Easy Glow Effect in GIMP for Photo Manipulation

The glow effect is an important thing when you do photo manipulation to bring your photos big different from the original. As always, I’ll show you step by step process of how to add glow effect in GIMP easily.

What You Will Learn

  • Scaling and Rotating Object
  • Adding Layer Mask
  • Making Glow Effect with Layer Mode
  • Making Night Atmosphere effect

Tutorial Steps Part 1

Step 1

Open the image file in File > Open then duplicate the layer by clicking duplicate icon.

Turn down the Contrast in Colors > Curves.

Step 2

Add layer mask in the duplicated layer by Right click > Add Layer Mask > White (full opacity).

Step 3

Open up The Sims Diamond png in File > Open as Layers then duplicate the layer and change the layer mode to Addition. You can reduce the opacity too.

glow-effect-part1-step3-import
glow-effect-part1-step3

Step 4

Create new layer for the Glow then brush with Paintbrush Tool (P) change the color to green (#42c307).

Note: When brushing for the glow, make sure in Paintbrush option the hardness in 0,0 for best result.

glow-effect-part1-step4-brush

Change The Glow Layer mode to Screen then reduce the opacity.

glow-effect-part1-step4

Step 5

Add layer mask in the glow layer by right click > Add Layer Mask > White (full opacity).

With Paintbrush Tool (P) change to black color for hiding the uncertain part in the glow layer.

glow-effect-part1-step5

Step 6

Add layer mask again in the duplicated background then brush with Paintbrush Tool (P) to reveal the area where the light comes in.

The result :

glow-effect-part1-step6

Step 7

Create new layer and brush with Paintbrush Tool (P) with green color then change the layer mode to overlay.

glow-effect-part1-step7-glow
glow-effect-part1-step7

Step 8

Add particles png in File > Open as Layers then change the Layer mode into Dodge.

glow-effect-part1-step8-dodge

Duplicate particle layer again, you can rotate by pressing Shift+R.

glow-effect-part1-step8

Step 9

Next create new layer for the Midnight color effect with Bucket Fill Tool (Shift+B) change the color to blue (#050a29)

glow-effect-part1-step9-bucket-fill
glow-effect-part1-step9

Step 10

The last, create new layer for Vignette then activate it in Filters > Light and Shadow > Vignette.

glow-effect-part1-step10

Tutorial Steps Part 2

Step 1

Open the cat picture in File > Open then duplicate the layer.


Turn down the curves to make it darker in Colors > Curves.

glow-effect-part2-step1-curves

Step 2

Add layer mask in duplicated layer by Right Click > Add Layer Mask > White (full opacity).

glow-effect-part2-step2

Step 3

Open the butterfly png in File > Open as Layers then duplicate the butterfly layer and change the layer mode to Addition. Reduce the opacity too.

glow-effect-part2-step3

Step 4

Create new layer for the glow and change the layer mode to Screen. Active Paintbrush Tool (P) change the color to red (#e1031b).

glow-effect-part2-step4

Step 5

Add the layer mask in the duplicated cat layer and with Paintbrush Tool (P) change the color to black.

glow-effect-part2-step5-layer-mask

Turn down the curves to make it darker in Colors > Curves.

glow-effect-part2-step5-curves

Step 6

Create new layer again for Glow to fur, change the layer mode to Overlay and reduce the opacity. With Paintbrush Tool (P) just brush over the cat.

glow-effect-part2-step6

Step 7

Add new particle in File > Open as Layers and change the layer mode to Dodge.

glow-effect-part2-step7-add-particles

Fix this gap in Particle layer by adding layer mask.

glow-effect-part2-step7
glow-effect-part2-step7-add-layer-mask

Step 8

Duplicate the particle layer again, then rotate it by pressing Shift+R.

glow-effect-part2-step8

Step 9

Duplicate Glow to fur layer to make it more contrast then change the layer mode to Overlay.

glow-effect-part2-step9

Step 10

Create new layer for the blue color (#050a29) change the Layer Mode to HSL Color then reduce the Opacity. And fill with Bucket Fill Tool (Shift+B.

glow-effect-part2-step10

Step 11

The last, create new layer for Vignette then activate it in Filters > Light and Shadow > Vignette.

glow-effect-part2-step11

Tutorial Assets

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