HYPER-Realistic Neon Glow Effects using Affinity Photo

Tutorial: Creating Hyper-Realistic Neon Glow Effects using Affinity Photo

Step 1: Set Up Document Color Space

1. Open Affinity Photo and create a new document with 16-bit RGB color space for smoother glow effects.

Step 2: Create the Base Shape

1. Draw a rectangle to cover the canvas.
2. Fill the rectangle with a linear gradient using two saturated colors with low luminance.

Step 3: Apply Color Dodge Blend Mode for Glow Effect

1. Ensure the shape has no outline.
2. Change the fill gradient to radial with the center set to White and the outside to Black.
3. Change the blend mode to Color Dodge to create the glow effect.

Step 4: Adjusting the Glow Effect

1. Modify the gradient to start in Black in the middle, then move to White, and back to Black for a glowing effect.
2. Experiment with the gradient to achieve the desired glow intensity.

Step 5: Adding Additional Glow Effects

1. Add a small circle with a default radial gradient from White to Black and set the blend mode to Color Dodge for an extra glowing effect.
2. To create a gradient border on a square, use an inner and outer glow effect from the FX panel with a fill percentage of 0%.

Step 6: Fine-Tuning the Glow Effects

1. To make the glow effect smoother, apply a Gaussian blur to the inner and outer glows.
2. Add a fill layer below the shape, set the color to Black, group it with the shape, and change the blend mode of the group to Color Dodge to enhance the glow effect.
3. Adjust the blur radius and levels adjustment to control the glow strength.

Step 7: Enhancing Text with Glow Effects

1. For text, ensure it has no fill and set the border width to the desired value.
2. Create a gradient around the text by selecting the text layer, refining the selection, and applying it as a mask.
3. Add a white fill layer, adjust the text border, add a black fill below the text, group all layers, and apply the Color Dodge blend mode for a glowing text effect.

Step 8: Using Vector Brushes for Glow Effects

1. If you have vector brushes with gradient effects, copy the brush properties and apply them to objects or text for instant glow effects.

Step 9: Adjusting Glow Intensity

1. To increase the glow strength, add a levels adjustment layer on top of the grouped layers and modify the white level.
2. Duplicate the text or object and add a Gaussian blur adjustment for more intense glow effects.

Step 10: Finalizing and Customizing Glow Effects

1. Experiment with different objects, shapes, and text to create unique glow effects using gradient borders and Color Dodge blend mode.
2. Feel free to adjust the settings, blend modes, and levels to achieve the desired hyper-realistic neon glow effects.

By following these steps, you can create hyper-realistic neon glow effects using Affinity Photo, enhancing your designs with vibrant and eye-catching visuals.