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Rays of Light/Glow Radiating Out from Edges of an Object?


Eunomiac

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I've been scouring the Internet for what I hoped would be a fairly straight-forward effect, but so far I've come up empty handed. I'd very much appreciate any help you can provide, and thanks in advance for your time!

Basically, I have a set of symbols as vector paths, and I would like to give them something similar to a Blending Mode/Outer Glow. However, instead of the outer glow changing uniformly as it gets farther away from the object's edges, I want to create a radiating flare effect, like this:

Step_9.jpg

Unfortunately, all of the examples I've found online (including this one) require that the glow radiates out of a single, central point (for a circular distribution; they typically use radial gradients and/or radial blur).

Is there a way to recreate this effect, but radiating out from the edges of a non-circular object (instead of a central point)---much like the behavior of a typical Blending Mode/Outer Glow?

Thanks again!
 

IamSam

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Is something like this what your referring to? This is rough.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 1.03.36 PM.png
 

Eunomiac

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Yes, exactly that, thank you! From there, I'd try to extend the "glow" farther away from the edges of the object, and add a bit more variation between the light and dark parts of the rays (basically, as close to that eclipse image as I can get it)---but I'm sure I can figure that part out myself; you've nailed the part I was clueless about :)

So... million-dollar question... how'd ya do it?
 

IamSam

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Ok, let me work up a tut, be back in a few.
 

IamSam

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I created a black shape. This will be your symbol.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.21.15 PM.png

And then I placed it on a black BG. Of course it disappears.

I created a new layer below the shape layer. With this layer highlighted, I then selected the shape by Command/Control + clicking the shapes thumbnail.
I then went to SELECT > MODIFY > EXPAND

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.17.21 PM.png

I expand the selection by 20px.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.18.21 PM.png

I then filled the new selection with white. Command/Control + D to deselect.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.16.58 PM.png

I then went to FILTER > BLUR > RADIAL BLUR and blurred it by 65.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.15.27 PM.png

Then I turned on the original shape layer.
Should look like this.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.19.00 PM.png

Then I selected the Smudge Tool set to a strength of 65% and a soft brush.
I brushed the edges to add the radiating arm effect.

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 12.56.00 PM.png

I reduced it's opacity to 65% and added a Gradient Fill adjustment layer which I clipped to the white expanded layer. Form here you can make a custom gradient.

Good luck!

Screen Shot 2014-08-12 at 2.36.46 PM.png
 
Last edited:

Paul

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Hey Eunomiac please come back with your efforts, Sam when to great lengths in showing all of us how it can be done:thumbsup:
 

MrToM

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Just to add to IamSam 's excellent technique...
Before adding the 'Radial Blur' you could also add some Noise...

radial_glow.png

It just adds a little (pre) randomness to it.
This was then blurred as IamSam has instructed the only difference being I blurred it twice.
You could then carry on as IamSam describes.

Regards.
MrTom.
 

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