How to Paint a Glow in the Dark Space Scene
Space and Sci-Fi images and scenes are among the most popular on the Internet and in all forms of media. From comic books to television and movies, we are constantly bombarded with deep space images full of mysterious planets and strange, disembodied aliens. One of the coolest effects that can be applied to the objects or beings shown in these deep space images is an outer glow. Whether it's a volcanic planet about to explode or a relentless alien armada, adding a glow effect gives your image that added level of uniqueness. And adding this glow effect to your images is easy to do if you have a good graphics program such as Abode Photoshop or the freeware program GIMP.
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Instructions
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Load the image you want to use onto your computer. If it is an image from a printed source, you will have to scan it in. If it was created with another computer program, simply transfer the image file using a CD or Flash Drive. If you are creating this image using a 3D rendering program, remember to save the document as a PSD file and to save the "Alpha" information with the image. This will make it easier to create the glow.
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Open Adobe Photoshop. Select "File," and click "Open." In the dialog box that pops up browse to and open the image that you saved and to which you want to add a glow effect. Go to the "Layers" panel and click on "Channels." If the image has an alpha channel for the object you want to apply a glow to, select that channel and turn off the others. Now use the "Magic Wand" tool to select the white area where the object is. Turn the other channels back on, and turn the alpha channel off. The object is selected in the view. If your image does not have an alpha channel, then click on the "Quick Mask" icon at the bottom of the tool bar and use the brush to completely paint over the object you want to apply the glow to. Then click the "Quick Mask" tool again, and the object is selected in the view.
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Click on the "FX" icon at the bottom of the "Layers" panel. From the options, select "Outer Glow." In the dialog box that pops up, select the color you want your glow to be. The other settings are also a matter of choice, but a good result can be achieved by changing the "Opacity" to 100, the "Noise" to 7, the "Spread" to 40 and the "Size" to 70. Click "OK." Save your work as a high-resolution JPEG.
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