How to Render a Glowing Blue Orb

In this Photoshop tutorial we will create the effect of a mysterious, glowing orb hovering in the air in front of an amazed young man. The effect will be accomplished on a separate layer of the Photoshop file, using layer settings and adjustments within the Image settings. The background image is simply a model posing in dim light that is emanating from a source in the location that we will place the illuminated blue orb.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Computer with graphics capability
• Digital camera or a suitable digital image for background

1. 
   Background Image

   Open a suitable digital background image in Photoshop, over which you will place the glowing blue orb effect. Enlarge the image presented here to view as an example.

2. 
   Drawing Elipse

   Create a new layer. ( Select "Layer" from the menu bar at top, then "New", then "Layer" from the pop-out menu.) Select a light blue color, then use the Elipse drawing tool to draw a circular path on the new layer. (Refer to example image here.) When the path is drawn, click the "Fill Path" icon at the bottom ot the Paths dialog box as pictured in the example image. You should the see a flat blue circle on the new layer.

3. 
   Bevel and Emboss Settings

   Select "Layer" from the menu bar at top, then "Layer Style" then "Bevel and Emboss" from the pop-out menu. (Refer to the screenshot image here of the settings interface box.) Set the values as follows: Style: Inner Bevel. Technique: Smooth. Depth: 100%. Direction: Up. Size: 250px. Soften: 0. Angle: 0. Altitude: 90. For the Gloss Contour, use the setting with the wavy diagonal line as pictured here in the screenshot. (All of the settings above are also in the screenshot.) Use the default settings for the Highlight and Shadow modes as pictured here.

4. 
   Outer Glow Settings

   Create a subtle, darker halo around the orb by using the Outer Glow settings. (The dark "glow" mimics the optical effect that the eye percieves around an illuminated object and makes it appear brighter than the background.) Refer to the screenshot of the settings interface box. Select "Layers" from the menu bar at top, then "Layer Style", then "Outer Glow." Set the values as follows: Blend Mode: Multiply. Opacity: 50%. Noise: 11%. Technique: Softer. Spread: 49%. Size: 245px. Select the default contour, whch is a box with a straight diagonal line. Set the Range: 37% and Jitter:75%. (All of the settings above are also in the screenshot.)

5. 
   Glowing Blue Orb

   Tweak the brightness settings to match the appearance of your background by selecting "Image" from the menu bar at top, then "Adjust," then "Brightness and Contrast" from the pop-out menu. When you are satisfied wth the image, the process is finished. Congratulations on completing the tutorial!