from the menu bar at top, then "Adjust" then "Hue, Saturation, Lightness" and experiment by tweaking the sliders.)